Living in New England means we’re all pretty patriotic by proxy with tangible links to the past all around. You can still eat dinner in the oldest tavern in America (the White Horse Tavern in Newport), attend the nation’s longest running Fourth of July celebration in Bristol, and swig a beer on the site where George Washington crossed Conanicut Island at The General’s Crossing in Jamestown. When it comes to making much ado about Independence Day and summer, the East Bay knows a thing or two, and activities from rowdy to reserved abound all season long across every coastal city and town. In this useful hand-held guide (no outlet required), you’ll find info gathered from myriad sources to help you plan a summer for the history books.
Fireworks: Newport Harbor is the setting for fireworks, and best bets for viewing the spectacle include finding a westward facing spot along the harbor, along with Perrotti Park, King Park, and Queen Anne Square – or reserve a seat on the Coastal Queen and watch from the water (CoastalQueenCruises.com) departing from Jamestown. Display is set to begin at 9:15pm, rain date July 5. DiscoverNewport.org
Fourth of July Parade: Follow the red, white, and blue-striped roads for the ultimate patriotic display in the oldest July 4th parade in the nation. See our Field Guide to Bristol’s Fourth for more activites!
Fourth of July Picnic: Linden Place has
assembled a day of fancy fun, including bleacher parade seating, a continental breakfast, and picnic lunch. Bristol, LindenPlace.org
Newport Classical Music Festival: From opera to chamber music, this year’s event promises an impressive lineup of acclaimed musicians from far and wide. NewportClassical.org
Newport Secret Garden Tours: Stroll through some of the city’s most prestigious – and normally private – outdoor spaces. Newport, SecretGardenTours.org
South Coast Open Studio Tour: Get peeks at the process on self-guided tours of where artists of various mediums create, all across the East Bay and southern Massachusetts. Various locations, SouthCoastArtists.org
Hall of Fame Open: Once Wimbledon wraps up, you can still get your tennis fix as ATP World Tour pros contest on the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s historic grass courts. Newport, HallOfFameOpen.com
Jaws Summer Party: This annual party typically has live music, beer tasting, merch, and swag. The fun starts at 6:30pm, followed by a movie screening at 7:30pm. Newport, JanePickens.com
Suitcase Junket: The Norman Bird Sanctuary hosts singer-songwriter Matt Lorenz, a one-man garage band who carries all he needs for live shows in his suitcase. Middletown, NewportLive.org
The Newport Folk Festival: This year’s lineup of the iconic festival includes John Oates, Aimee Mann, and Jason Isbell, along with rising stars ready to make their mark in the music world. NewportFolk.org
The Newport Show: New England’s premier fine art and antiques event raises funds for the Newport Historical Society and Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. Middletown, BGCNewport.org
Newport Jazz Festival: Dozens of jazz legends including Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall, and Thundercat grace the stages at Fort Adams State Park at this OG music event established in 1954. NewportJazz.org
Black Ships Festival: The Japan America Society of Rhode Island hosts the 40th annual celebration of the friendship and culture between our two nations with arts and crafts, Taiko drumming, and martial arts. Bristol and Newport, BlackShipsFestival.com
Warren Folks Fest: Live music and food are front and center at The Collaborative’s popular annual fundraiser. Warren, TheCollaborative02885.org
Classic Yacht Regatta: A prelim schedule for the Golden Jubilee includes a Living Boat show, cocktails, dinner, and prizes. Bristol, Herreshoff.org
Newport Live summer music series: Leading folk musicians John Gorka and Antje Duvekot will perform at the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Middletown, NewportLive.org
Barrington Summer Concert Series: Neal & the Vipers, Blue FO’s, and Brass Attack are among the lineup planned for this year’s free family series at Latham Park. Macs Screaming Corn and Tacos truck will be at some of the concerts. Barrington.RI.gov
Tiverton Farmers Market: The popular market is back outdoors, held Sundays at the Tiverton Town Farm Recreation Area on Main Road. Vendors include everything from linens to fresh fish! TivertonFarmersMarket.com
Aquidneck Growers Market: Start the week off fresh with produce at Miantonomi Park. All markets feature an ever-changing roster of local artisans and food businesses. July 10-August 28. Newport, AquidneckCommunityTable.org
Outdoor Markets: Plan dinner around fresh ingredients by stopping by the Aquidneck Growers Market on Memorial Boulevard in Newport (2-6pm), or the Hope & Main Schoolyard at 691 Main Street in Warren (4-7pm). FarmFreshRI.org
Music at Sunset: Take in the lush gardens, bay views, and live music at the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum for their weekly summer concert series through September. Bristol, Blithewold.org
Nature Walks: Join a naturalist and explore the Norman Bird Sanctuary trails during a guided walk of spotting native species and identifying plants. Middletown, NormanBirdSanctuary.org
Art Night Bristol/Warren: Walk or ride your bike from one gallery and studio to the next. This evening event is the perfect way to explore the wealth of art the area has to offer on the last Thursdays of the month through August. Bristol and Warren, ArtNightBristolWarren.org
newportFILM Outdoors: Enjoy the shared experience of cinema outdoors on big screens set against the night sky at locations throughout Newport. NewportFilm.com
The Kitchen at Blithewold: On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (11am-1pm), sit back and enjoy the scenic overlook from the northwest porch while enjoying a meal with produce grown on the estate’s vegetable garden. Bristol, Blithewold.org
Free Family Fun Days: The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is free to the public the first Saturday of every month for nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes, and more. Bristol, ASRI.org
Farmers Markets: Set the alarm to shop fresh local produce and various goods in Bristol at Mount Hope Farm Farmers Market, and Aquidneck Growers Market at Embrace Home Loans in Middletown. FarmFreshRI.org/RISummer
Newport Polo: One of the great Aquidneck Island traditions, Newport Polo invites spectators to watch international teams gallop to victory at Glen Farm. Attire is Newport casual chic and keep the stilettos at home. Portsmouth, NPTPolo.com
Of course you know all about America’s oldest continuous town-wide party that started on Flag Day and wraps up the first week of July. However, to avoid any possible FOMO, here are dates to add to your calendar, plus a few reminders and refreshers to make this year’s celebration the best one yet. Please note that events are subject to change due to weather. Find updates at FourthOfJulyBristolRI.com
July 1: Rock and roll tribute band Back in the Day, begins 7pm
July 2: Liz Spencer Group, David Clark’s “All About Joel,” begins 6:30pm
July 3: 5-10pm
July 4: 12-6pm
July 2: Mrs. Katz and Her Hats storytime, begins one hour before concert (5:30pm)
July 3: Begins 9:30pm
July 4: Begins 8:30am
Begins at the corner of Chestnut Street and ends on High Street
July 4: Begins 10:30am
We all have our favorite beaches, but it’s always fun to try something new. Check out this list of shores sure to satisfy with coastal views and potentially less crowds. Of course smaller beaches can mean less parking spots and amenities but often still charge fees, so plan ahead and note that you might need to leave Rover at home and pack your water shoes for pebbly terrain.
Fogland Beach, Tiverton
Popular with families, this beach has something for everyone: it’s a great spot for making pebbly drip castles and a treasure trove for little sand diggers, plus conditions make it nice for kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders, and wind- and kite-surfers. TivertonRecreation.org/beaches
Gooseberry Beach, Newport
This picturesque beach nestled in a cove along famed Ocean Drive. There are minimal amenities, so bring what you need and take it with you. Daily passes are available at the gate. GooseberryBeach.com
Pebble Beach, Middletown
Stunning unobstructed views and a shoreline of stones make this at-your-own-risk beach coveted by photographers and cairn stackers. At last count there were three public parking places so find a spot a few blocks away and hike over.
Sandy Point Beach, Portsmouth
Roll the windows down when you begin to see stone walls to let the salty breeze enter the car. Shallow water makes this nice for families with small children. Def wear water shoes and ask about their storage trunks rentals. PortsmouthRI.gov
South Shore Beach & Goosewing Beach Preserve,
Little Compton
Head to LC for two beach experiences in one: busy South Shore Beach with the only public access to Goosewing. South Shore Beach is a hotspot (so get there early for parking), while Goosewing is a preserve that’s part of The Nature Conservancy. For more shoreline exploration on the other side of town, there’s Tappens Beach and Lloyd’s Beach. LittleComptonRI.org
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