The Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival returns for its 35th year Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
Admission is free, and the festival runs rain or shine under the tents. Food and drink are sold at vendor booths. A portion of proceeds from the festival bars benefits Child & Family, the Middletown-based nonprofit.
Neighboring restaurants and fishermen’s associations will serve lobster rolls, stuffies, chowder, fried calamari, clams, oysters and fish tacos, along with options for people who don’t eat seafood, plus donuts, kettle corn and chocolate-covered fruit. Signature cocktails and beer will be available, with café-style seating throughout the wharf.
Six bands will play the BankNewport Stage across the weekend, spanning folk, surf rock and blues.
Saturday
- The Grafters, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Motion Ave, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- Angelus Hall, 3 to 6 p.m.
Sunday
- Blistering Ego, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Nena Belen, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- The Ravers, 3 to 6 p.m.
Vendors scheduled include Newport Lobster Shack, Blount Clam Shack, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Luke’s Lobster, 22 Bowen’s, Wharf Fish House & Coastal Seafood Tavern, Newport Chowder Company, Little Fish, Shuckin Truck, 401 Oyster Co., Aquidneck Island Oyster Co., Hometown Poke, Diego’s Newport, Binge BBQ, Caribbean Delights, Siamora Fusion Cuisine, Burrito Bowl, Little Clam, Wally’s Wieners, Sunset Farm, Behan Family Farms, Sweet B’s Donuts, BerrySweets and Mooseman’s Kettle Corn. The Ocean State Aquaculture Association and the Rhode Island Shellfisherman’s Association will also be on the wharf.
Through Bike Newport’s Get There By Bike program, high-capacity bike racks will be set up near the entrance to Market Square, marked with a Get There By Bike flag. Additional racks on America’s Cup Avenue and in Queen Anne Square fill up quickly, according to Bike Newport.
The festival has been named one of Coastal Living magazine’s “10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast,” according to Bowen’s Wharf.
Bowen’s Wharf has two more events scheduled: Trick or Treat on Bowen’s Wharf on Oct. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m., and the annual Christmas tree lighting on Saturday, Dec. 5, with Santa arriving by boat.
For more information and updates, visit https://bowenswharf.com/events/annual-seafood-festival/.
