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Vacation week activities continue

Get up close and personal with the harbor seals during Save The Bay’s seal-watching tours, held three separate days this week.

Get up close and personal with the harbor seals during Save The Bay’s seal-watching tours, held three separate days this week.

Don’t let winter vacation go to waste for your kids. Here are a few suggestions on keeping them busy until school starts again.

Watch ‘Fantasia’ for free

The Four Corners Arts Center presents a special vacation week viewing of the classic Disney film from 1940, “Fantasia,” at The Meeting House, 3850 Main Road, Tiverton, on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m.

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Mickey Mouse stars as “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” a segment from Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” which will be screened for free at Tiverton Four Corners on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

The film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Music critic and composer Deems Taylor introduces each segment in live-action interstitial scenes.

It’s free and open to all. For more information, visit www.fourcornersarts.org.

Go wild at the Audubon

As always, the Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St., Bristol, will be a busy place over school vacation. Each day through Dec. 30 there will be nature crafts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as a nature story at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Join an “animal interview” at 11 a.m.

Also free with admission, these special programs for children are available daily at 1:30 p.m.:

• Dec. 28: Join costume character Mr. Wood-Duck for a round of Wildlife Bingo.

• Dec. 29: Eco-puppet show — “Simple Things to Save the Planet”

• Dec. 30: Join costume character Crazy Crawfish for a nature scavenger hunt. 

On Saturday, Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Audubon hosts a morning of family activities. From 10 a.m. to noon, make a snowman or nature picture out of shaving cream (it can get a bit messy, so wear appropriate clothes). There will be a nature story at 11:30 a.m. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

All programs are free with admission ($6 for adults, $4 for kids ages 4-12 and free for members and children under 4) and registration is not required. For more information call 401/949-5454 or visit www.asri.org. The Environmental Education Center is closed on New Year's Day, Jan. 1.

Free fun at the libraries

Your local library is the best deal in town, so take advantage of all the special stuff that’s going on during vacation week.

Seekonk Public Library, 410 Newman Ave., Seekonk (508/336-8230), hosts a Kids’ Favorites Movie Marathon from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Popcorn will be available, but bring your lunch. It’s sponsored by The Friends of Seekonk Public Library, and no registration is required.

East Providence’s Weaver branch, 41 Grove Ave. (401/434-2453), invites kids to play bingo for prizes from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Middle and high school students can decorate and eat holiday cookies and play Wii games from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29. On Thursday, Dec. 29, Curious George will visit Weaver for a story and photos from 10-11 a.m. All ages are invited.

The Riverside branch, at 475 Bullocks Point Ave., East Providence (401/433-4877), invites kids of all ages to make felt bears from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Dec. 28. From 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, the branch hosts a Teen Movie Night — with snacks — for middle and high school students. Permission slips for PG-13 movies are required and available at all East Providence libraries.

Over at the Fuller branch, 260 Dover Ave., East Providence (401/434-1136), kids of all ages will be making snowman mobiles from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

The Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road, Barrington (401/247-1920), will be screening the movie “Home Alone” on Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 1-3 p.m.

The library also has two special performances planned for vacation week, both at 10:30 a.m. First, magician Peter Boie visits the library on Wednesday, Dec. 28. There’ll be lots of audience participation, award-winning tricks and side-splitting comedy. Co-sponsored with the Barrington Recreation Department, the free program is intended for ages 5 and up. It’s limited to 100 participants.

On Friday, Dec. 30, puppeteer/storyteller Roy Drew presents a holiday show filled with songs, silly skits, audience participation and fun. Celebrate the season with Buddy the Blue Dog, Red Gorilla, Flora the Flower, Gus the Goose, Betty Forgetti and Hoppy Rabbit, with a special appearance by Rudy Reindeer.

Mr. Drew will also be at Rogers Free Public Library, 525 Hope St., Bristol (401/253-6948), at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Also at Rogers, enjoy a screening of the PG-rated “A Christmas Carol” starring Jim Carrey at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29. Free popcorn will be available. Finally, Rogers welcomes kids to build Legos from 3:15-4:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30. Children under 7 must bring a grownup.

Tiverton Public Libraries hosts a Tomaquag Native Cultural Family Program from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at the Tiverton Community Center, 346 Judson St. The history, culture and arts of the Eastern Woodland people will be explored with storytelling, traditional music and dance. Native cultural items will be shared and participation is encouraged. It’s free and appropriate for all ages. For more information, call 401/625-6796.

Say hi to the seals

Save The Bay leads one- and two-hour seal-watching tours that provide stunning glimpses of harbor seals while peppering guests with fun facts about the aquatic mammals — such as their social habits and frequent haunts.

The one-hour tours aboard the M/V Alletta Morris depart from Bowen’s Ferry Landing along America’s Cup Avenue, Newport, at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2 p.m. on Dec. 29 and 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30.

An expert guide and the use of binoculars is included in the ticket price: $20 for adults and $15 for kids ages 5-12, Save The Bay members and senior citizens. Don’t forget to bring your camera. For more information, visit www.savebay.org.

Still Christmas in Newport

The 41st annual Christmas in Newport is winding down, but there’s still fun to be had. Take your child for a holiday train ride at 11:45 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. Ride along scenic Narragansett Bay in antique railroad coaches that are decorated, enclosed and heated.

The train departs from Old Colony Railway Depot, 19 America’s Cup Ave. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children. If you want to ride first class, those seats are $11. Call 401/624-6951 for more information.

The Holiday Gingerbread House is available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at The Newport Marriott Hotel, 25 America’s Cup Ave. It’s free if you bring a canned good donation for charity.

For more information, call 401/849-6454 or visit www.christmasinnewport.org.

Play, build and climb

The Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, has lots of special stuff going on during vacation week.

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Rolie Polie Guacamole will perform at the Providence Children’s Museum on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 1 and 2 p.m.

There will be special live performances at 1 and 2 p.m. by Sparky’s Puppets (Wednesday, Dec. 28), Rolie Polie Guacamole (Thursday, Dec. 29) and The Rhythm Room (Friday, Dec. 30).

Admission is $8.50 (free for children under 12 months). For more information, call 401/273-5437 or visit www.childrenmuseum.org.

‘Disney on Ice’

Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they travel to four magical destinations all in one fun-filled production, “Disney on Ice,” in Providence from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1. Audiences will be transported straight from their Dunkin’ Donuts Center seats into the magical worlds of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Lilo & Stitch” and “Peter Pan.” Customers will receive one single-use Kodak camera free with every online ticket order. Bring the Kodak voucher to any Disney On Ice tour merchandise stand at the show to receive your camera.

Performances are 1 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, Dec. 29 and 31; 1 and 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30; and 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Tickets are $16 to $60 for rink-side seats, $70 for the front row; call 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Dunkin’ Donuts Center is located in downtown Providence.

Visit Neverland

“J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan” is being presented by threesixty° through Dec. 31. The show is in a 1,200-seat theater/tent in Boston’s City Hall Plaza and features live actors, puppets (Nana, an ostrich and the crocodile) and CGI technology that creates a virtual 3D world inside the tent on all sides for 360° of adventure (and flying!). It opened in London, spent time in San Francisco and has now come to Boston.

Tickets are $35 to $75. For ticket information, call 888/772-6849 or visit www.peterpantheshow.com.

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