17 Must-Do Spring Events and Happenings in Rhode Island
May 12, 2022
WINE DINNER WITH CHEF SHAWN HERGATT at Coast, May 14, 2022
The legendary Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, welcomes Chef Shawn Hergatt to COAST for one night only. Hergatt, a James Beard nominated chef, is a classically trained creative talent renowned for his technically precise cooking and painterly presentations. The Australian has helmed kitchens at fine dining restaurants in New York City and Miami earning Michelin stars and highly touted accolades along the way.
Today, Hergatt owns and operates Caviar Bar in Las Vegas with a focus on world-class caviar along with fresh seafood and shareable plates alongside delectable entrees and rich desserts. At this dinner, the menu has been crafted to highlight Hergatt’s passion for fine foods presented in artful ways paired with expertly selected wines. More here.
Newport Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival, May 14-15, 2022
Food Truck Festivals of America is coming to Newport for the 2nd Annual Newport Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival! This fun-filled, al fresco event at Fort Adams State Park takes place on two days and features tons of the area’s most popular food trucks dishing out fan favorites. More than a dozen regional and national craft breweries will be on hand to pour cold ones all day and quench your thirst.
Looking for the most enjoyable way to get there? The Jamestown Newport Ferry will offer express ferry service from Jamestown. The festival take place rain or shine, in true “hearty New Englandah” style. Important to note: admission tickets are cheap but must be purchased in advance. Click here for more information.
NEWPORT OYSTER & CHOWDER FESTIVAL, MAY 21-22, 2022
From briny bivalves to creamy chowder, the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival is one of the best things to do in Rhode Island as you can taste your way around the Ocean State – all in one place! Sip champagne and enjoy oysters and chowder from local growers and vendors along Newport’s bustling waterfront all weekend long. With more than 45 participating oyster farms, what better way to savor the terrior of our local waters?
The flavors are distinctive to each farm, so this is your chance to savor a sampling of them in one festive atmosphere! Growers will be shucking alongside local restaurants and you’ll enjoy live music under the colorful festival tents. Additional oysters, a full bar and other food provided by local restaurants will also be available on site.
Spring Lighthouse Cruises, Thursdays through Sundays
Cruise through Narragansett Bay on the Coastal Queen while guides point out the magnificent lighthouses perched on Goat Island, Rose Island, Castle Hill and Lime Rock. Learn about Newport’s iconic mansions, century-old churches, historic Fort Adams, Jamestown, the Newport Pell Bridge, Clingstone, Hammersmith Farm and more – you may even spot a local seal or two in the water!
Spring cruising aboard the Coastal Queen offers maximum comfort as the vessel has a weatherproof main salon (featuring a center bar) that can be heated on chilly days and an open-air top covered deck where the side curtains can roll up for catching the ocean breezes or rolled down for warmth. All decks offer panoramic views and the boat’s main deck and ramps are ADA accessible. In May, cruises run Friday through Sunday. In June, cruises run Thursday through Sunday.
Asian Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, through July 3, 2022
Celebrate 2000 years of tradition as you journey through a wonderland of larger-than-life illuminated lanterns at this dazzling evening experience at RWPZ. From inspiring, interactive displays to delicious Asian-inspired cuisine, this enchanting multicultural experience is sure to delight all ages!
The show features more than 50 spectacular glowing lantern displays in animal forms and interesting designs, a kids’ interactive lantern area (weather-permitting), food and drinks, hand-crafted keepsakes and more. This zoo-wide walk-through event is lit Wednesday – Sunday evenings from 6–10:30 p.m.
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, daily through July 8
Imagine being completely immersed in more than 300 of the greatest works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. Now imagine experiencing all of this art liberated from its two-dimensional limitations into a three-dimensional experience that exhilarates every sense and brings to life one of the most influential artists the world has known. Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, has sold more than two million tickets globally, making it one of the most popular current traveling exhibitions – and now it’s in Providence through July 8.
While journeying through Beyond Van Gogh, guests witness iconic masterpieces including such instantly recognizable classics as “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers,” and ‘Café Terrace at Night,” as well many revealing self-portraits.
NEWPORT POLO, JUNE 4 AND EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SEPT.
Unfolding weekly at Portsmouth’s historic Glen Farm, the Newport International Polo Series features teams from around the world and from major U.S. cities playing against Team USA/Newport. Polo got its start in the U.S. in Newport in 1876, thus Newport is home of America’s First Polo Club.
Today, the International Polo Field offers sweeping vistas of beautifully manicured grounds, classic white fenced pastures, elegantly restored stone barns, and miles of field-stone walls. Spectators are encouraged to picnic and tailgate to their hearts’ content. While Pavilion tickets are available with reservations in advance, anyone is welcome to purchase lawn seats ($20 each). A great family and group activity, polo appeals to nearly everyone – even first timers who may be curious about the sport! PS: dogs are welcome too!
Forty 1 North Fermentation Classes, Wednesdays ongoing
Soak in the last few glorious hours of the day at the luxurious Forty 1 North, a boutique property on Newport Harbor, by tasting a selection of five curated wines from a specific region of the world.
Often championing small winemakers from lesser known regions throughout California, South America, New Zealand and throughout Europe, Forty 1 North’s Chef Terence Feury expertly pairs light bites with each vintage. Fermentation Class is held at the Oval Bar every Wednesday at 6:30. Reservations are required and this class often sells out.
Newport Gulls Season Kick-off, June 8, 2022
The halcyon days of summer are perfectly manifested when you take in a ball game in the heart of the City by the Sea. The Newport Gulls are a wooden-bat, collegiate summer baseball team that’s a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Come see some of the best collegiate players who have the big leagues in their sights at their home games at historic Cardines Field, one of the oldest ballparks in the U.S. and called one of the best parks in the country by Baseball America Magazine.
Satchel Paige, Yogi Berra. Phil Rizzuto, Bob Feller and more notable players have played here! A gem for family fun, tickets to ball games are affordable at just $5 for adults, $2 for children (13-18) or those with a military ID and seniors. (Kids 12 and under are $1). A snack bar serves up classic baseball sustenance including hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, candy and more indulgent delights. Here’s the schedule.
The Gardens at Blithewold Flower Walk, June 9
Join Blithewold’s horticulturists on a walk through the gardens and grounds this spring. Bristol’s undeniable coastal gem, Blithewold is a 33-acre summer estate with panoramic views of Narragansett Bay and is nationally significant in American history as one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of the Country Place Era landscape movement.
The property features a 45-room mansion framed by a series of gardens that range in character from mysterious to exotic and from poetic to practical. Here you’ll experience an exceptional collection of rare and unusual plants, specimen trees, an accessible greenhouse, and whimsical stonework project a character that is romantic, fresh and inspiring. Class size is limited to 15 students and pre-registration is required.
British Motorcar Festival, June 10–11, 2022
Get your motor running! From a parade of British cars leading into Bristol’s Independence Park to a street party in downtown Bristol with live music, food trucks, and a beer tent, the British invasion tradition continues this spring with this much-loved event that will appeal to both motorheads and casual appreciators alike.
PVDFEST, JUNE 10-12, 2022
Providence’s signature outdoor arts festival returns this year to reinvigorate and rebuild the Creative Capital’s world-renowned art and culture community. Live music, dance, food, and visual art installations will transform downtown Providence, and the event is completely free to attend.
Performers include the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band, trumpeter/vocalist Kermit Ruffins – best known for playing himself in the HBO Series “Treme” and for his New Orleans bar, Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge; eight-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Eddie Palmieri; one of Peru’s leading indie bands, Hit La Rosa; and Hand to Hand, a joyous, participatory event led by Squomk that brings audiences together for a humorous, uplifting visual extravaganza.
THE NEWPORT FLOWER SHOW, JUNE 17-19, 2022
Hundreds of colorful creations by floral designers, horticulturists and botanical artists will interpret the show’s theme, “Eden … A Personal Paradise,” at Rosecliff. Rosecliff is a Gilded Age mansion (then called simply, “summer cottages”) that was commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899 and designed by architect Stanford White. White modeled it after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles. Completed in 1902 at a reported cost of $2.5 million, Mrs. Oelrichs then used her ballroom, the largest in all of Newport society, to host swanky affairs and lavish parties for the Gilded Age’s most elite families.
At the flower show here, beautiful displays grace the Rosecliff ballroom and salon, while other exhibits will be set in the Courtyard of Love and the oceanside terrace and lawn.
46TH ANNUAL RHODE ISLAND PRIDEFEST & ILLUMINATED NIGHT PARADE, JUNE 18, 2022
Held on downtown Providence’s South Water Street, this event features participation by more than 250 nonprofit organizations, businesses, and food vendors to make a celebratory scene like none other! Venture down to the main stage providing entertainment all day for festival-goers with a variety of local, regional, and national acts, all to celebrate the individuality and culture of the LGBTQ community and welcoming individuals of all race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion and age.
PrideFest is one of Rhode Island’s biggest festivals, and for one day you won’t find another event that attracts 100,000+ festival-goers.
NEWPORT PRIDE, JUNE 24-26, 2022
Every year, Newport Pride Weekend takes place throughout Newport, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while promoting love, acceptance, inclusivity and diversity. This year’s Pride Weekend returns with a full line-up of exciting events and experiences. Enjoy the Pride Weekend kick-off at the waterfront Newport Harbor Hotel in addition to a colorful and spirited bike parade, music events, a Pride Market & Festival with vendors, performances, and more at the historic Great Friends Meeting House and many, many more celebratory events!
COASTAL WINE TRAIL’S WINE, CHEESE, & CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL, JUNE 25, 2022
Wine, cheese and chocolate – who could ask for anything more? This joyful celebration is technically right over the state line but Rhode Island’s favorite wineries participate as part of the Coastal Wine Trail consortium. You’ll also find Lil’ Rhody local food artisans here too! Let your palate explore the savory and the sweet as more than 45 participants descend on Westport Fairgrounds with plenty of room to roam.
Food Truck Fridays at Roger Williams Park Zoo, every Friday through September, 5pm
Come experience the array of foods and delicious sweets from a variety of food truck vendors at this magnificent event. Authentic, from-scratch seafood chowder, vegan treats, exotic dishes, gourmet grilled cheese, BBQ and so much more. While there, take a ride on the historic carousel or hop aboard the capsule express train for a fun, family ride. Best of all? Admission is free, so bring a picnic blanket or comfy dining set-up and enjoy a diverse array of delicious flavors.
