The Newport Flower Show, hosted annually by the Preservation Society of Newport County at Rosecliff mansion, is the official bellwether of summer in Newport. It helps that this event is typically planned around the summer solstice when Aquidneck Islanders are clamoring for sunshine and longer days. This year commemorated the event’s 30th anniversary and the theme was “Pearls of Newport.” In addition to the creative and exquisite floral arrangements and objêts d’art on display, the sartorially clad visitors evoked living art sculptures, all dressed in their refinery and floral hats — flowing summer dresses, brightly-color suit jackets, fascinators, and straw hats. The excited guests lined up in Rosecliff’s historic and newly renovated ballroom reminded me of how I envision Peacock Alley, the 300-foot interior promenade conceived by John Jacob Astor IV to unify the Waldorf and Astoria hotels back in 1897. It became New York City’s most fashionable “see and be seen” promenade in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Gilded Age journalists coined the term “Peacock Alley,” which morphed into the vernacular term “peacocking,” – still used today – when men and women strut their latest finery to attract attention or pose to get their photos taken.
When guests stepped out to the glorious back lawn, which gently slopes down to the ocean, they were welcomed by creative artisans and vendors serving up delightful merchandise under brightly colored canopies, surrounded by lush landscaping. My companion said, “Don’t you think this is what Heaven is like?” I couldn’t agree more!
Regarding the expansive floral competition, there were so many entries worthy of ribbons; it was exhilarating to see how much joy they brought to all the guests. Two of my personal favorites were in the succulent category: a miniature of Marble House’s iconic Chinese Tea House, and a re-imagined lady’s antique vanity, sporting succulents and pearls.
Newport Bermuda Race
On Friday afternoon, thousands of people gathered at the wind-blown tip of Fort Adams State Park to observe and cheer on the starting line competitors in the 54th edition of the Newport Bermuda biennial race, which was founded in 1906. The 2026 Race also marked the 100th anniversary of the relationship between the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club who jointly organize the race.
This year, 1,367 sailors representing 25 countries are crewing on board 158 sailing vessels for the 636 nautical mile race. Nearly 40% of these sailors are first-time Bermuda Race sailors. The typical duration from starting line in Newport Harbor to the finish line in Bermuda is 3-6 days.
Pro tip: This race has become so popular and is generating so many out-of-state guests who come to visit Newport and Fort Adams on this day every alternate year, it is recommended that car travel to the event be avoided at all costs!
Celebrating Juneteenth in Newport
The country’s newest national holiday, Juneteenth, a.k.a. Freedom Day, which was commemorated on Friday, June 19th, brought the long-anticipated ribbon cutting and official opening of the city’s newest museum, the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History, which is part of the Newport Historical Society. The new Center is located in the oldest surviving house in Newport, built in 1697, named the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, at 17 Broadway. It was chosen as the ideal facility for this important new chapter due to its prime central location, and the house’s many relevant occupants over the centuries, which included many enslaved people, two Governors of the state of Rhode Island, and several Loyalists to the Crown.
More than 100 Newporters gathered in the newly-seeded back garden to listen to an A-list gathering of city and state dignitaries paying tribute to this major accomplishment and to celebrate Black History and how far we have come since both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Many speakers duly noted how much further we still have to go as a community and as a country.
U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Congressman Gabe Amo, and Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore joined Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University inaugural director Anthony “Tony” Bogues, and Newport Historical Society Chairman and Executive Director — Doug Newhouse and Rebecca Bertrand – respectively, in offering very personal and thoughtful comments on the relevance of the new Center, the importance of its location, and its mission.
Two additional highlights of the morning occurred when Victoria Johnson, a.k.a. “Mrs. J.”, a former principal of Rogers High School and a well-known leader within the Newport community, took the microphone and talked about her earliest memories of segregation when she was a young girl growing up on Mary St. in Historic Hill. “How far we’ve come,” she exclaimed with a smile. She ended her brief comments with “When I was a little girl, I knew something was wrong. Today, everything is right. I see a better integration today of people who really care.”
A second highlight was when Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, the Center’s new Executive Director, took the podium and shared personal stories of her childhood growing up in Newport, and how learning about Black History in her graduate school years made her want to pursue this calling in her academic work. Both she and the one of the co-founders of the Center, Edward W. Kane, stated that the Center is not just about learning history, but rather it’s intended to be a vibrant center for research, writing, conversation and community for the future.
The Newport Historical Society and the Center for Black History hosted multiple free and ticketed Juneteenth events all weekend long for the public to celebrate their inaugural weekend and the holiday. The Center is now open to the public as of Juneteenth 2026.
A Statewide Celebration at Fort Adams
Saturday brought more high winds to Fort Adams and another all-day long Juneteenth celebration inside the fort which included multiple musket salutes and a re-enactors parade by the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, more thoughtful and reflective honorary speeches from many city and state dignitaries, a gospel concert, Native American dancing, storytelling and drumming, and a compelling keynote address — by Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore, and remarks by Senator Jack Reed, Governor Dan McKee, and Newport Mayor Charlie Holder.
This event is organized every year by the non-profit organization, Rhode Island Slave History Medallions (RISHM). This year the intention was to tie it to the country’s 250th celebration, in addition to providing living history exhibits.
The food trucks, presented by Heritage Hospitality, provided Juneteenth-inspired menu items, themed for the occasion, for attendees to enjoy. WUN’s Justin Walker has a more detailed spotlight of the event, with photos, here.
Michele Gallagher is an advocate of local businesses, community leaders, and non-profits and is the founder of City-by-the-Sea Communications.
