The circus is coming back to town. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey announced Tuesday that “The Greatest Show On Earth” will return to Providence for six performances at Amica Mutual Pavilion from May 29-31, 2026. Tickets are now on sale for the reimagined production, which promises a high-energy, music-driven experience featuring 65 world-class performers […]
Arts & Culture
A look at What’s Up in arts and culture in Newport, Rhode Island, and beyond.
Posted inArts & Culture, Real Estate
Counties with the most pre-war homes in Rhode Island
Pre-war homes—those built before 1939—are architectural gems. They are sturdy, charming, and often what people are referring to when they look at the prevalent colorless, linear designs of today and lament “they just don’t make them like they used to.” In some ways, that’s a good thing. Pre-war homes often contained materials we know to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Rail Explorers celebrates one-millionth rider with lesson in aging well
On Friday, October 17, a simple, joy-filled celebration took place in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, as Rail Explorers marked its one-millionth ride. This achievement represents more than a milestone–it reflects how we can still find wonder in new experiences, the beauty of nature, and the shared happiness that comes from doing something together in the open […]
Posted inArts & Culture
New PBS docuseries ‘Ocean State’ explores Rhode Island’s marine wonders
Rhode Island’s coastal waters are getting the nature documentary treatment they deserve. Ocean State Media and The Nature Conservancy announced Friday that filming has begun on “Ocean State,” a four-part PBS docuseries showcasing the remarkable marine ecosystems off Rhode Island’s coast, with special attention to the biodiversity hotspot surrounding Block Island. The series, produced by […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jamestown Arts Center to screen rare David Lynch short films Oct. 29
The Jamestown Arts Center will present a collection of rarely shown short films by director David Lynch on Wednesday, Oct. 29, offering audiences a chance to experience the filmmaker’s early experimental work on the big screen. Doors open at 6 p.m., with screenings beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission. The event […]
Posted inArts & Culture
JPT Film & Event Center honors Robert Redford with eight-film retrospective
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center is launching a film series this month honoring the late Robert Redford, showcasing eight of the actor and filmmaker’s most celebrated works over the coming months. Redford died Sept. 16 at age 89. “Remembering Robert Redford” kicks off Sunday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. with a screening of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Best-selling author, classic rom-com highlight The JPT’s fall storytelling series
The JPT Film & Event Center will celebrate storytelling this fall with a series of special events featuring a best-selling author, a classic romantic comedy and a documentary about book bans. Best-selling fantasy author Carissa Broadbent will appear at the theater Oct. 20 for a book signing and discussion hosted by Charter Books. The Providence-based […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s happening this weekend in Newport: Oct. 17-19
Discover all that’s happening for live music, entertainment, and events this weekend in and around Newport. Organizing an event? Add it to What’sUpNewp’s event calendar. Friday, Oct. 17 Things To Do 8 a.m.: 2025 DF95 National Championship at Fort Adams State Park 10 a.m.: Class of 2026 T-Shirt Sale at Rogers High School 11 a.m.: […]
Posted inArts & Culture
34th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival returns this weekend
The 34th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival returns Saturday and Sunday, offering two days of fresh seafood, live music and coastal celebration on Newport’s historic waterfront. The festival, named one of Coastal Living Magazine’s “10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast,” runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days with free admission. Attendees can […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Historian to discuss Irish American identity shifts at Museum of Newport Irish History
The Museum of Newport Irish History will present the second talk of its 24th Annual Lecture Series on Monday, featuring historian Dr. Timothy J. Meagher discussing the transformation of Irish American identity across four decades. Meagher, retired professor of history and archivist at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., will deliver “Irish American Identity in Transition: […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport to host pop-opera gala benefiting mental health awareness
Rising pop artist Krystofer Maison will bring his touring production “The Glitter Ball: Gilded Edition” to Provence sur Mer on Thursday, Oct. 23, for an evening blending pop and opera performances with mental health advocacy. The event, running from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature Maison alongside opera singer and drag performer Creatine Price, a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Tickets on sale for Halloween, holiday events at Newport Mansions
The Preservation Society of Newport County has announced tickets are now on sale for its annual Halloween and holiday celebrations at the Newport Mansions. Trick or treat at The Breakers Halloween Trick or Treat at The Breakers returns Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, with admission in two sessions each evening at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Letter to the Editor: In defense of live entertainment
This isn’t to add commentary to an already overflowing conversation about the ethics of TikTok. This isn’t to say that electronic media is evil, certainly not when I am using modern technology to write this all down. This isn’t an admonishment of the “brain rot” era that some say we live in. This isn’t commentary […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jim Belushi to perform holiday concert at The JPT Film + Event Center
Actor, musician, and comedian Jim Belushi will bring his holiday show to The JPT Film + Event Center on Friday, Dec. 12, for a fundraising concert benefiting Newport’s Broadway Street Fair. “Home For The Holidays: Jim Belushi & Friends Live In Concert” will feature Belushi alongside an ensemble of musicians, including members of the Rolling […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment, News
Leo Kottke’s Newport concert postponed, new date to be announced
Guitar legend Leo Kottke’s highly anticipated performance at the Jane Pickens Theater has been postponed from its original Wednesday night slot due to illness. The concert, scheduled for October 15 at 7:30 PM, has been rescheduled after Kottke was diagnosed with pneumonia, according to producer Spectacle Live. A new performance date in early 2026 is […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra to open season with Gershwin, Ravel
The Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra will kick off its 2025-2026 season with a diverse program ranging from French impressionism to American jazz Nov. 2 at East Providence High School. The 3 p.m. concert at the school’s auditorium, 2000 Pawtucket Ave., will feature interim Music Director John Eells leading the orchestra through works by Maurice […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Broadway Street Fair celebrates 10th anniversary with record crowds and community spirit
The 2025 Broadway Street Fair, which originated in 2016 following years of major construction up and down the main thoroughfare, was a massive success on its 10th calendar Anniversary. This free event is family-friendly and stretches from Equality Park down to Washington Square with six stages along the way serving up a broad array of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charter Books to host cookbook event with Rhode Island author
Charter Books will host Rhode Island cookbook author Polina Chesnakova for a cooking demonstration and tasting on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Pivotal Brewing. Chesnakova will demonstrate how to make varenyky, a stuffed dumpling featured in her recently published cookbook “Chesnok: Cooking from My Corner of the Diaspora: Recipes from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum reopens members’ exhibition after community feedback
The Newport Art Museum is bringing back its Members’ Juried Exhibition after a strategic planning process revealed strong community demand for the tradition. The exhibition, titled “Springboard,” opens Jan. 22, 2026, in the museum’s historic John N.A. Griswold House and will feature works by museum members displayed alongside pieces from the permanent collection. The show […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Spotlighting the busy women (and a few good men) behind the scenes at the Broadway Street Fair
Historians and cartographers will tell you that “Broadway” is typically one of the first streets laid out on a city map, designed as a central artery for commerce. The name, derived from the Dutch Breede weg, meaning “broad way,” likely originated from Native American footpaths that ran diagonally down the length of Manhattan Island. Newport’s […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Classical to present pianist Charlotte Hu, saxophonist Valentin Kovalev in November
Newport Classical will present two concerts in November as part of its ongoing Chamber Series, featuring a Taiwanese American pianist and a Siberian saxophonist making his local debut. Pianist Charlotte Hu will perform works by Chopin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Newport Classical Recital Hall, 42 Dearborn St. Saxophonist Valentin Kovalev will take […]
Posted inArts & Culture
From Harvest Festivals to Haunted Mansions: Newport’s fall calendar is packed with events
As temperatures cool and leaves begin to turn, Newport’s fall season is heating up with a packed calendar of festivals, milestone celebrations and seasonal experiences that showcase why autumn might just be the best time to visit The Classic Coast. “It’s no secret that Newport’s autumn charm and crisp weather make it the perfect backdrop […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Former ProJo reporter explores coal’s legacy at Charter Books event
Since the industrial revolution of the late 1800s, coal has remained a significant energy source in the United States, peaking in the mid-20th century, and declining because of environmental concerns. Even with those concerns, coal remains a significant source of energy in certain areas of the United States. Recently, the Trump administration has been promoting […]