The Fort Adams Trust will mark Independence Week with three days of free public programming at Fort Adams State Park, anchored by its annual Fourth of July celebration overlooking Newport Harbor and continuing with tribute days honoring veterans and welcoming families.
“There’s no better place to celebrate the Fourth than within the walls of one of America’s great coastal fortifications,” said Paul Marshall, executive director of the Fort Adams Trust. “This Independence Week, we’re proud to honor those who have served, welcome the next generation of visitors, and give the community a front-row seat to the fireworks over the harbor.”
The Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 4, will feature live music, family activities and one of the area’s best views of Newport’s fireworks. The parade field at the East Gate opens at 6 p.m., with music from The Americano’s from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and fireworks beginning at about 9:15 p.m. Food trucks will be on site, and guests are welcome to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs. Bouncy houses and lawn games will be available for all ages.
Admission is free, but registration is required for access to the parade field and on-site parking. Organizers noted that registration is not the only way to see the fireworks, as Fort Adams State Park is a public park and will remain open to all; registration simply provides access to event amenities and parking inside the fort. The trust encouraged carpooling, biking and patience to ease congestion. Registration is available through the trust’s website.
On Sunday, July 5, the trust will mark Veterans Appreciation Day with free self-guided and guided tours for all veterans and active-duty service members during operating hours, using the promo code JULY5VET at online checkout. The fort will also serve as a state hosting site for America’s Potluck Day, a nationwide event held as part of the official U.S. semiquincentennial. Rather than a potluck, visitors are invited to bring a picnic, blanket or chair and enjoy the waterfront grounds, which open at 9 a.m.
That evening, in partnership with the Newport Historical Society and Newport VFW Post 406, the trust will honor veterans with a performance by the Navy Band Northeast Trident Brass Quintet beginning at 6 p.m.
Independence Week is part of a season-long lineup of free public events at Fort Adams running from late June through October. The Summer Series opens Wednesday, June 24, with Chelley Knight & The Dope Things and continues with performances by The Ravers on Aug. 12, Honky Tonk Knights on Aug. 19 and Atticus & Friends on Aug. 26, all with food trucks on site. A summer lecture, “From Revolution to Ramparts,” exploring Irish and Irish-American influence on the American Revolution and Fort Adams, will be held Aug. 16 in partnership with the Museum of Newport Irish History. The season closes Saturday, Oct. 17, with “Tunnels & Terror,” a family-friendly Halloween experience and outdoor movie, with costumes encouraged.
All Fort Adams Trust public events this season are free and open to the public, made possible through the support of the trust’s sponsors. More information is available at fortadams.org.
