Start making your plans now! The 37th annual Newport Winter Festival returns on Friday, February 14, running through Sunday, February 23. Festival organizers are excited about the 2025 version of the popular festival, which includes over 100 events at locations around the city.
“I’m getting such great feedback from the hotels and restaurants. A lot of the restaurants are returning from their winter breaks, it’s wonderful,” says festival director David Rosenberg.
This year’s theme is “The Magic of Winter.” “We have some magicians and illusionists that we’ve never had before,” says Rosenberg. One of those is Jason Purdy, performing on Saturday, February 15. “He’s phenomenal; he awes the audience with his illusions. The following Friday night (Feb. 21), we have ‘Magic for Non-Believers’ with Peter Boie, who is out to wow people who don’t believe that it’s real.”
Rosenberg is also excited about the music acts booked for the event. Leading tribute bands are scheduled to play over several nights at the Newport Marriot.
“Bennie and The Jets, the Elton John tribute had such an unbelievable effect on everybody last year, so we booked him again this year on the 15th,” said Rosenberg. “Everything about him, the change of clothes, and the way he actually walks through the audience, you feel like you’re almost there with Elton John.”
Additional tribute acts include the Jimmy Buffet tribute act, Changes in Latitude, and Little Lies, a band that brings the songs of Fleetwood Mac to life. “You close your eyes, and you swear you’re listening to Fleetwood Mac,” adds Rosenberg. “Cover Bands are incredible, and they’re getting better and better. I get a kick out of the people show up in their flip-flops and shorts in the dead of winter,” laughed Rosenberg, referencing Jimmy Buffet fans.
Rosenberg notes that the festival draws visitors from Newport County and beyond. “It’s about 50/50,” he explained. “My daughter, who handles ticketing, told me we’re getting tickets ordered from New York and New Jersey. I just spoke to two people coming from New Orleans. They said, ‘well, this is the time of the year when we feel as though we can afford to come to Newport and we’re looking forward to all the different events. We even get some Floridians, snowbirds who are coming back up for the festival.”
Falling during school vacation week, the festival offers numerous activities for kids and families. Fun educational programming like the Fire and Ice Mad Scientist are increasingly popular. “We had over 500 people come to see him last year – he was really entertaining, humorous, and it’s educational,” says Rosenberg.
“Another huge hit which we created a few years back is our Princess Party at Ocean Cliff,” added Rosenberg. “Girls have the opportunity to get out and wear their gowns. It’s a fun time, and they get to sing along with the princesses.” Other popular family events include the Toe Jam Puppet Band, Magic by George, and the Reptile Show.
Of course, food events like the Chili Cook-Off and the Mac & Cheese Smackdown are central to the festival. The Newport Fire Department are the reigning chili champs with their Five Alarm Chili; “We have quite a few restaurants competing to take that trophy away from the fire department,” said Rosenberg. “It’s a fun, friendly competition, all-you-can-eat chili on a winter’s day. And we have 10 restaurants competing in the Mac and cheese competition – it’s going to be very exciting.”
Rosenberg points to the success of the festival and the boost it provides for local restaurants and businesses. “One gentleman came up to me last year and pointed his finger at me and said, ‘Do you know I had a one-hour wait at The Mooring because of you, and it’s the dead of winter?’ I said, ‘Well, that’s a good thing.’”
Don’t forget to pick up your festival bracelet – Click here for locations to purchase in advance.
Click here for the complete schedule to the Newport Winter Festival.
