Photo: Illuminated Boat Parade via Bowen’s Wharf
Where o’ where has the year gone? While curating this list of the best things that will be happening in November in and around Newport, RI it hit us hard that Christmas is just around the corner!
Actually, many Christmas and holiday activities get underway at some point during November! We hope this list will help you make the most of this month, enjoy every minute of it because before you know it January, February and snow will be here!
1 – Taste Of Newport
November 1 at Hotel Viking
Newport Restaurant Week will kick-off the festivities on November 1st with Taste of Newport benefiting Child & Family, the largest and most comprehensive social service provider in Newport. Enjoy the Taste Experience by sampling the culinary delights of 30 + restaurants while perusing and bidding on over 100 silent auction items or take your Taste Experience to the next level with an elegant seated dining adventure, the Dine Experience.
2 – Newport Restaurant Week
November 6 – 15 Throughout Newport & Bristol Counties
Savor three-course prix-fixe lunches for $16 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $35 during Newport Restaurant Week, November 6 – 15. Visit DiscoverNewportRestaurantWeek.org for participating restaurants and menus.
3 – Life Is Good Founders Come To Newport
November 6 from 5pm – 7pm at Life Is Good Newport
Life is Good Founders are hitting the road on their first-ever Nationwide Optimism Tour and they’re coming to Newport.
The tour will bring the owners of the optimistic lifestyle brand to the Life Is Good Newport Store, one of the very first stores to carry Life is Good, on November 6th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Loyal customers, fans and the public are invited to stop by the store at 160 Thames Street for a meet and greet with co-founder Bert Jacobs, the first 25 guests will receive a free copy of Life is Good – The Book.
4 – Holiday Art Show – Opening Celebration
November 6th at Portsmouth Arts Guild (Show Dates: November 6th – December 20th)
The Portsmouth Arts Guild is celebrating the opening of its annual Holiday Non-Juried Art show! Dozens of local and talented artists and artisans will be offering their work to the public at affordable prices. The Opening Reception for this momentous event will be on November 6th, 6 pm to 8pm. Join them for the best selection of work. This event is FREE and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.
5 – Race for Open Space 5K Run & Walk
November 7 on Sakonnet Greenway Trail
This scenic, cross-country 5-kilometer race on ALT’s Sakonnet Greenway Trail is a unique and exciting addition to the local race circuit. Though not allowed in the running category, leashed dogs and strollers are welcome in the walking category of the race. Entry fee is $20 with proceeds from the race directed towards operations of the Aquidneck Land Trust and further maintenance of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail, the largest nature trail on Aquidneck Island. Teams are welcome and encouraged to participate! More Info
6 – Annual Harvest Fair
November 7 at St. Joseph’s
The annual Harvest Fair at St. Joseph’s Church will take place from 9:30-am-3pm. This popular fundraiser always guarantees fun, food, and prizes for the whole family. Featured activities and tables include a major raffle with cash prizes, a quilt raffle, silent auction, white elephant sale, theme baskets table, handcrafted items, Christmas table, boutique table, a 50/50 raffle, and children’s activities. There will be a food court for lunch and a table filled with yummy baked goods.
7 – Oyster Explorers
November 7 at Hotel Viking
Hotel Viking invites bivalve fans to slurp Rhode Island’s freshest oysters paired with sumptuous spirits in a special “Oysters Explorers” gathering hosted by oyster sommelier and blogger Julie Qiu of In A Half Shell.
The education-focused social tasting will feature a curated selection of three local farm-raised oysters paired with three different alcohols. The mouth-watering class will be November 7 at 7pm and is $40 per person. Guests will receive a 33 Oysters tasting journal, a special pocket-sized notebook, along with an informative and fun evening with an intimate group of oyster fans. Seating is limited and can be booked at http://bit.ly/oysterexplorers.
8 – Extensions Dance Company Concert
November 12 – 14 at Casino Theater
Drected by Assistant Professor Lindsay Guarino, the program will include an eclectic range of choreography from esteemed guest choreographers and notable alumni, including Joe Celej, Mike Esperanza, Spencer Gavin Hering, Kat Pantos, Emily Sulock (’12), Amanda Morton (’15) and Ciara Speller (’15). Additionally, Salve’s junior company, Extensions II, will perform for the first time in a piece by Island Moving Company’s Lauren Difede. Pieces range from modern to contemporary jazz. 8pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturday. More Info
9 – Newport Seal Tours Begin
November 14th (Runs through April 24, 2016)
Join Save The Bay aboard one of their education vessels as they motor through historic Newport Harbor and take in 360 views of seals resting on Citing Rock off of Rose Island and the Newport Bridge. One-hour seal tours are entirely boat-based, while two-hour tours include a tour of Rose Island Lighthouse.
- One hour tour: $22 non-members, $17 Save The Bay members, seniors, children aged 3-12
- Two-hour tour: $42 non-members, $32 Save The Bay members, seniors, children aged 3-12, $5 children under 3 years
- More Info & Tickets
10 – 17th Annual Harvest Fair
November 14th from 1pm – 4pm at Greenvale Vineyards
Greenvale Vineyards will host its 17th Annual Harvest Festival. The event is held to celebrate the completion of the annual grape harvest. Everyone is welcome to attend; the celebration is open to the public. General Admission is $3 per person. In addition guests are welcome to taste at $12, buy wine by the glass $7-$9 or simply enjoy the day’s activities. Tickets and More Info
11 – Rum and Revolution Tour
November 20 at 3:30pm
From the thriving colonial rum trade through the temperance movement and Prohibition era smuggling, learn about the changing role of alcohol in the community. Tour will end at Diego’s on Bowen’s Wharf for a rum tasting* including Newport’s own Thomas Tew rum and more. Finish the tasting with a choice of rum cocktails, chips and salsa. *Participants must be 21 or older. $30 per person, space is limited to 20 participants. More Info and Tickets
12 – Emmanuel Church Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 21- 9 AM- 3 PM
Join Emmanuel Church for a great day featuring local crafters, silent auction, bake sale, children’s activities and much more! They will once again be hosting a Lasagna Dinner and Holiday Fair Preview Night on the Friday night before the annual Holiday Fair. Any vendors who wish to sell on Friday night are encouraged to do so at no additional rental cost. (Please note that the silent auction will not be available until Saturday.) They are still looking for more vendors! If you would like to participate, please email us in the parish office at admin@emmanuelnewport.org!
13 – Christmas at Newport Mansions Opens
November 21 (Running through January 3, 2016)
Beginning November 21, 2015 and running through January 3, 2016, guests are invited to join The Preservation Society of Newport County to create holiday memories as they enjoy music, tours, a gingerbread mansion contest, shopping events and visits from Santa Claus at three of America’s most outstanding historic houses. More Info
14 – Newport Polar Express Starts
November 20 & 21 (Running every weekend through December 20)
Experience the magic as the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg comes alive while the all-First Class train journeys to the North Pole. Don’t forget to wear your pajamas! Elves, chefs, and the Hobo will visit the cars, reading from the book, visiting with the children, and handing out hot chocolate and cookies. Be sure to have your tickets handy because the iconic Conductor will be visiting each table to punch each child’s ticket and make sure they truly “believe”. More Info & Tickets
15 – Universal Trail Ribbon Cutting
November 23 at Norman Bird Sanctuary
Join Norman Bird Sanctuary to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the Universal Trail and the new trailhead entryway! The ADA-compliant Universal Trail offers an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to establish a connection to the natural world, and helps fulfill a core NBS mission priority to inspire diverse audiences to learn from, enjoy, and care about the environment.
16 – Brunch For Bobby
November 25th from 7am – 2:30pm
Stop by the Corner Cafe for brunch to support local Newporter Bobby Forster in his fight against ALS! All gratuities made by servers and a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Bobby to support medical bills and his cost of living.
Breakfast served all day! The cafe is open 7:00 am to 2:30 pm on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Feel free to bring your own bottle- bubbles for champagne or fixings for Bloody Mary’s. Visit Ashley, Nicole and Meagan for a day of fun and generosity to support one of our dear friends. Visit: www.acureforforster.com to learn more about Bobby’s journey.
17 – The Pie Run
November 26 at Newport County YMCA
This annual event put on by the YMCA is a certified and generally flat course. Participants are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the race that will be donated to a local food bank. More Info
18 – A Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff
November 27 – December 4
Island Moving Co. invites you to join them for their wonderful holiday ballet A Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff. Follow their young protagonist throughout the mansion as she celebrates the holiday season with her family, battles with the Mouse King, dances with the Snow Queen and travels with her beloved Nutcracker to the magical Land of Sweets.
Tickets cost $79 or $99 for adults, $55 for children (6-10 years of age) and the performances are approximately 2 hours in length with a 15 minute intermission. More Information & Tickets
19 – Newport Harbor Illuminated Boat Parade
November 27
The Newport Illuminated Boat Parade kicks off the holiday season with boats decorated with festive holiday decor and lights. The boats motor through the harbor and compete for best decorated in various categories. The parade begins at 6:15pm and can be viewed from various spots around the harbor. After the parade, the awards are presented at the Newport Yacht Club where light refreshments will be served.
20 – Holiday Lantern Tours Begin
November 28 – December 26th
Hear the history of early American holiday traditions on an evening walk and learn how colonial Newporters recognized the holidays. Offered on Fridays and Saturdays from November 28th-December 26th; not offered Christmas Day. $15 per person, reservations suggested as space is limited. Presented by the Newport Historical Society. More Info
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