May might just be one of our favorite months. Outdoor patios reopen for the season, sailboats return to the water and we find ourselves reunited with the ocean breeze. Not to mention, May packs a punch with the return of some highly anticipated annual events. From the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival that brings two days of fresh local seafood and live music to the waterfront, to the semi-annual Rogue Island Comedy Festival. May on The Coast we are ready.

Our top picks for the month below. 

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May on The Coast is a daydream. Our top picks for the month below.

1 Spring Tea in the Dining Room

Where:
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
When:
May 1st - 3rd, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM
Cost:
$40 Members | $55 Non-Members

We invite you for Tea in Blithewold’s Dining Room, a place where fine meals have always been served to cherished guests. Gather with friends and exchange stories while delighting in a cup of tea, freshly baked scones with sweet cream, and a 3-tiered tray filled with sweet and savory treats. Simply luxurious! Come in, sit down, relax, and enjoy the moment. The price for Tea includes admission to the Mansion and Grounds, so be sure to leave time for strolling!

 

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more at blithewold

   

2 Newport Foodies Stroll

Where:
Downtown Newport, Tour starts at the Wave Statue
When:
Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Starting at 11:30 AM & 12:00 PM
Cost:
$95

Newport Foodies Stroll offers a 1.75 miles walking food tour through Lower Thames Street. You will learn about the "City by the Sea", as well as try the cuisine from five of the best locally owned restaurants. The best time to schedule your tour is at the beginning of your visit to Newport. The tour runs rain or shine all May on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (Thursdays are available for private tours.)

All tours begin at 11:30am and last 2.5-3 hours. Meet Tom and Sue, your tour guides, in front of the wave statue/sculpture at the intersection of America's Cup and Memorial Boulevard. They will provide water, sunscreen, and disposable rain ponchos.

 

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Newport Foodies Stroll

 

3 Live Music

Dylan doesn’t go electric every day (Newport ‘65 Folk Festival) but chances are somebody is plugging in or stepping up to the mic on any given day here on The Classic Coast.

view all music events

   

4 21st Annual Spring Festival

Where:
Newport Vineyards
When:
May 4th
Cost:
$33

Enjoy tastings from the Newport Vineyards wine & beer bars, live music, delicious bites from the talented chefs on property, grape stomping, pie eating contests, and more!

 

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Grape Stomping Newport Vineyards

 

5 Dance Classes at The Academy at Newport Contemporary Ballet

Providing dance education of the highest quality to children and adults from all over Rhode Island since 1979. The Academy trains both professional dancers and students who dance for the exercise and pure love of movement.

May Classes

6 Cheesemaking Workshop: Primo Sale

Where:
Mozz Newport
When:
May 5th from 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Cost:
$95

Learn how to make your very own cheese!  Head to Mozz Newport on Bellevue Ave for a 2 hour cheese making workshop from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 
 

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7 Bike Newport's May Events

   

8 Bristol Vintage Fair

Where:
Mount Hope Farm
When:
May 11th & 12th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 OM

A curated vintage market on Mother's Day weekend? Count us in! Join Mount Hope Farm and well-known local business owner and vintage furniture extraordinaire, Jenna Kinghorn of Blanc & Bleu to present the Bristol Vintage Market, a curated market of vintage finds, handmade goods, and local artisans.

 

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9 Green Animals Topiary Garden Opens

Where:
Green Animals Topiary Garden
When:
May 11th

After a winter hiatus enter inside the seven-acre Portsmouth estate to explore the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the United States, Green Animals Topiary Garden. Home to more than 80 topiary animals, geometric shapes, designs, and other figures, and teeming with colorful flowers from May through October, experience an incredible collection of seasonal blooms that all ages will enjoy. 

 

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Green Animals Topiary Garden

 

Also at Green Animals:

Annual Plant Sale at Green Animals Topiary Garden

Where:
Green Animals Topiary Garden
When:
May 10th - 12th from 8:00 - 10:00 AM
Cost:
Admission free for plant sale only. Visitors will need a ticket or Preservation Society membership to tour the topiary garden.

Head to Green Animals Topiary Garden first thing in the morning for their start to the season and annual plant sale. The sale will take place each day before Green Animals opens for tours. Think: annuals, perennials, lilies, dahlia tubers, geranium standards, hanging baskets and a variety of vegetables, herbs and specialty plants available for purchase. 

*Green Animals is not open for tours on Friday, May 10. It is open for the season starting Saturday, May 11.

 

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10 Mother's Day Events

Cheers to the woman who does it all. On Mother's Day (and every other day, for that matter) she deserves the best.

Find our roundup of brunches and things to do in and around Newport for Mother's Day, here. 

Mother's Day Weekend

   

11 Newport Comedy Series at Newport Blues Cafe

Where:
Newport Blues Cafe
When:
May 16th from 8:00 - 9:30 PM
Cost:
$29

Introducing the Newport Comedy Series at Newport Blues Cafe, a monthly comedy series with new comics each show! This month, enjoy "The King of Boston Comedy," Steve Sweeney, featuring Darren Rivera and host Mike Koutrobis for a night of laughs.

 

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Newport Comedy Series at Newport Blues Cafe

 

12 Events at Newport Vineyards

From weekly specials, taproot beer nights, live music and seasonal festivals, there is always something fun happening at Newport Vineyards.

May events

   

13 Sail Newport Presents Cole Brauer

Where:
Jane Pickens Theater
When:
May 16th from 5:30 - 7:00 PM and 8:30 - 9:45 PM
Cost:
Both Shows SOLD OUT

Sail Newport will host a special presentation with Cole Brauer in Newport after her historical finish in the Global Solo Challenge. This event is a chance to meet her and hear firsthand about her trials, tribulations and triumphs.

 

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14 COASTAL QUEEN CRUISES

Want to earn your sea legs? Summer isn’t the only time to get out on the water. Find the May specialty cruises from Coastal Queen Cruises below.

May events

   

15 Top of Newport Opening

Where:
Top of Newport, Hotel Viking
When:
May (OFFICIAL DATE TBA)

Hotel Viking's rooftop bar & kitchen reopens for another fabulous summer season in Newport! We can't wait to see you! Cheers and see you at the Top!

 

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Top of Newport

 

16 Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival

Where:
Bowen's Wharf
When:
Saturday, May 18 - Sunday, May 19 from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Cost:
Free

You don't have to travel far to find a cup of life-altering clam chowder when you're in Newport. It's kind of a big deal here. In fact, it's right up there with fresh-from-the-ocean oysters and heaping lobster rolls. 

This year, Bowen's Wharf Company celebrates these Ocean State offerings with the 2024 Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival, set to return May 18 - 19 with fresh oysters and chowder from local growers and vendors. 

 

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17 Rogue Island Comedy Festival

Where:
Newport
When:
Thursday, May 23 - Monday, May 27
Cost:
$30 + $2 processing fee (online only)

Laugh your way through the long weekend at Rogue Island Comedy Festival, the area's bi-annual comedy festival featuring four days of comedy shows on Thursday, May 23 - Monday, May 27. Shows will take place at various locations this season: Rejects Beer Co., Ragged Island Brewing Co., The Quencher, Jane Pickens Theater, Diego's Barrio Cantina and Top of Pelham

 

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18 Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial

Where:
Fort Adams State Park
When:
May 24th - May 27th, 2024

The Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial will be displayed at Fort Adams in Newport over Memorial Day Weekend May 24th – 27th, 2024. Hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, and Monday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

 

Boots on the ground

 

20 Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer on The Classic Coast. Rooftop bars, al fresco patios, seaside lawns and outdoor attractions reawaken and reopen just as the warmer weather breathes new life into our stunning coastal enclave. But that's just the start. From harbor cruises and wine tastings to special deals and the perfect places to soak up the sun, MDW is on. Are you in? 

MDW events

   

20 Cars & Coffee

Join Audrain Auto Museum for a morning of cars and coffee at various locations across The Classic Coast. 

May events

   

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