Life on the East Bay means never being very far from the water. With over a dozen public beaches, ocean breezes infuse the entire region with a coastal atmosphere that can’t help but inform most everything we do, whether it’s wearing a beach cover-up or swim trunks to the store or planning dinner around what’s fresh at the farmers market. As COVID-19 cases are thankfully on the decline, dare we say this season feels like a return to summers past, with a host of beloved events making a comeback. For this issue, our editors have scoured the region to deliver this comprehensive calendar from July through Labor Day. Between festivals, farm visits, concerts, and so much more, you’re sure to enjoy the season without ever needing to leave the area. So skip the Cape and have the best summer ever.
Please note that events may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and mask-wearing regardless of vaccination status. Be sure to check each venue for updates.
July 1-17
Newport Classical Music Festival: From opera to chamber music and everything in between, this year’s festival at The Breakers boasts an impressive lineup of acclaimed musicians. Highlights include Joyce Yang, The King’s Sister, and Pucinni’s La Bohème. Newport, NewportMusic.org
July 2 & 3
Fourth of July Field Days: Celebrate Independence Day the early American way with old-timey games and competitions like sack races and trundling hoops. A reading of the Declaration of Independence, crafts, kite flying, story times, and more at historic coastal Coggeshall Farm. Bristol, CoggeshallFarm.org
July 4
Fourth of July Parade: Follow the red, white, and blue-striped roads for the ultimate patriotic display. Bristol’s historic parade begins at 10:30am at the corner of Chestnut and Hope (Rt. 114) and ends on High Street, between State and Bradford. Bristol, FourthOfJulyBristolRI.com
Fourth of July Picnic: Come to Linden Place for bleacher parade seating, a continental breakfast, and picnic lunch. Bristol, LindenPlace.org
July 7
French Culinary Adventure Cocktail Reception: Kicking off a weekend of events celebrating France’s influence in Newport, the Newport Historical Society hosts a reception at the Great Friends Meeting House featuring French hors d’oeuvres, colonial cocktails, and live music. Newport, NewportHistory.org
July 10-17
2022 Hall of Fame Open: The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a major Newport landmark, and once Wimbledon wraps up, you can still get your tennis fix as ATP World Tour pros battle on the Hall’s historic grass courts. Newport, HallOfFameOpen.com
July 16
NewportFILM Summer Benefit 2022: Enjoy drinks and small bites at this benefit held at Restoration Hall at IYRS. Be sure to visit the website for upcoming screenings. Newport, NewportFilm.com
July 16-17 and August 20-21
South Coast Open Studio Tour: Visit painters, fiber artists, sculptors, and more, all across the East Bay and southern Massachusetts, in self-guided tours of local studios. Various locations, SouthCoastArtists.org
July 19-24
Newport Dance Festival: Island Moving Company presents their annual festival. Catch some of the most exciting and cutting-edge performances by the world’s finest dance artists on the lawn of the Great Friends Meeting House. Newport, IslandMovingCo.org
July 21
Laura Veirs: Newport Folk alum Veirs will be in concert at Newport Vineyards on the eve of the Folk Festival where she appeared in 2016 as part of case/lang/veirs. The concert is co-sponsored by Newport Live. NewportVineyards.com
July 22-24
The Newport Folk Festival: The largest music festival in the state returns this summer with a sold-out weekend of great music. Announced artists include Mandy Moore, The Roots, Taj Mahal, Maren Morris, and many more. NewportFolk.org
July 23-25
The Newport Show: New England’s premier fine art and antiques event raises funds for the Newport Historical Society and Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. Middletown, BGCNewport.org
July 28
Mitski: Her lyrics have been described as “full of roiling fury, destructive impulses, humiliation, longing, heartache, and hunger." See indie-rock musician Mitski on her Laurel Hell Summer Tour with special guest The Weather Station. East Providence, WaterfrontConcerts.com
July 29-31
Newport Jazz Festival: It’s certainly not your grandfather’s jazz festival anymore. The oldest outdoor music festival in the USA has a diverse line-up including Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding, Ron Carter, and artistic director Christain McBride. NewportJazz.org
August 9
Local Food Fest: Treat yourself to a fundraiser for Farm Fresh Rhode Island at Castle Hill Inn. Meet local chefs, watch live dish preparation, and enjoy culinary creations with local wine, beer, signature cocktails, and live music. Newport, FarmFreshRI.org
August 14
Cool Jazz: After a two-year hiatus, the fundraising event returns with an open bar, buffet dinner, and of course, jazz, all in support of Mount Hope Farm. Bristol, MountHopeFarm.org
Cruise-In for a Cause: Food trucks, music, raffles, trophies, and more are all part of this charity car show and toy drive held at Mount Hope Farm to raise funds for the children and families of military, law enforcement, and first responders. Bristol, JDRFoundation.org
August 19-21
A Weekend of Coaching: Experience 19th century Newport with weekend processions of authentic period coaches pulled by teams of highly trained horses during this once-every-three-years event hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport. NewportMansions.org
August 20
Fireman’s Fair: Ferry over to Prudence Island to attend this annual community fundraiser for the volunteer fire department. Past events have included chowder and clam cakes, raffles, and more. Facebook: Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department
Warren Folks Fest Six: Two stages of live music, food, and art attract music fans to The Collaborative’s lively annual fundraiser event. Warren, TheCollaborative02885.org
August 28
Rhode Island Folk Festival: The locally grown music festival features three stages with over 50 artists from around RI and beyond. Vendors and food trucks will be at Rose Larisa Park on the shore of Narragansett Bay in Riverside. RhodeIslandFolkFestival.com
Becorn Exhibit: Marvel at the work of photographer David Bird and his Becorns, characters he constructs from acorns and twigs, placed strategically to create magical woodland scenes. Bristol, Blithewold.org
Concerts at Bold Point Park: Enjoy a full season of outdoor concerts on the waterfront. Read all about it on page XX.
Newport Gulls: Baseball season is in full swing! Bring the whole family for a game at the Cardines Field, and on July 6, seniors 55+ attend free thanks to PACE Rhode Island. NewportGulls.com
Shows & Film Screenings: Maria Bamford, Bill Murray, Judy Collins, and more are just some of the live performances mixed in with movie screenings and more at the JPT Film & Event Center. Newport, JanePickens.com
Spend Some Time with Seahorses: Be mesmerized by this new exhibit of lined seahorses as they propel themselves through the water. Bring the whole family to the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium to see them, plus the Visit with Terrapins and Turtles exhibit. Bristol, ASRI.org
Outdoor Arts Biennial: Artwork from 13 artists and collectives exploring the theme of “Passages” are featured in the Jamestown Arts Center’s outdoor exhibition. Jamestown, OutdoorArtsExperience.org
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Tours: The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse welcome visitors to the island on the Lady Pomham II on select days for guided tours. Riverside, PomhamRocksLighthouse.org
Slave Trade Walking Tours: Linden Place Museum hosts walking tours of Linden Place Mansion and downtown Bristol, focused specifically on Bristol’s DeWolf family and their involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. Bristol, LindenPlace.org
Tea and Scones: Sit back and enjoy the scenic overlook from one of Blithewold Mansion’s porches while munching on a fresh scone and hot or iced tea, Thursday through Sunday. Bristol, Blithewold.org
SUNDAYS
Barrington Summer Concert Series: Dance like no one’s watching and make some noise when local musicians come to Latham Park and Barrington Town Beach Sundays July 10 through August 28. BarringtonLearningCTR.org
Tiverton Farmers Market: Connecting the community to fresh and local produce, the market hosts a variety of food and farm vendors, artisans, makers, and live music at Tiverton Middle School. TivertonFarmersMarket.com
MONDAYS
Farmers Markets: Start the work week off with fresh produce from an afternoon trip to either the Community Farmers Market in Newport (Miantonomi Park) or Jamestown’s (Rec Center) Farmers Market, FarmFreshRI.org
TUESDAYS
Family Night Concert Series: Easton’s Beach is the place to be for fun outdoor concerts. Shows begin at 6pm (weather permitting) and parking is free after 4pm. Newport, CityOfNewport.com
WEDNESDAYS
Aquidneck Growers Market: Head to Memorial Boulevard for a wide variety of vendors featuring both organic and conventionally grown products, prepared foods, flowers, and more. Newport, AquidneckCommunityTable.org
Music at Sunset: Take in the lush gardens and live music at the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum for their weekly summer concert series, through September. Bristol, Blithewold.org
Nature Walks: Join a naturalist and explore the Norman Bird Sanctuary trails during free guided walks of spotting native species and identifying plants. Middletown, NormanBirdSanctuary.org
Summer Sunset at Herreshoff: By day, the Herreshoff Marine Museum is a place for learning about boats with exhibit halls brimming with models, artifacts, and more, but on Wednesday evenings, their Jazz Series spotlights local talent, through August 31. Bristol, Herreshoff.org
What’s Local Wednesdays: Support local small food and beverage businesses in this family-friendly outdoor marketplace held in the schoolyard of Hope & Main. Eat, drink, and stock up on staples. Warren, MakeFoodYourBusiness.org
THURSDAYS
Art Night Bristol Warren: Walk or ride your bike from one gallery and studio to the next. This evening event is the perfect way to explore the wealth of art the East Bay has to offer on the last Thursdays of the month through August. Bristol and Warren, ArtNightBristolWarren.org
Children’s Nights: Each Thursday in July, little ones will enjoy a different performer at the beach. The current line-up features storytellers, puppets, and more! Shows begin at 6pm (weather permitting). Parking is free after 4pm on show nights. CityofNewport.com
Roots & Shoots: From 10-11am through August 25, children ages 2-5 and their guardians are invited to learn, play, create, and explore their way through the Coggeshall farmyard. Hear stories, sing songs, meet animals, and play games. Bristol, CoggeshallFarm.org
Weaver Library Farmers Market: Evenings from 4-7pm the library is the place to be for artisan pop-ups, live music, and of course, fresh food and produce. East Providence, EastProvidenceLibrary.org
SATURDAYS
Farmers Markets: Rise and shine and make a morning out of shopping local and fresh at Mount Hope Farmers Market, Bristol, and Aquidneck Growers Market in Middletown. FarmFreshRI.org
Newport Polo: One of the great Aquidneck Island traditions, Newport Polo invites spectators to watch international teams gallop to victory at Glen Farm. Portsmouth, NPTPolo.com
Free Family Fun Days: The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is free to the public the first Saturday of every month for nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes, and more. Bristol, ASRI.org
Newport History Tours: Join the Newport Historical Society every Saturday for weekly themed walking tours about rotating subjects like the Point Burial Ground, Newport’s British Occupation, and more. NewportHistoryTours.org
Noted quahoggerJody King will be instructing folks of all ages about the ins and outs of recreational clamming in the DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Aquatic Resource Education program Come Clam with Me. Space is limited and registration required. Contact kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov for registration information.
July 13, 12-3pm, Colt State Park, Bristol
August 11, 12-3pm, Colt State Park
Need to escape the rat race? Consider a getaway to Prudence Island. A 30-minute ferry ride from Bristol will drop you off at this spot so uncommercialized there isn’t a restaurant or transportation service to be found. Bring what you need, including tick-repellent, for the unspoiled beauty of the third-largest island on Narragansett Bay. Points of interest include Prudence Historical Museum, Prudence Schoolhouse, Pulpit Rock, and Sandy Point Lighthouse – one of the few lighthouses in the US to retain its original bird-cage lantern. For ferry info, visit PrudenceBayIslandTransport.com
Want to make the most of your Ocean State summer by paddling the bay and its winding inlets? These local kayak rental companies can outfit you in a seaworthy vessel.
Drop-In Kayaks: If you live in Portsmouth, Middletown, or Newport, have a single or tandem kayak delivered right to your door. Portsmouth, DropInKayaks.com
Jamestown Outdoors: Explore the hidden coves and beaches of Jamestown on a stand-up paddleboard or kayak from this local outdoor sport spot. They’ll even recommend routes. JamestownOutdoors.com
Mobile Kayaks: Kayak and paddle boards are delivered right to the water’s edge anywhere on Aquidneck Island. Newport, MobileKayaks.com
Third Beach: This Middletown beach, located at the mouth of the picturesque Sakonnet River, has a boat launch with kayak rentals available. Middletown, MiddletownRI.com/349/Beaches
Walker Farm Kayak Rentals: Single kayaks, double kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards are available for rent to paddle around the 100-acre Walker Farm cove. Try their guided Full Moon Paddle Tour for a star-filled paddle. Barrington, WalkerFarmKayaks.com
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