Looking for something fun to do as a family to celebrate the last day of school? Join the Newport Health Equity Zone at the Florence Gray Center on June 29th, from 3-7pm, for a free summer kick-off party to celebrate healthy neighborhoods and families.

The event is hosted by the Newport Health Equity Zone, an initiative dedicated to promoting healthy living in Newport, especially the North End and Broadway communities.

The event will have free food, a bouncy house, face painting, a petting pen with goats, arts and crafts, a self-defense demonstration, an obstacle course, and much, much more! You can also expect a special guest appearance by the Big Nazo characters, and the nationally recognized professional storyteller Valerie Tutson. In addition to all of the fun activities, there will be a ribbon cutting for the unveiling of the brand new Wellness Hub in the Florence Gray Center, which will be one of two Wellness Hubs in Newport. The Wellness Hubs will host Diabetes Prevention Programs, and will also facilitate other healthy living classes for the public to attend.

For more information and a detailed schedule of events visit nhezsummerkickoff.eventbrite.com.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...