Day 2 of the sold-out 2026 Newport Jazz Festival delivered another full and memorable Saturday at Fort Adams State Park, with Jonathan Batiste Trios and the closing “Sonny Miles on a Trane” set featuring Kamasi Washington and Chief Adjuah drawing some of the weekend’s biggest reactions from the crowd. Batiste’s Trios set on the Quad […]
Arts & Culture
A look at What’s Up in arts and culture in Newport, Rhode Island, and beyond.
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Jazz Festival opens with Vulfpeck, Robert Glasper, Little Simz, and more in packed Friday debut
The 2026 Newport Jazz Festival got underway Friday at Fort Adams State Park, delivering a full day of music across four stages from morning through evening. The day opened with a Local Jam on the Fort Stage and Braxton Cook on the Quad Stage, with Concurrence kicking off the Harbor Stage at 11 a.m. The […]
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Tiverton Public Library to host free talk on native medicinal plants for stress and anxiety
Herbalist and registered nurse Maggie Hatzpanian will present “Native Medicinal Plants for Stress and Anxiety” at the Tiverton Public Library on Wednesday, August 12, at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Hatzpanian is the owner of Maggie’s Healing Path, a wellness-focused small business offering herbal products, individual consultations, and educational […]
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St. George’s School to open public outdoor sculpture exhibition on Middletown campus August 7
St. George’s School will open a free public outdoor sculpture exhibition on its 125-acre Purgatory Road campus next week, featuring 11 contemporary works by prominent modern artists set against sweeping views of Second Beach and Sachuest Bay. “Sculpture on the Hilltop” runs Friday, August 7 through Saturday, November 14. The exhibition will be open 10 […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Boston saxophonist Seba Molnar brings contemporary jazz to NIMFest at King Park on August 2
The New England Music Organization will present The Seba Molnar Band and The John Monllos Trio at NIMFest 2026 on Sunday, August 2, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave. The event is free and open to the public. Headlining the afternoon is The Seba Molnar Band, a Boston-based […]
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Newport Classical announces 2026-2027 Chamber Series with twelve concerts starting in September
Newport Classical has announced its 2026-2027 Chamber Series, a twelve-concert season running from September through June at Newport Classical Recital Hall at 42 Dearborn St. Tickets go on sale to the public August 4 at newportclassical.org. The series opens September 18 with Invoke, a multi-instrumental quartet exploring American musical traditions from bluegrass and Appalachian fiddle […]
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Newport Mansions’ “Sessions” series continues with BBMak acoustic performance at the Isaac Bell House
BBMak, the British trio that topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic in the early 2000s, recently recorded a three-song acoustic set at the Isaac Bell House as part of the Newport Mansions’ ongoing “Sessions” music video series. The video will be released Wednesday, July 30, on the Newport Mansions YouTube channel (@newport.mansions). The […]
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Newport Beach Fest to bring NFL legends, beach football, and live entertainment to Fort Adams over Labor Day weekend
Fort Adams State Park will host an inaugural two-day waterfront festival over Labor Day weekend, bringing professional beach football, NFL legends, live entertainment, and more than 1,000 tons of sand to one of New England’s most iconic event venues. Newport Beach Fest is scheduled for September 5-6 and will serve as the debut of the […]
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Jamestown Arts Center to host talk on Vermeer forgeries and the Van Meegeren affair
One of the most sensational scandals in art history comes to Jamestown Arts Center next week when renowned Vermeer scholar Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. takes the stage for a JAC Talk on Wednesday, August 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. In “Vermeer, Vermeer Forgeries, and the ‘Van Meegeren Affair,'” Wheelock will examine the 1947 trial […]
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Newport Folk Festival closes out with Nathaniel Rateliff, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, and Mavis Staples in unforgettable Sunday finale
The 2026 Newport Folk Festival went out in style Sunday at Fort Adams State Park, closing its sold-out three-day run with a finale that few in attendance will soon forget. Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends headlined the Fort Stage to close the weekend, but it was the surprise guests that sent the crowd into a frenzy. […]
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Newport Folk Festival Day 2: The Lumineers close out a packed Saturday at Fort Adams
NEWPORT — Day 2 of the sold-out 2026 Newport Folk Festival delivered another full slate of music Saturday at Fort Adams State Park, with The Lumineers closing out the Fort Stage to cap an afternoon and evening that built steadily toward one of the weekend’s most anticipated headliners. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings turned heads […]
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Newport Folk Festival opens with Hayley Williams, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Courtney Barnett and more
The 2026 Newport Folk Festival kicked off Friday at the sold-out Fort Adams State Park, delivering a full day of music across more than three stages from morning through evening. The Fort Stage headliners set the tone for the weekend, with Courtney Barnett, Lucy Dacus, and Hayley Williams & Friends closing out the night. Ms. […]
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newportFILM and Newport Jazz Festival to present world premiere of documentary on pioneering photographer John Shearer
newportFILM, the Newport Jazz Festival, and the Newport Restoration Foundation will present the world premiere of John Shearer: American Moments on Thursday, July 30, at Rough Point, the historic Newport estate of philanthropist Doris Duke. The evening will also feature a live performance by the Alison Shearer Quartet, led by saxophonist Alison Shearer — daughter […]
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Jamestown Arts Center hosts Indonesian batik artists for illustrated talk and trunk show July 30
Internationally recognized batik artists Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam will visit the Jamestown Arts Center on Thursday, July 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. for an illustrated artist talk and trunk show exploring the cultural, philosophical, and creative dimensions of Indonesian batik. Drawing on more than 40 years of artistic practice at their studio, Babaran […]
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Newport NewWorks announces casts and directors for its second annual musical theater festival, August 2–16
Newport NewWorks has announced the casts and directors for the three original musicals making up its second annual Musical Theater Festival, running August 2–16 at the Casino Theatre, 9 Freebody St. The festival, founded by Academy Award-nominated producer Peilin Chou and theater producer Jeanne Hagerty, gives emerging and established writers a two-week residency to develop […]
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Newport Harbormaster urges paddlers to wear life jackets and stay alert during Folk and Jazz Festival weekends
With Newport Folk and Jazz Festival weekends drawing thousands of visitors to the water, the Newport Harbormaster is reminding paddlers and boaters to take extra precautions on what becomes one of the busiest stretches of Newport Harbor all summer. Kayaks, paddleboards, sailboats, launches, ferries, and powerboats all share the harbor during festival weekends, creating challenging […]
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From Houston to Matunuck: Jordan Okeke is having the summer of his life at Theatre by the Sea
Jordan Okeke has been a very lucky actor. He started working professionally while he was still in college. “I worked every summer,” said Okeke recently. “My university allowed you to work while you were still in school.” Okeke, who studied musical theater at Sam Houston State University, has spent his summer at Theatre by the […]
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NIMFest’s Songwriter Showcase returns to King Park this Sunday with Sweet Petunia, Natalie Paige, and Lainey Dionne
The New England Music Organization presents the second annual NIMFest Songwriter Showcase this Sunday, July 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave., featuring three of the region’s most compelling emerging singer-songwriters. Sweet Petunia, the folk duo of Mairead Guy and Maddy Simpson — twice nominated for Boston Music […]
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BTS, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Zach Bryan headline Gillette Stadium’s 2026 concert season
Gillette Stadium has announced its 2026 Concert Series presented by Dunkin’, a 10-show run from August through October featuring BTS, Chris Brown and Usher, Bruno Mars, Karol G, Ed Sheeran, and Zach Bryan. The season opens August 5 and 6 with BTS on the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’, marking the first and largest headlining K-pop […]
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Puddingstone Music closes its summer season with a Bill Evans tribute in Jamestown and a classical guitar evening at Rough Point
Puddingstone Music has announced two intimate salon-style concerts to close out its summer season, following its second annual festival at the Casino Theatre. On August 14, pianist Randy Ingram brings his trio to the Jamestown Arts Center for “Sound Within: A Celebration of Bill Evans,” with doors at 7 p.m. and music at 7:30 p.m. […]
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Two veteran singer-songwriters bound for Newport Folk Festival stop at Jamestown Arts Center on July 23
A pair of veteran singer-songwriters will make a stop at the Jamestown Arts Center on Thursday, July 23, just days before taking the stage at the Newport Folk Festival that Sunday. Logan Vath and Stephen Covell, both musicians supported by Operation Encore — a nonprofit that helps veteran and active-duty musicians advance their careers — […]
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Antique rug scholar Peter Pap brings illustrated lecture and trunk show to Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center in August
The Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center will host an illustrated lecture by internationally recognized rug scholar Peter Pap on Tuesday, August 4, followed by the arts center’s inaugural Antique Rug Trunk Show August 5–7. Pap’s lecture, Understanding Antique Rugs: Exploring the History and Learning the Finer Points of Color and Design in Rugs Woven Before […]
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The Jane Pickens Theater’s legendary Jaws Party returns this weekend with live music, beer tastings, and a 4K screening
The Jane Pickens Theater’s annual Jaws Party is back this weekend, bringing Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic back to the big screen in a new 4K restoration for three nights of shark-fueled summer celebration. Tonight, Friday, July 17, The Teledynes — a surf rock and rockabilly trio of electric guitar, upright slap bass, and drums — […]
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‘Bridging the Gap’ jazz dance and music festival returns to Salve Regina for a third year July 29–August 3
Salve Regina University will host “Bridging the Gap: A Jazz Dance and Music Festival” for the third consecutive year, bringing together jazz dancers, musicians, and educators for a week of performances and free community classes July 29 through August 3. The festival’s centerpiece is a Jazz Lounge at Ochre Court on Wednesday, July 29, at […]
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Rhode Island Philharmonic brings free outdoor concert to Rosecliff lawn on August 9
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a free outdoor concert on the back lawn of Rosecliff on Sunday, August 9, starting at 7 p.m., hosted by the Preservation Society of Newport County. Conducted by Troy Quinn, the program includes the “William Tell” and “1812” overtures alongside music from Phantom of the Opera, West Side […]
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Karla Bonoff, Garrison Keillor, and The Irish Tenors coming to the Jane Pickens Theater this fall
The Jane Pickens Theater has announced three new shows from Spectacle Live this fall and winter, with tickets going on sale Friday, July 17, at 10 a.m. at janepickens.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774. Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff opens the run on Saturday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m. Bonoff has written hits recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna […]
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The Newport Show returns for its 19th year July 25-26 at St. George’s School
The Newport Show returns for its 19th year on July 25 and 26 at the St. George’s School Ice Rink in Middletown, with a Gala Preview Party kicking things off the evening of Friday, July 24. This year’s show features more than 30 dealers offering art, antiques, and furniture, including new exhibitors Spiral Haus of […]
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Today In Newport History: July 14, 1966 – Tanya Donelly Born In Newport
Photo Credit Singer, songwriter and guitarist Tanya Donelly was born on July 14, 1966 in Newport. Donelly co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh while attending Rogers High School in 1981. The band toured and recorded until 1997. Donelly was also a founding member of The Breeders with Kim Deal of the Pixies. She was also a member […]
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Jane Pickens Theater launches ‘Sounds of Folk’ series this month with live tributes, documentaries, and an O Brother screening
The Jane Pickens Theater is marking Newport’s folk music season with a four-event Sounds of Folk Series running through the end of July, pairing live performances with documentaries and classic films celebrating the artists who shaped American roots music. The series opens Tuesday, July 21, with a live tribute concert marking the 50th anniversary of […]
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This Day in RI History: July 12, 1928 – Barbara Cowsill born in Cranston
July 12th, 1928 was the birthday of Barbara Cowsill, who performed along with her children in the family band The Cowsills. Cowsill was born Barbara Claire Russell in Cranston and married William “Bud” Cowsill in 1947. Bud got involved in the music business in the 1960’s and created The Cowsills, a family band, often cited […]
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Sakonnet Vineyard fills July with free live music, yoga, and a murder mystery
Sakonnet Vineyard has a packed July calendar of free live music, fitness classes, and a murder mystery evening at its 169-acre Little Compton property. Local and regional musicians perform Thursday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. The remaining July music lineup is: Saturday, July 12: […]
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Newport Art Museum opens major Angel Otero exhibition this weekend
Newport Art Museum opens its most significant exhibition of the summer this weekend: Angel Otero: The Ocean Forgot Your Garden, a two-site show bringing together early and recent work by the Puerto Rico-born, New York-based painter across the Griswold House and the Cushing Memorial Building. The exhibition opens Friday evening, July 10, as part of […]
Posted inBusiness
Wayfinder Newport launches Polaroid camera lending program for guests
Wayfinder Newport has partnered with Polaroid to offer guests a film camera to borrow during their stay, inviting them to explore the city through an analog lens rather than a phone screen. The program, called Going Analog, launched today. Guests can check out a Polaroid camera at the hotel and use it throughout their visit; […]
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Providence indie favorites Lazy Trail headline NIMFest 2026 this Sunday at King Park
Lazy Trail, a Providence-based indie rock and bedroom pop project, will headline the opening concert of NIMFest 2026 this Sunday, July 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave. Providence singer-songwriter Hey Rel opens the afternoon. Admission is free. Lazy Trail is the project of songwriter Emma Willer, whose […]
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Murder mystery event at Sakonnet Vineyard puts guests in the role of detective
Sakonnet Vineyard will host an interactive murder mystery dinner event this Saturday, July 11, giving guests the chance to channel their inner detective while sipping wine at New England’s oldest vineyard. “Whodunit?: Murder on the Petulant Express,” presented by WatermelonAlligator Theatre Co., is set aboard a 1930s luxury train and tasks guests with solving the […]
Posted inColumns
If the walls could talk: Revolutionary voices from behind the frame
I spend a lot of time in Newport’s fine art and cultural institutions: attending events, admiring the portraits and fine artwork on the walls, and feeling very fortunate to be a part of this historic, yet ever-evolving City-by-the-Sea. As I have been enjoying history lectures, book talks, Juneteenth events, museum openings, and exhibit previews this […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Theatre By The Sea brings marionettes, mermaids and SpongeBob to its 2026 Children’s Festival
Theatre By The Sea is marking 93 years with a summer Children’s Festival lineup that includes interactive sing-alongs, a Chinese folklore puppet show, a student-performed SpongeBob musical, and a bubble art spectacular. Performances run on select Fridays in July and August at the theatre, located at 364 Cards Pond Road. Tickets are $15, with group […]
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Firehouse Theater brings standup comedy to Newport this month with two shows
Newport’s Firehouse Theater is adding standup comedy to its July lineup, welcoming two comics to the stage this month before its regular weekend shows from The Bit Players. On Sunday, July 12, Boston-based comedian Andrew Mayer brings his new one-man show, Have Fun, Be Yourself, to the Firehouse ahead of a run at the prestigious […]
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On this day in RI history: July 6, 1949 Soap star James Kiberd born in Providence
Actor James Kiberd was born in Providence on July 6th, 1949. He is best known for his role as Trevor Dillon on the soap opera All My Children, where he starred from 1989-2000. Over the course of his career, Kiberd worked on other soaps including Another World and Loving. He worked closely with Kelly Ripa […]
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Book review: Neil deGrasse Tyson’s ‘Take Me To Your Leader’ is less etiquette guide than cosmic musing
I was expecting “Take Me To Your Leader: Perspectives On Your First Alien Encounter” to offer lots of insightful tips from famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on how to behave, what to say, and what questions to ask if a space alien were to come knocking at my front door. In fact, the back blurb […]
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Newport Contemporary Ballet presents Newport Dance Festival with a focus on freedom
Newport Contemporary Ballet will present the Newport Dance Festival from July 15 to 19, welcoming visiting companies from near and far for five evenings of dance at the Great Friends Meeting House Lawn. Each evening will feature a diverse lineup of works, including a world premiere by NCB’s own Emily Baker. As the country celebrates […]
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Roger Williams Park Zoo to host 21+ Pride Night on July 11
Roger Williams Park Zoo will host “Party with Pride,” an after-hours evening celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, on Saturday, July 11, from 6 to 10 p.m. The 21-and-over event invites queer adults and their allies to experience the zoo after hours, with a lineup of entertainment featuring Ace DJ Entertainment, Queer-e-oke hosted by Paul Parravano, and […]
Posted inColumns
Involuntary: The independence we struggle to protect
On June 12, at CCRI, there was a free, invitation-only, screening of Involuntary, a 13-minute, short film followed by a moderated panel discussion featuring award-winning filmmakers, Dana White and Chris Knoblock; Rhode Island State Representative Lauren Carson; Elizabeth Shields,MD, a family medicine physician in private-pay practice; Partanja Spann, Director of Rhode Island Outreach for Newport […]
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‘The Voice’ standout Madison Curbelo to open NIMFest 2026 at King Park Gazebo
The New England Music Organization will open the 2026 Newport Independent Music Festival, or NIMFest, with “The Voice” standout Madison Curbelo, performing with special guest Atticus Allen on Sunday, July 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave. The free, family-friendly series returns for the summer, bringing local and […]
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French ambassador to attend French in Newport as Newport Historical Society caps Independence Week
The Newport Historical Society’s yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence reaches its peak in July with a first-ever Independence Week, capped by a French in Newport living history experience that will draw the Ambassador of France to the United States. Beginning July 3, Independence Week features free events and public programs highlighting […]
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On This Day In History: June 27, 1966 – Dark Shadows premieres on ABC, Carey Mansion used as Collinwood Mansion
Dark Shadows, an American Gothic soap opera, premiered on ABC on June 27, 1966. Throughout the shows run from 1966 – 1971, The Collinwood stand-in mansion used for the TV series was Newport’s Seaview Terrace, also known as the Carey Mansion. The show, which ran for 7 seasons and 1,225 episodes, depicted the lives, loves, […]
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RENEWport’s 250 Archival Project invites Newport youth to reflect on America’s anniversary
RENEWport is inviting local youth to share their reflections on the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through its Semiquincentennial 250 Archival Project, with the second round of submissions open through June 30. The project, a collaboration with the Newport Historical Society, Newport Public Schools and the Met East Bay School, is open […]
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Charter Books to host bestselling author Jenny Jackson at OceanCliff for ‘The Shampoo Effect’
Charter Books will welcome Jenny Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of “Pineapple Street” and vice president and editorial director of fiction at Alfred A. Knopf, to Newport for a special event at OceanCliff celebrating her latest novel, “The Shampoo Effect.” The event will take place Monday, July 13, from 4 to 6 p.m., with […]
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For actor Alex LeBlanc, a summer of ‘Grease’ and ‘Titanic’ at Theatre by the Sea
Alex LeBlanc is excited to spend a chunk of his summer at Theatre by the Sea. The 24-year-old East Greenwich actor is appearing both in “Grease” and “Titanic.” “This is my first time (at Theatre by the Sea) as an adult,” said LeBlanc in our recent interview. “I did ‘Mary Poppins’ here in 2014. I […]
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Newport Vineyards launches Tuesday Tunes series and continues Sunday music through August
Newport Vineyards will kick off its Tuesday Tunes music series next week and continue its weekly Sunday Music Series, offering free live music at the Middletown winery throughout the summer. The Tuesday Tunes series runs from 5 to 8 p.m. weekly, beginning June 30 with Funkademic. Guests can bring lawn chairs and order from a […]
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newportFILM Outdoors returns June 25 with a summer of documentaries and filmmaker conversations
newportFILM Outdoors returns Thursday, June 25, launching a 10-week summer series of open-air documentary screenings at iconic locations across Newport, with a lineup spanning surfing, sailing, soccer, space exploration, music and poetry. The season opens on the Great Friends Meeting House Lawn with the fan favorite “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World.” […]
Posted inHistory
On This Day In History – June 24, 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier and JFK Announce Engagement
Jacqueline Bouvier and Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) announced their engagement on this day in 1953. After she accepted his proposal, Kennedy presented her with a 2.88-carat diamond-and-emerald engagement ring from Van Cleef & Arpels. Kennedy went on to become the nation’s 35th president in 1961. Jackie, as she was widely known, soon emerged as […]
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Jane Pickens Theater to host two special film events on storytelling, music and cultural change
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center will present two special film events this summer, each pairing a screening with a live conversation exploring storytelling, music and cultural change. The first, on Monday, June 29, is a special screening of the acclaimed 2025 romantic drama “The History of Sound,” followed by a live conversation with […]
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Newport Classical to present New England premiere of new work by Vivian Fung at The Breakers
The Newport Classical Music Festival will present the New England premiere of “Goddess//Insect,” a new work co-commissioned from JUNO Award-winning composer Vivian Fung, on Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. at The Breakers. The piece is written for violinist Kristin Lee, praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “electric energy,” and the GRAMMY-nominated ensemble […]
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Friends of the Waterfront announces free 2026 summer concert series at King Park
Friends of the Waterfront will present its free 2026 Waterfront Concert Series at the King Park gazebo this summer, opening Friday, June 26, with the James Montgomery Band. The series runs on select Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. through early September at the park, 125 Wellington Ave. All performances are free and […]
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Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week returns Oct. 1-4 with new Supercar Concours
Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week will return Oct. 1 to 4, with the eighth edition of the event expanding into a two-concours weekend for the first time. The event arrives fresh off being named Motoring Event of the Year at the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards, just three years after receiving the organization’s Rising […]
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Park Theatre announces fall lineup with Molly Tuttle, Wheel of Fortune Live!, AJ McLean and Andy Grammer
The Historic Park Theatre & Event Center has announced a fall lineup featuring Grammy-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle, the game show experience Wheel of Fortune Live!, Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean and multi-platinum pop artist Andy Grammer. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 26, at 10 a.m. at theparkri.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774, though tickets for […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jane Pickens Theater unveils summer concert lineup, headlined by Rolling Thunder Revue tribute
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center has announced a summer lineup of live music celebrating rock legends, blues virtuosos and original artists, headlined by a 50th-anniversary tribute to Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. The centerpiece event, “Rolling Thunder Revue — Live Tribute Concert,” comes to the theater on Tuesday, July 21, with doors at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Classical Music Festival to present four special chamber concerts at The Breakers and Blithewold
The Newport Classical Music Festival will spotlight the intimate genre of chamber music with four special performances for trios and quartets between July 5 and July 12, part of a festival that turns the City by the Sea into a summer destination for music lovers. Running from July 2 to 19, the festival features 30 […]
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Jamestown Arts Center presents ‘A Celebration of Trees’ summer exhibition
The Jamestown Arts Center will present “A Celebration of Trees,” a multimedia group exhibition exploring humanity’s enduring relationship with trees, on view from June 26 through Aug. 29. Curated by Laurie Dolphin, the exhibition features 21 artists from Southern New England and around the world working in painting, sculpture, photography, film and mixed media. The […]
Posted inNews
Music in Middletown summer concert series set to launch July 1
Middletown’s popular Music in Middletown series returns this summer with a slate of free, family-friendly concerts running from July through August at Second Beach and Paradise Valley Park. The season opens Wednesday, July 1, with an America 250 celebration from 6 to 9:15 p.m. at Second Beach, 315 Sachuest Point Road. Hosted by the town’s […]
Posted inArts & Culture
newportFILM announces 2026 outdoor summer documentary series
newportFILM has unveiled the schedule for its 2026 outdoor documentary series, a run of free Thursday-night screenings at venues across Newport, each paired with live music and many with conversations featuring filmmakers and special guests. The series opens Thursday, June 25, with “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” at the Great Friends […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum to honor Sheila Isham and celebrate Angel Otero at 2026 Summer Art Party
The Newport Art Museum will welcome supporters to its annual Summer Art Party on Friday, July 10, marking the opening of two major exhibitions and raising funds for the museum’s school and education programs. The gala, a staple of Newport’s summer season that drew more than 550 guests last year, coincides with the opening of […]
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‘Revolution Reimagined’ exhibition at Rosecliff offers fresh look at America’s founding
A new exhibition at Rosecliff will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States by taking a fresh perspective on the American Revolution and how it has been remembered and understood over the centuries. “Revolution Reimagined: Evolving Stories from Newport’s Past” opens June 26 and runs through Nov. 1. The exhibition focuses on Newport, where […]
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Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel joins Kingston Chamber Music Festival’s 2026 season
The Kingston Chamber Music Festival will present its 38th season, “Life, Liberty, & Music,” from July 22 to Aug. 2 on the University of Rhode Island campus, highlighted by its first collaboration with Rhode Island native and Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel. While many Rhode Islanders know Beisel as a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Fort Adams Trust marks Independence Week with July Fourth fireworks and veterans tribute
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 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Belcourt to unveil first permanent display of Statue of Liberty artifacts on July 4
Belcourt of Newport will open the first permanent exhibition of original metal artifacts removed from the Statue of Liberty during her 1980s restoration on July 4, timing the unveiling to the 250th anniversary of American independence. The exhibition, “Bones of the Statue of Liberty: Structural Elements Removed During 1984-1986 Restoration,” marks the first time many […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Judy Collins returns to Newport for one more night at the Jane Pickens
Judy Collins returned to Newport for one more visit to the Jane Pickens Theater, taking the stage in strong voice as she prepares to launch her “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes” farewell tour, which officially kicks off July 4 in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The tour will run through the winter of 2027. While it marks her […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Classical Music Festival spotlights the piano in four July concerts
The Newport Classical Music Festival will spotlight the piano this summer with four featured concerts, part of a festival running July 2-19 that includes 30 concerts across 11 venues. The piano series brings several of today’s sought-after performers to Newport’s mansions and historic spaces. Tchaikovsky Competition prizewinner Dmitry Shishkin opens the series July 3 at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Princess June Band wins 2026 LeRoy White ‘Soul & Conscience Award’
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County has named the Princess June Band the winner of the 2026 LeRoy White “Soul & Conscience Award,” presented in partnership with the White family. The $5,000 award, now in its fourth year, honors musicians who embody the character of LeRoy White, the Newport musician who built a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jane Pickens Theater to host Rhode Island premiere of ‘Mermaid’ with star Johnny Pemberton
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center will host the Rhode Island premiere of “Mermaid,” a SXSW selection, on Friday, June 12, with a special in-person appearance by the film’s star, actor and comedian Johnny Pemberton. After the screening, Pemberton will join a live onstage discussion and audience Q&A moderated by Rhode Island filmmakers the […]
Posted inHistory
This Day in RI History: June 10, 1772 – The burning of the HMS Gaspee
One of the most celebrated events in Rhode Island history happened on June 10th, 1772. The Gaspee Affair, which is still celebrated annually with festivals, a parade and a re-enactment, was a pivital moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution. The story is widely known. In the weeks preceding the burning of the Gaspee, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jane Pickens Theater marks America’s 250th with ‘American Character(s)’ film series
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with “American Character(s),” a film series exploring the figures and stories that have defined American cinema, running June 10 through July 7. The series brings together Hollywood classics and documentaries that examine both the characters in American movies and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charter Books to host Juneteenth author talk on slavery and freedom in Newport
Charter Books, in collaboration with the Newport Historical Society, will host an evening with Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes on Wednesday, June 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the bookstore, 8 Broadway. De Barros Gomes, director of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History and a Brown University lecturer, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts & Cultural Alliance to honor local artists at Raise Up the Arts event June 24
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will hold its annual Raise Up the Arts event Wednesday, June 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Easton’s Pavilion, upstairs at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Ave. The evening features live music, small bites and the presentation of four awards. The Newport String Project will […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Rosalind Weir to receive Arts & Cultural Alliance’s 2026 Dominique Award
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will present its 2026 Dominique Award to Rosalind Weir at its annual Raise Up the Arts celebration on Tuesday, June 24, at Johnny’s Restaurant at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown. The award, created in 2010, honors people who have contributed time, influence and […]
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Newport Classical to present free children’s concert featuring ‘Peter and the Wolf’ on Aug. 15
Newport Classical will present its annual free children’s concert on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. at the Newport County YMCA, 792 Valley Road in Middletown. The wind members of Frisson, a New York-based chamber ensemble, will perform Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” in what the organization described as an interactive, family-friendly retelling. The […]
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Tickets go on sale June 5 for slate of Spectacle Live shows at the JPT and Park Theatre
Promoter Spectacle Live announced four upcoming shows at two Rhode Island venues, with tickets for all four going on sale Friday, June 5, at 10 a.m. At the JPT Film & Event Center in Newport, the lineup includes the jazz group the Hot Sardines on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m., and Tusk: The Classic […]
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Newport Mansions mark America’s 250th with exhibition, plays and lecture series
The Preservation Society of Newport County is marking the nation’s 250th anniversary with a summer-and-fall slate of programming, anchored by a new exhibition, theatrical performances, children’s programs and a series of lectures by leading voices in American history and the arts. The centerpiece is “Revolution Reimagined: Evolving Stories from Newport’s Past,” an exhibition running June […]
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Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Beach Bash returns to Third Beach this July
The Norman Bird Sanctuary will turn its Third Beach property into a relaxed coastal evening of live music, beach games and s’mores this summer as its popular Beach Bash returns Wednesday, July 29. The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. and invites guests to bring picnic dinners, settle in along the shoreline and enjoy […]
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Jane Pickens Theater serves up classic cinema with a side of wine and beer this June
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center is rolling out a trio of classic film events this June, pairing big-screen restorations with curated tastings and themed programming at its historic Washington Square venue. The series opens June 2 with “Chinatown,” Roman Polanski’s 1974 neo-noir starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston. The 7:30 p.m. […]
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Tiverton library to host talk on Revolutionary War art on June 13
The Tiverton Public Library will host a free art appreciation talk titled “Early American Art, Revolutionary Images” on Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. The presentation will be given by Jill Sanford of Art for Your Mind and will look at famous people, places and events of the Revolutionary War through the eyes of artists […]
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‘Jaws’ returns to the Jane Pickens Theater for summer party series starting May 29
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center will kick off summer with its annual “Jaws” party on Friday, May 29, before bringing Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster back to the big screen for three more screenings in July. The series features a newly restored 4K print of the film, live music from local bands and beer […]
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Tiverton library to host ‘Rethinking Lawns’ talk on June 10
The Tiverton Public Library will host a free talk titled “Rethinking Lawns” on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will be given by Emily Dutra of Butterfly Effect Farm and will cover the history of lawns, how to treat them organically and alternatives to traditional lawns, according to the library. The event is […]
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Journalist Amy Goodman to appear at The JPT for documentary screenings
Journalist and “Democracy Now!” host Amy Goodman will appear in person at the Jane Pickens Theater in Newport for special screenings of the documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” from June 27 to 30, the theater announced. Goodman will join director Tia Lessin for post-screening question-and-answer sessions following the showings on Friday, June 27, at 7:30 […]
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This Day in RI History: May 24, 1988 – Singer Billy Gilman is born
Singer-Songwriter Billy Gilman was born on this date in Westerly, RI in 1988. In 2000, at age 11, he emerged as a child star after being discovered by Ray Benson of the popular country band Asleep at the Wheel. Gilman had a hit with the song “One Voice” in 2000, when he became the youngest […]
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This Day in History: May 24, 1941 – Bob Dylan is born
OK, we know, he’s not a native Rhode Islander, but perhaps his greatest moment as a musician came in Newport in 1965. Singer-songwriter, “song and dance man” Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman on this day in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. Dylan moved to New York City in 1961 and the rest is history. He […]
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Charter Books to host bestselling author Annabel Monaghan at OceanCliff on June 8
Charter Books will host New York Times bestselling author Annabel Monaghan for a summer cocktail event at OceanCliff on Monday, June 8, to celebrate her latest novel, “Dolly All the Time.” The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m., with Monaghan, author of “Nora Goes Off Script,” in conversation with Kylie McCollough, founder of the […]
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High school senior’s charity car rally to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital rolls out from Newport today
A youth-led charity car rally benefiting Hasbro Children’s Hospital sets off from Newport today, the inaugural edition of an event organized by a local high school senior. Jack Masse, a senior at Providence Country Day School in East Providence and a longtime volunteer at the Audrain Automobile Museum, created The Rhode Rally as his senior […]
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Remembering the fallen and honoring Gold Star Families: Operation Stand Down RI Memorial returns to Newport this Memorial Day weekend
Exactly four years ago this month, the Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Exeter erected a Gold Star Families monument to honor those families who sacrificed a loved one for our freedom. A Gold Star Family signals a family who has lost a loved one during activity-duty military service. There are estimated to be more […]
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The Firehouse Theater announces summer 2026 lineup of improv, comedy and storytelling
The Firehouse Theater has unveiled its summer 2026 schedule, featuring programming for audiences of all ages from the Newport comedy venue. Every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., The Bit Players, billed as Rhode Island’s most award-winning comedy group, will take the stage for their fast-paced short-form improv show. In addition to the weekend shows, […]