JANUARY 1

Every New Years Day at precisely 12:00 PM, participants run into the winter waters at Easton's Beach, some dressed in costumes, some as part of teams and some in their bathing suits pulled from their stock of summer threads.

The efforts are partly for fun, believe it or not, and partly for a good cause. The plunge raises money each year for the Make a Wish Foundation, comprised of tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters who work to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

MARCH 15

The Annual Newport Saint Patrick's Day Parade will be held, rain, snow, or shine beginning promptly at 11:00 AM from Newport City Hall and proceeding to Carroll Avenue at Saint Augustin’s Church in the heart of the Fifth Ward. 

The parade includes Pipe Bands, Marching Bands, Fife & Drum Corps, Clown Units, reenactment units, and a host of local, state, and regional organizations including police and fire units, social/fraternal organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Schools, and non-profits.

APRIL 1-30

Enjoy festive, family-friendly events amid one million daffodils throughout the city, Newport Daffodil Days celebrates the arrival on spring. 

From a Daffy Doggies Parade and painting among the daffodils to private garden tours to festive parties, revel in one of the most vibrant times on The Classic Coast.

MAY 17 - 18

The Newport Oyster Festival connects Rhode Island growers with the oyster-loving public, as well as the chefs and restaurants that serve them.

Sponsors, growers, non-profits and exhibitors are on-site during the Festival to educate and provide opportunities to enjoy the bounty of aquaculture in Rhode Island.

JUNE 27 - 29

LGBTQ+ Pride is happening in Newport, RI in June 2024!

Enjoy a weekend of creating events and experiences to celebrate community, and promote love, acceptance, inclusivity, and diversity of LGBTQ+ identities.

Think: flag raising ceremonies, a market & festival with unique vendors and live music, a pride bike ride, and so much more.

DATES TBA

Experience award-winning documentaries, pre-film live music and local food vendors at some of Aquidneck Island's most beautiful outdoor spaces. Screenings begin at sunset on select Thursdays, late June - early September. 

JULY 4

The oldest Fourth of July parade celebration in America will step-off at the corner of Chestnut Street and Hope Street at 10:30 AM.

AUGUST 15 - 17

A Weekend of Coaching returns to the streets of Newport and the grounds of the Newport Mansions, celebrating and preserving a century-old sporting tradition.

Authentic 19th-century coaches drawn by matched and highly-trained teams of horses visit Newport every three years for a Weekend of Coaching, hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County.

SEPTEMBER 14

Picture this: 20 bands, 10 porches, and 3 hours of live music stretching across historic High Street in Bristol, Rhode Island. From Jazz and Swing to modern bluegrass and folk, there is something for everyone at Porchfest. 

OCTOBER 11

The Broadway Street Fair is back, October 11th, 2025 filled with local artists, live music, food, and more. 

*Date subject to change.

OCTOBER 18 - 19

Named one of the 10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast by Coastal Living Magazine, savor your way into autumn with an array of fresh, local seafood including fish tacos, lobster rolls, stuffies, chowder, fried calamari, oysters, clams signature cocktails and cold local beer.

NOVEMBER 28

Bundle up and head to the harbor for the Illuminated Boat Parade as boats deck the hulls and festive music heralds the arrival of the holiday season. Watch the parade of lights are boats compete for best decorated.

*Dates subject to change.

December 1 - 31

Each year since 1971, December 1 has marked the kick off of Christmas in Newport, a month-long celebration complete with festive events and happenings to honor the season and give back to charities throughout the community. Experience events for nearly each day throughout December as part of the celebration.

Newport’s enchanting 3.5-mile Cliff Walk is the perfect place for your moment of peace. Panoramic ocean views, crashing waves and the perfect amount of sea breeze on one side and stunning, Gilded Age mansions on the other.

Please note due to structural damage sections of the Cliff Walk are detoured or closed. Detours will be in place between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street for the foreseeable future. The remainder of the walk will be open for all those walkers who make use of this iconic coastal trail.

One of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island, Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is home to 242 acres that offer an important stopover and wintering area for migratory birds in Middletown. Situated on the coast overlooking the ocean, a hike at Sachuest Point is relatively flat and easy, and offers scenic views without having to climb.

10 miles of commanding coastline meets one winding road on Newport’s iconic Ocean Drive. Start your journey just off historic Bellevue Avenue and continue along for an undeniably tranquil journey with heart-stopping views.

The East Bay Bike Path weaves through coves, marshes, parks and bridges offering a scenic journey from Providence to Bristol along the shore of Narragansett Bay. 

Bowen’s and Bannister’s wharves are where you’ll find that undeniable downtown Newport energy. Eclectic shops, dynamic galleries and some of the best restaurants in town make this area a must-stop visit while you’re here.

Colt State Park boasts 464 acres of lawns, stone walls, and curving drives along one of the state’s most spectacular shorelines in Bristol. 

Beavertail State Park is home to some of the most beautiful vistas along the New England coastline along with the third oldest lighthouse in the country. Enjoy unparalleled sightseeing from your car or on foot at one of Jamestown’s most iconic spots.

Situated at the mouth of the Newport Harbor, Fort Adams State Park offers an exceptional panoramic view of both Newport Harbor and the East Passage of Narragansett Bay.

The park offers a wide range of activities including salt water bathing, fishing, boating, soccer, rugby.

A visit to Tiverton Four Corners is like a visit to another era. This eighteenth-century New England village is home to antique shops, galleries, consignment boutiques, and some of the creamiest scoops in New England at historic Gray’s Ice Cream.

Fort Wetherill State Park, situated upon 100-foot-high granite cliffs across the water from Fort Adams State Park, is a former coastal defense battery and training camp. Two or four legs, the area is perfect for exploring.