Call them the “biggest”, “best”, “most popular”, “top” or whatever else you want – we think these are the events you shouldn’t miss in 2019!
Start marking those calendars.
(In chronological order)
Newport Wellness Week – January 19 – 25
Newport Wellness Week, a week-long celebration of mind, body and spirit, returns January 19-25, 2019. Featuring a diverse array of wellness events, special offers and deals throughout Newport County and beyond, Newport Wellness Week has been designed to educate and inspire everyone from those who strive to embrace a healthier lifestyle to those who are looking to expand their knowledge of local wellness opportunities.
More info at https://www.discovernewport.org/newport-wellness-week/.
31st Annual Newport Winter Festival – February 15-24
Featuring over 150 events, the Festival offers a unique winter experience combining food, festivities, music, and fun for all ages.
More info at http://www.newportwinterfestival.com/.
Annual Newport Burger Bender – February 15 – 24
The Newport Burger Bender is a simple “best burger” contest that will take place Friday, February 15th through Sunday, February 24, 2019 at participating restaurants throughout Newport and Bristol counties.
More info at https://www.discovernewport.org/burger-bender/
23rd Annual WINEterfest – February 16 -17
Celebrate the season at Newport Vineyards’ 23rd Annual WINEterfest Weekend. Two days full of grape stomping, wine tasting and beer tasting (with our new onsite brewery Taproot Brewing Co.!) Enjoy live music while sipping at their infamous Ice Wine Bar and noshing on food created by scratch from our culinary team. Feeling competitive? You could be called to compete in our Grape Stomp Competitions!
- $25 General Admission
- $20 Cru Club (email info@newportvineyards.com or call 401-848-5161 ext. 0 to receive the promotional code to use when booking)
- $23 with Winter Festival wristband (you may email us your proof of purchase for discount code.)
- Tickets include admission & wine or beer tasting. Food items & additional beverages available for purchase.
63rd Annual Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade – March 16
The parade begins at 11 a.m. at City Hall, runs through Washington Square, down Thames Street, and ends at St. Augustine’s Church.
More info at http://newportirish.com/.
Spring Newport Restaurant Week – April 5 – 14
Newport Restaurant Week, part of a nationwide movement, debuted here in 2006 as an annual event to encourage both residents and visitors to Newport and Bristol counties to experience the vast culinary talent in our destination at an affordable price. Today, Newport Restaurant Week takes place both in the spring and in the fall with more than 50 participating restaurants offering extraordinary two-course prix fixe lunches for $20, three-course prix fixe dinners for $35 and a three-course premier prix fixe dinner for $50.
Newport Restaurant Week takes place both in the spring and in the fall with more than 50 participating restaurants offering extraordinary three-course prix fixe lunches for $16 and three-course prix fixe dinners for $35.
More info at http://www.discovernewport.org/newport-restaurant-week/.
6th Annual Newport Night Run – April 6
Run the night at the Newport Night Run! The city-by-the-sea’s annual after-hours 5K starts and finishes at Rogers High School and benefits the Newport Public Education Foundation. The course showcases some of Newport’s most beautiful rural roads, including parts of Ocean Avenue and Hazard Road. Walkers and runners of all ages and paces are welcome to participate!
The race will be held on SATURDAY, APRIL 6, at 7:30 PM.
More info at https://www.newportnightrun.com/.
6th Annual Newport Daffodil Days Festival – April 13-21
In 2018 there where over 20 fun events amidst 800,000+ bursts of golden-hued daffodils throughout the City by the Sea, 2018 will see one million daffodils bloom and will only get bigger, better and daffier!
More info at http://daffodillion.com/daffydays/.
Annual Newport Craft Beer Festival – April 26th & 27th
Hand-crafted beers poured by the people who make them! Brought to you by Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling and Pour Judgement Bar & Grill, at the Great Friends Meeting House (of the Newport Historical Society) in downtown Newport, RI. Proceeds benefit the Rhode Island Brewers Guild.
More info at www.newportcraftbeer.com.
Annual Island National Police Parade – May 5
The parade features over 4,000 law enforcement participants to commemorate National Police Week. Parade starts on West Main Road going towards Newport.
More info at http://www.policeparade.org/.
4th Annual Bowen’s Wharf Oyster Festival – May 17 – 19
Moët & Chandon together with Bowen’s Wharf Company are proud to present the 4th Annual Newport Oyster Festival! Taste your way around the Ocean State. We can picture it now: you, enjoying Champagne & Oysters, on the waterfront, all weekend long! Did you know that RI is home to upwards of 45 oyster farms? The flavors are distinctive to each farm so this is your big chance to savor many of them all in one festive atmosphere! Growers will be shucking alongside a select group of local restaurants, toffee & donut vendors, Murphy Knives and others under festival tents. Tickets will go on sale in March and will include some free oysters and a beverage from our sponsors. You can also shop for favorites as you find them, meet the growers, and learn all about aquaculture. Restaurants that have RI oysters on their menus are included in the Rhode Island Oyster Trail. Sunday will see the return of the Shucking Contest at 3pm, supported in part by The Nature Conservancy of RI!
More info at http://www.bowenswharf.com/events.
BankNewport 10 Miler – June 2
The course prominently features Newport’s scenic coastal views and ends with a truly unique finish as participants enter Fort Adams through the north gate and finish on the parade field.
More info at https://www.newport10miler.com/.
Annual Newport Flower Show – June 21 – 23
American ornithologist and painter John James Audubon (1785-1851) declared that he only came alive when “in the field” of this wild new land. His artful hand created a pictorial journal not only of the birds he loved but also of their habitats. Join us as we travel with this visionary naturalist in our own Artistic Adventure.
Friday, June 21, 2019: 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 22, 2019: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 23, 2019: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Show Highlights
Festive Opening Night Party
Colorful floral designs
Horticulture exhibits
Garden displays
Unique shopping opportunities
Afternoon Tea
Moonlight Movie
Champagne & Jazz Brunch
Lectures and demonstrations
Children’s activitiesAll proceeds from the Newport Flower Show benefit the preservation and restoration of the historic landscapes of The Preservation Society of Newport County.
More info at http://www.newportmansions.org/events/newport-flower-show.
2019 Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open – July 14-21
Contested on the historic grass tennis courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the tournament is the only event played on grass courts outside of Europe, and it offers the only opportunity to see professional men’s tennis in the Northeast prior to the US Open.
More info at http://www.halloffameopen.com/.
Annual Craft Brew Races Newport – July 20
A fun walk/run 5k in Newport followed by a craft beer festival with more than 30 local craft breweries.
More info at http://craftbrewraces.com/.
60th Annual Newport Folk Festival – July 26– 28
The Newport Folk Festival, founded by George Wein in 1959, takes place on the grounds at Fort Adams State Park and features three stages of music, food, crafts and a number of displays.
More info at http://www.newportfolk.org/.
11th Annual Newport Bridgefest – July 29 – August 1
The Newport BridgeFest is a local, live music and music education festival that “bridges” the gap between the prestigious Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals for a continuous 10 days of music in our community.
More info at http://www.newportbridgefest.com/.
65th Annual Newport Jazz Festival – August 2 – 4:
The festival features three full days of jazz on three unique stages at Fort Adams, one of the Park system’s national treasures situated at the mouth of Newport Harbor with panoramic views of the Newport Bridge and the East Passage.
More info at http://newportjazzfest.org/.
49th Annual Newport International Boat Show – September 12 – 15
One of the largest in-water boat shows in the country, NIBS features a full range of powerboats and sailboats from both domestic and international manufacturers.
More info at http://www.newportboatshow.com/.
Newport Wooden Boat Show – September 12 – 15
Bowen’s Wharf Newport Wooden Boat Show, concurrent with Newport International Boat Show & Newport Brokerage Boat Show, is a gem in the midst of this exciting city-wide event which encompasses over half a mile of Newport waterfront! In-water basin and land displays will again feature Hinckley, Hunt and other Down East-style boats. You’ll also find a beautiful array of boats, tours and activities in the water at Bowen’s Wharf Marina this September.
More Info at http://www.bowenswharf.com/events-1/newport-wooden-boat-show
4 Bridges Ride – September 16
Four bridges. Twenty-six miles. One unique experience. The 4 Bridges Ride is a not-for-profit event that allows cyclists the one-of-a-kind opportunity to bike across Rhode Island’s beautiful bridges. All proceeds from the 4 Bridges Ride are donated to charity.
More info at http://www.4bridgesride.com/.
Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival – September 19-22
Held in one of the most spectacular settings in America, this remarkable weekend experience features hundreds of wines from around the world, fabulous food, cooking demonstrations by nationally-renowned chefs, live and silent auctions and a gala celebration.
More info at http://www.newportmansions.org/events/wine-and-food-festival.
Newport Concours & Motor Week – October 3 – 6
Newport’s extensive automotive history dates back as early as the Gilded Age. The first American car race, the Vanderbilt Cup, took place in this historic area. Given it’s rich motoring history, Newport is the premiere destination for a Concours & Motor Week. Beautiful, historic mansions and the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean provide the most elegant of backdrops. Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week will be a celebration of the automobile, uniting enthusiasts from around the world.
5th Annual Rogue Island Comedy Festival – October 3-7
Rhode Island’s only stand-up comedy festival brings the best nationally known comedians to historic Newport!
More info at http://www.rogueislandcomedyfest.com/.
Newport Marathon & Half Marathon – October 13
Thousands will participate in this 13.1 or 26.2 mile run through Aquidneck Island. This seaside USATF certified course showcases the best of Newport and Middletown.
More info at http://newportmarathon.com/.
29th Annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival – October 19 – 20
Historic Bowen’s Wharf in downtown Newport, RI, will host the 28th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival, on October 19th and 20th. Named one of the “10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast,” by Coastal Living Magazine, this event is an open invitation to come back to the waterfront after the rush of the summer season!
Honoring the “Harvest of the Sea,” the Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival offers fresh, local seafood. Fish tacos, lobster rolls, fried calamari, oysters, signature cocktails and cold Whaler’s Brewing beer accompany continuous live music, and family fun, all beneath the Wharf’s colorful tents. Other neighboring restaurants and fisherman’s associations serve up their most celebrated seafood dishes (lobster dinners, clam chowder, stuffed quahogs, clam cakes, shrimp, scallops, raw oysters and clams, as well as a few dishes for landlubbers and kids). Fresh smoothies, donuts and kettle corn for your sweet tooth. Cafe-style seating is set up throughout the Wharf and proceeds from festival bars benefit Oliver Hazard Perry, RI’s 200-foot official sailing education vessel.
More info at http://www.bowenswharf.com/events.
9th Annual Citizen’s Bank Pell Bridge Run – October 20
This event is the most unique road race experience in the northeast! Once a year pedestrians are allowed to run or walk across the Claiborne Pell Bridge from Jamestown to Newport.
More info at http://pellbridgerun.com/.
Fall Newport Restaurant Week – November 1 – 10
Newport Restaurant Week, part of a nationwide movement, debuted here in 2006 as an annual event to encourage both residents and visitors to Newport and Bristol counties to experience the vast culinary talent in our destination at an affordable price. Today, Newport Restaurant Week takes place both in the fall with more than 50 participating restaurants offering extraordinary two-course prix fixe lunches for $20, three-course prix fixe dinners for $35 and a three-course premier prix fixe dinner for $50.
More info at http://www.discovernewport.org/newport-restaurant-week/.
City Of Newport’s Illuminated Boat Parade – November 29
The City of Newport lights up the harbor on Black Friday with dozens of boats participating in the annual illuminated boat parade.
4th Annual Newport Holiday Stroll – November 29 – December 1
Make your holidays merry and bright in Newport during the festive season by joining us for the Newport Holiday Stroll in December.
More info at http://newportholidaystroll.com/.
Bowen’s Wharf 49th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting – December 7
Festivities begin at 4:30 with Frosty the Snowman! The Christmas Carol Sing-a-long begins at 5 pm, the Mayor lights the tree at 6 pm immediately followed by Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving by boat (weather permitting).
More info at http://www.bowenswharf.com/events.
Notable Series in 2019:
The Newport Music Festival Chamber Music Series – January – October:
Newport Music Festival continues the tradition of presenting unique chamber music programs, American debuts, world-class artists and gala special events in the Gilded Age summer cottages of Newport, Rhode Island.
More Info at http://www.newportmusic.org/.
91st Annual Winter Speaker Series – January 19 – February 23
This year marks the 91st Winter Speaker Series at the Newport Art Museum! Spend Saturday afternoons with seven inspiring, enlightening and entertaining speakers this winter. Topics include assessing Trump’s presidency, art in public places, the future of museums, the fate of newspapers in the digital age, and more. The Newport Art Museum’s Winter Speaker Series reveals new creative communities in some of today’s most exciting fields. More info at http://www.newportartmuseum.org/Programs-Events/Winter-Speaker-Series.
newportFILM – Schedule TBD
newportFILM is a year-round, non-profit documentary film series in Newport, Rhode Island that features established and emerging filmmakers and their current documentary films, curated from film festivals around the world.
More info at https://www.newportfilm.com/.
Newport Polo Series – Schedule TBD
The Newport International Polo Series features teams from around the world & from major US cities competing against USA / Newport. The coming season promises an exciting lineup of action-packed polo matches, international team debuts and memorable special events for fun on and off the field, supported by an enthusiastic spectator audience.
More info at www.nptpolo.com.