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. 

 

May Hotel Deals

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Gilded Age Experience

Gilded Age Experience

Sep 01, 2024 - Dec 31, 2025

Inspired by the HBO series, our Gilded Age Package will have you feeling like a member of Mrs… Read More

Girlfriends Trio Mansions Getaway Package

Girlfriends Trio Mansions Getaway Package

Feb 01, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026

Pricing Details: Starting at $385 per night plus tax Add this special package to your reservation… Read More

Ride, Stay and Play in Luxury

Ride, Stay and Play in Luxury

Mar 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025

Experience the iconic Gilded Age, redefined for modern luxury with The Chanler’s new chauffeured… Read More

Stay & Tour the Mansions

Stay & Tour the Mansions

Feb 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025

Embark on an opulent journey with our Newport Mansions access package. Choose your room then choose… Read More

The Aurelia Experience

The Aurelia Experience

Sep 01, 2024 - Dec 31, 2025

Be one of the first to experience the next evolution in Castle Hill’s storied fine dining tradition… Read More

Stay More and Save - 15% discount

Stay More and Save - 15% discount

Feb 01, 2025 - Nov 29, 2025

When you book a 3 or 4-night stay, you'll enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on your entire… Read More

Sip & Stay Vineyard Escape

Sip & Stay Vineyard Escape

Feb 01, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026

Indulge in the perfect blend of luxury and local flavor! This exclusive package includes overnight… Read More

Stay and Enjoy the Mansions Package

Stay and Enjoy the Mansions Package

Feb 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025

Stay with us and receive two tickets to the Breakers Mansion in Newport! *See below for more… Read More

Stay and Play Your Way

Stay and Play Your Way

Dec 09, 2024 - Dec 31, 2025

Join us for a getaway in Newport, RI while taking full advantage of all that Hotel Viking has to… Read More

Very Important Pups at Newport Harbor Island Resort

Very Important Pups at Newport Harbor Island Resort

Feb 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025

Your furry friends deserve a paw-some getaway, too! We understand that pets are family, and we want… Read More

Events

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

1 Veteran Car Tour

Where:
Newport-Bristol-Newport
When:
May 3rd & 4th
Cost:
Free to watch the tour!

Welcome to the fourth annual Newport-Bristol-Newport Veteran Car Tour that will once again be gracing the roads of Newport and Bristol, RI.

The Audrain Veteran Weekend is truly a celebration of the early days of motoring, with many brass-era car collectors from New England and across the United States taking part. For 2025, the annual event has has expanded to two full days of Veteran motoring!

 

MORE DETAILS

 

2 Quahog Week

Where:
Participating Restaurants
When:
Sunday, May 11 - Saturday, May 17

Quahog Week, returning Sunday, May 11 - Saturday, May 17 for its 9th year, celebrates local restaurants, markets, fishermen, and food-based businesses committed to growing the smallest state's local food economy, while shining a light on the quahog and its many uniquely RI preparations.

 

Special Events & Offerings

Embrace Rhode Island's favorite local clam with these tasty events & offerings during Quahog Week. 

  1. Newport Chowder Co.
  2. Salty Restaurant & Wine Bar

 

MORE DETAILS

Newport Chowder Co Stuffie

 

3 Spring Tea in the Dining Room

Where:
Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum
When:
May 1st & 2nd from 11:00 AM to 2:00 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!

 

More Details

 

more at blithewold

   

4 22nd Annual Spring Festival

Where:
Newport Vineyards
When:
May 3rd from 12:00 to 5:30 PM
Cost:
$35 General Admission

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!

 

More Details

 

Grape Stomping Newport Vineyards

 

 

ALSO AT NEWPORT VINEYARDS

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

5 Bristol Vintage Fair

Where:
Mount Hope Farm
When:
May 3rd & 4th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

The Bristol Vintage Market, a curated market of vintage finds, handmade goods, and local artisans, is back at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol. 

Shoppers will be able to peruse booths with styles including farmhouse, coastal, mid-century modern, European, traditional, and more. Customers can purchase unique pieces as well as gain inspiration for their own space all in the pastoral and historical setting of Mount Hope Farm. 

 

More Details

 

6 Kentucky Derby Party at The Vanderbilt

Where:
The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection
When:
May 3rd from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cost:
$95 per person

Head to The Vanderbilt for their second annual Kentucky Derby party to celebrate this Southern tradition. Bright and colorful dress, jewelry and accessories encouraged, with a hat contest for the best headpiece

FAST FACTS

  • Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM, Race begins at 6:45 PM
  • Tickets include access to party, stationed food, live music and entertainment, cash bar available
  • Live bluegrass band, corn hole and lawn games, Kentucky Derby lottery with a grand prize, live streaming of the broadcast

 

More Details

 

7 Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival

Where:
Bowen's Wharf
When:
Saturday, May 17 - Sunday, May 18 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 2025 Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival, set to return May 17 - 18 with fresh oysters and chowder from local growers and vendors. 

 

More Details

 

 

8 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.

Special Event Cruises:
  • May 3rd: Music Bingo Cruise
  • ​May 11th: Mother’s Day Mimosa Cruises with Live Music from Newport

 

MORE DETAILS
Copy of Coastal Queens
 

 

9 Green Animals Topiary Garden Opens

Where:
Green Animals Topiary Garden
When:
May 10th

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. 

 

More Details

Green Animals Topiary Garden

 

Also at Green Animals:

GIRL SCOUT BADGE DAY AT GREEN ANIMALS

Where:
Green Animals Topiary Garden
When:
May 17th from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost:
$5 per scout. Each scout must be accompanied by an adult. Adults admitted for free.

Take this wonderful opportunity to spend some time outdoors with fellow Girl Scouts while working toward your badge completion. 

  • Daisies will build their own mobile and identify different shapes and patterns throughout Green Animals to earn components of the Shapes in Nature Badge.
  • Brownies will create leaf rubbing and participate in a nature detective walk to earn components of the Outdoor Art Creator Badge.
  • Juniors will work toward their Gardener Badge at our Dream Garden station, where they will learn about garden design and how to choose garden plants.
  • ​Cadets will explore the garden and earn components for their Tree Badge by sketching a variety of trees at Green Animals and completing their own Tree Legend.

Presented in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England.

More Details

 

10 Workshops & Classes

Try something new at these winter workshops from cocktail shaking to pasta making.

Fermentation Class Jul 16

Fermentation Class

Fermentation Class: Featuring five wine tastings with a special theme or from a particular region accompanied by five small food pairings, Fermentation Class is held at the Oval Bar every Wednesday at 6:30. Reservations are required and this class often sells out. Please sign up…

   

11 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

   

12 Rogue Island Comedy Festival

Where:
Newport & Portsmouth
When:
Thursday, May 22 - Monday, May 25
Cost:
Varies

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 22 - Monday, May 25. Shows will take place at various locations this season: Stoneacre Garden, Ragged Island Brewing Co., Jane Pickens Theater, Wayfinder Newport, and Top of Pelham

 

More Details

 

13 Sheep & Wool Festival

Where:
Coggeshall Farm, Bristol
When:
May 17 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost:
$12 for Adults, $5 for Youth 4 - 17

The Sheep & Wool Festival returns to Coggeshall Farm Museum on May 17th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM!

Learn about and see demonstrations of sheep shearing, wool processing, dyeing, weaving, and spinning. Shop with vendors and artisans from RI and New England. Visit with the farm’s sheep and see visiting animals that provide us with the fiber for our craft. 

Pre-registration is highly recommended and tickets may sell out. Rain or Shine!

 

More Details

 

14 Lectures & Tours

Hear from local experts and learn something unexpected at these lectures and talks this May. 

 

Island Cemetery Guided Tour
Jul 12

Island Cemetery Guided Tour

Island Cemetery Newport Jul 12, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025

Highlights of Island Cemetery Tour Island Cemetery is the final resting place of hundreds of notable… Read More

15 Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial

Where:
Fort Adams State Park
When:
May 23rd - May 26th, 2025

The Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial will be displayed at Fort Adams in Newport over Memorial Day Weekend May 23rd – 26th, 2025. 

 
More Details
Boots on the ground

 

16 Farmer's Markets

All you have to do is take your pick. 

17 Food Tours

NEWPORT FOODIE STROLL

Where:
Downtown Newport, Tour starts at the Wave Statue
When:
Recurring weekly on Wednesdays*, Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM
Cost:
$95

Newport Foodies Stroll is a 2.5-3 hours walking tour where you'll taste a range of high-quality, modern American cuisine with a twist of fusion along Lower Thames Street. Learn a little history while indulging in big flavor from five popular eateries. 

  • Distance: 1.75 miles
  • Tour Duration: 2.5 - 3 Hours
  • When: April 30 - October 18, rain or shine
  • Schedule: Wednesdays*, Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM
  • Departs: From the wave statue at the intersection of America's Cup Avenue and Memorial Boulevard
  • Tickets: $95 Adults, must be purchased in advance

Note: A winter foodie stroll, a smaller three-course meal experience, is offered select dates in December, February through early April too! Dates subject to change. 

 

Newport Foodies Stroll

 

NEWPORT NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD TOUR

Where:
Downtown Newport, Meet at Northwest corner at the intersection of Marlborough & Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd.
When:
Thursday - Sunday, 12:00 PM, rain or shine
Cost:
$78 no alcohol, $95 with alcohol

Rhode Island Red Food Tours provides a unique opportunity to sample food from at least six Newport restaurants in just one afternoon.

With Rhode Island Red Food Tours, you'll gain new insight into the historical, architectural and cultural aspects of the city and learn the stories behind creatively inspired cuisine. Experience tastings from at a Mexican restaurant in a former home built in 1714, a curated brasserie, a James Beard-nominated noodle bar and more on this 3-3.5 hour tour.

  • Distance: 1.3 miles
  • Tour Duration: 3 - 3.5 Hours
  • When: April - November, rain or shine
  • Schedule: Thursday - Sunday, 12:00 PM
  • Departs: The Northwest corner at the intersection of Marlborough & Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd.
  • Tickets: $78 no alcohol, $95 with alcohol 

*Vegetarian options and dietary restrictions considered

 

 

18 Live Music & & Nightime Fun

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.

   

more to explore

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