I don’t know if you’re like me, but I love crunching numbers. It can be argued that these are the largest events of the summer and the busiest few weeks around the City-By-The-Sea. Here’s some random and fun things to know…
Here’s a breakdown of Newport Folk Festival’s and Newport Jazz Festival’s latest economic impact study;
- $5,089,367.00 – – Estimated direct spending contribution to the State of Rhode Island by the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals. Previous studies estimated the combined economic impact on Rhode Island at $3,710,000.00. (Impact Studies conducted by The Office of Travel, Tourism and Recreation at the University of Rhode Island: 1994 Jazz Festival – $2.11 million; 1997 Folk Festival – $1.60 million).
- 89.1% — of attendees specifically came to Newport and Rhode Island for the Festivals.
- 79% — of Festival attendees listed the Festival websites as their chief source of information. Social media and word of mouth were other key sources.
- 56.4% — of Festival attendees were women.
- 43.6% — of Festival attendees were men.
- 41.7% — of Festival attendees earned graduate degrees.
- 25.2% — of overall Festival attendees were in the 25-34 age group.
- 25.2% — of tickets for the Newport Jazz Festival purchased by Rhode Islanders online.
- 22% — of the overall attendees earned an average income of $100,000 – $149,000.
- 15.8% — of tickets purchased for the Newport Folk Festival purchased by Rhode Islanders online.
*The latest study done to measure the economic impact of the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals on Newport and the State of Rhode Island was done in 2013 for the 2012 events.
Newport Folk Festival – July 22, 23 & 24, 2016 — www.newportfolk.org
- 10,000 — Capacity of Fort Adams State Park for the Newport Folk Festival.
- 1,200 — bikes will be used to get to Fort Adams each day, parked by Bike Newport.
- 300 — Tickets sold to each night of Deer Tick & Friends After Parties at Newport Blues Cafe.
- 62 — Different performances or sets are scheduled to take place at this years Newport Folk Festival.
- 57 — Years since July, 1959 when the Newport Folk Festival started as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival.
- 31 — Years ago the Newport Folk Festival was revived after falling hard times in the late 1960s, even closing its doors for a number of years beginning in 1971.
- 9 — Official After Parties/Fundraisers are being held in 2016 after the festival at Fort Adams.
- 3 — emerging artists will have the chance to record with Converse and play with Newport Folk Festival this year.
Newport Bridgefest – July 25, 26, 27 & 28 – www.newportbridgefest.com
- 25+ — Local musicians and artists will be featured in 2016.
- 18 — shows will make up the 2016 Newport BridgeFest
- 8 — This will be the 8th Newport Bridgefest, since being founded in 2009.
Newport Jazz Festival – July 29, 30 & 31 – www.newportjazzfest.org
- 10,000 — Capacity of Fort Adams State Park for the Newport Folk Festival.
- 90 — Age of George Wein, the “father” of outdoor music festivals
- 62 —years ago (1954) the first Newport Jazz Festival was held in Newport.
- 54 —different artists/sets scheduled to perform at this years Newport Jazz Festival
- 35 — years (since 1981) the Newport Jazz Festival has consecutively been hosted at Fort Adams State Park.
- 28 — Age George Wein was when he helped get the first Newport Jazz Festival off the ground.
- 4 — Stages of great jazz music, stories and entertainment
- 2 — Artists have performed the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival in the same year, Norah Jones will join Jon Batiste (who accomplished this feat last year). In 2012, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band played the Fort at the Folk Festival and at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino for Jazz.