As many as 32 governors from across the United States will be attending events in Newport on Saturday, July 15th.
Tonight’s event in Newport is the culmination of the National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting that has been taking place in Providence since Thursday, where the “nation’s governors have been discussing some of the most pressing issues facing our nation and to share best practices on how to better serve the American public”, according to the NGA website.
After a closing plenary session at the Rhode Island Convention Center this afternoon, where Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is expected to give the Keynote Speech, the Governors will depart Providence for Newport on board buses at 4:30 pm.
On their trip to Newport, they will have the opportunity to watch the premiere of a new NGA Documentary.
From 5 pm to 6:30 pm, Governors (and those invited) will get an exclusive look at Belcourt of Newport. Carolyn Rafaelian, founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of ALEX AND ANI and Owner of Sakonnet Vineyards, owns Belcourt and has been working to restore Belcourt’s splendor, she is in the process of reviving the mansion’s former glory.
Want to get your own looking into Belcourt? Beginning May 1st, guided tours have been available by reservation.Tours take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 AM. For more information on tours, visit http://belcourt.com/tours.html.
Upon departing Belcourt, guests will head to The Eisenhower House at Fort Adams State Park for an “Ocean State Clambake”. Once the summer White House of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, The Eisenhower House is owned by the State of Rhode Island and managed by the Fort Adams Trust.
The event will take place under a tent on The Eisenhouser House’s lawn from 6 pm to 9 pm and includes a reception, dinner and fireworks. As many as 900 guests are expected to attend the event. The fireworks are scheduled to be shot off at 9:30 pm and will last for approximately 12 1/2 minutes.
Governors and guests are scheduled to depart Newport for Providence at 9:30 pm.
The NGA is the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors. Through NGA, governors share best practices, speak with a collective voice on national policy and develop innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.
A press release from the Rhode Island State Police earlier this week said, “No road closures are expected during an event in Newport on Saturday, July 15”. A request for comment from the NGA on whether there would be any traffic delays or detours during their time driving in, out or around Newport, has not been answered.
The following is a list of governors that attended the conference this week and could be in Newport this evening;
