One of my most cherished things about Newport is all the entertainment and activities that continue into each season. With such appeal, it makes it hard to pick just one time of year to enjoy our little 401. With school in full swing and the fall season beginning, here’s the second part of our Family 401 “must do-must enjoy” September suggestions. Enjoy!
09.17-09.18—The 38th Annual Harvest Fair at Coggeshall Farm, 10am-5pm Want to combine history and a really fun time for the family? Coggeshall’s annual harvest fair is the perfect activity to do so! Enjoy games, crafts, music & food. Come along for a fun family day at this ye old colonial working farm in Bristol. A must-do for all families! $8 adults, $5 children. Coggeshall Farm, Bristol, (401) 253-9062. www.coggeshallfarm.org
09.17—A Day For Kids Celebration & Open House, 1-4pm Newport’s Boys & Girls Club is toasting their 4th annual day of family fun with a rock wall, swim lessons, food raffles, face painting, and more (please pre-register if you wish to have your child swim)! This is a great way to get familiar with this amazing club and organization, which is always housed with friendly staff and wonderful events that all families enjoy! Boys & Girls Club, Newport, (401) 847-6927. www.bgcnewport.org
09.17—A Mushroom Walk In The Woods, 1:30-4pm Know of any fungi in the family? Sorry, couldn’t resist. Norman Bird Sanctuary is hosting an educational afternoon with Master of Mushrooms, Joe Metzen, who will share the history, folklore, and a presentation on this beloved little woods plant. After, families will head on a hike to spot all the little fungi they have learned about! Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown, (401) 846-2577. www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
09.24-09.25—Newport Arts Festival, 10am-5pm (Sat.) & 10am-6:30pm (Sun.) In Newport, this is “festival” season! We are coming into a jam-packed season of downtown family fun events, and what better way than to kick it off with the arts! This harbor side festival features kid craft areas and loads of great art for mom and dad to view (and shop). Come enjoy a day of food, art, performers, and fun. This venue is always smart with designated kid areas to guarantee family fun! Newport Yachting Center, Newport, (401) 847-0960. www.newportartsfestival.com
09.25—Cluny School Country Fall Fair 10am-4pm It’s the 50th anniversary of the Cluny Country Fair! This is a great activity to kick off our pending fall season of family fun. From carnival games and hay rides to food and kids having loads of fun, this is the perfect way all families should spend their “Sunday Funday.” No worries if this isn’t your child’s school, all are always welcome (encouraged) to have a great time. Rain or shine.Cluny School, 75 Brenton Road, Newport, (401) 569-9564. www.clunyschool.org
Remember to click back every month for a compiled list of hoppin’ happenings all about town, and visit GoNewport.com for an all-inclusive events calendar with something for everyone! October will be jam-packed with fun weekdays, and weekends. Check out Newport Connext for more family fun in the 401, recipes and more!
Fun at the Coggeshall Farm Harvest Fair!
Today we're excited to introduce you to From Stem to Stern contributor Alexandra West Alexandra has been spending summers in Newport since she was a child and transported herself back here permanently when it was time to start her own family. She is the founder & editor of Newport Connext, the City's go-to guide connecting savvy moms to their local community, and providing useful information personally dedicated to families enjoying their local 401.
I have to admit, the most exciting part of being a local parent in Newport is how many wonderful activities there are for families every month, every season. In fact, local and traveling parents alike can easily fill up their family calendar--weekly--with educational, active, and just plain old fun activities happening about our little island.
So, to make life a bit simpler (you deserve it), and to help out all those busy families looking for fun in our 401, we have compiled a great list of special events that should not be missed all about town! School may have begun, but there are still some mighty good weekday family fun choices happening with our warm weather sun. Oh my goodness, how we love our City-by-the-Sea!
THIS WEEK: FESTIVALS, FAIRS & FAMILY FUN
09.08-Hula Dancing at Rough Point, 5:00-7:30pm Calling all little hula girls out there! Drag your moms and dads on over to Doris Duke’s breathtaking estate, Rough Point, and enjoy a demonstration from the Napua O' Polynesiadance troupe as they sway their hips back and forth to great music that will have parents craving a coconut cocktail. Enjoy lessons for the kids (and adults)! $5/adult, kids under age 12 are free, cash bar for adults. Rough Point, Newport, (401) 846-4152. www.newportrestoration.org
09.10-Norman Bird Sanctuary’s First Annual Family Art Day, 10:00am-2:00pm NBS is hosting their first annual “Something of That Nature” family art day on Saturday. This is a family-friendly event full of artistic activities from dancing, to art, to a picnic with a performance. The best part of this event is kids may enter their art work! (Register by the 8th.) Whether in the show or viewing, bring the kids down for a great day of art viewing, delighting in activities, and spending the perfect day on the beach with fellow budding artists, and our local community.For those who wish to register you kiddos art, please call (401) 846-2577 before the 8th. Third Beach Education Center, Third Beach Rd., Middletown. www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
09.10-09.11: Audubon Raptor Weekend 2011, 10:00am-4:00pm daily It’s raptor weekend at Bristol’s Audubon Society! Oh boy, oh boy, for all those kiddos who love to watch the hawks soar in the sky, make the hooting sound of the owl at night, or are just enthralled with beautiful, powerful birds…this is the activity for them! There will be great exhibits and hands-on activities, revolving around a variety of owls and talons from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily. $10 adult/$5 child. Audubon Environmental Educational Center, 1401 Hope Street (RT. 114), Bristol. www.asri.org/general-eec-info/raptor-weekend.html
09.10-Farm Fest at Mount Hope Farm, 10:00-2:00pm Mount Hope Farm in Bristol is a breathtaking property with a wooded path that takes you all the way down to the bay. This weekend, the farm opens its doors to the public for a family day called Farm Fest. Mount Hope Farm wants families to come on down for a day of hayrides, a scavenger hunt, and to explore the property on a nice big family walk down to the cove for music. This is not a working farm; it is more of a beautiful estate with great outdoor walks and water views. (401) 254-1745, www.mounthopefarm.org
Stay tuned! Alexandra has a line-up of fantastic events happening the latter half of the month that she'll be posting next week. 'Til then, visit Newport Connext to stay up-to-date on family fun in the 401!
Thankfully, Newport is breathing a sigh of relief as the storm has passed and the “welcome” signs are up once again. Our hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts, restaurants, shops and attractions are open, staffed and ready for visitors. While Newport and its surrounding coastal communities always has something exciting on the calendar, this coming Labor Day weekend includes a thrilling line-up of events like:
- 14th Annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival
- Train rides with Thomas the Tank Engine
- 32nd Annual Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta
- Newport International Polo Series
- Salute to Summer Free Concert & Fireworks Show featuring Little Big Town at Naval Station Newport
...or soak up the endless summer by embarking on a harbor tour, visiting the wineries, relaxing on the sandy beaches, hiking local trails, mansion hopping and more!
Visit GoNewport.com for more events and information!
Please be advised that the Newport Visitors Center will be closed on Sunday, August 28th due to the impending hurricane. The center is expected to reopen on Monday, August 29th and resume normal operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thank you for understanding!
In the meantime, once the hatches have been battened and patio-furniture-cum-airborne-projectiles have been tucked away, there’s nothing to do but wait…and perhaps toast the storm with a little foul weather fête. These libations may find their way on your menu:
- Newport Stormy (from Newport Storm/Thomas Tew recipes)
1.5 oz Thomas Tew Rum
4.0 oz Ginger Beer
- Pick up some Newport Storm beer
- Emeril Lagasse’s Hurricane
12 ounces light rum
12 ounces dark rum (perhaps Thomas Tew)
10 ounces grenadine, or passion fruit syrup
10 ounces fresh orange juice
10 ounces sour mix, or fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons superfine sugar, or more to taste
1 large orange, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
Directions: Mix all the ingredients in a tall pitcher or large pot and stir to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a punch bowl and add the ice cubes and orange segments. Serve in tall glasses over ice with straws.
Maria Glade at the Newport Wine Cellar points to a Duoro, a Portuguese red that is bold, lush, fruity, with some vigor and spice, suggesting the 2008 Palestra matches Irene’s “spice and sass.” Meanwhile, Bellevue Wine and Spirits has stocked up on Hurricane Weekend Specials.
Most of all, please stay safe out there!
Newport and its surrounding coastal communities have some of the very best picnic spots in the country (at least in our humble opinion), and though the footloose and fancy free days of summer are numbered, picnicking is an activity you can enjoy well into autumn. This time of year, however, there are great events around the area that making picnicking even more enjoyable.
This Wednesday, the much-loved Ravers play the PM Musical Picnic on the Griswold House lawn at the Newport Art Museum. Pack your own foodstuffs or pre-order a cheese plate with dried fruits and nuts, sliced baguette, and a split of red or white wine (or sparkling water) for $25 from Le Petit Gourmet less than two blocks away (10% of proceeds benefit the museum). For more information, click here. Admission: individual - $10 ($5 for museum members), household - $15 ($10 for museum members).
Another great evening picnic event—Movies on the Rocks at Ballard Park. This Wednesday’s feature: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (begins at dusk), and next week’s feature (8/24) is Shrek. Bring your own provisions or take advantage of “picnic pick-ups” provided by Keenwah Market. Click here for more information.
newportFILM has been quickly gaining a ton of fans with their diverse array of films for both children and adults, many screening in outdoor venues. Programming continues next weekend with a mini-fest featuring Senna, Chandani: The Daughter of the Elephant Whisperer, and Crime After Crime. For times, locations and to watch trailers, click here.
Tuesday night concerts (5:30-7:30pm) at Middletown’s Sweet Barry Farm are a family favorite, and there are only three remaining performances this season: Well-Strung (tonight), The Lois Vaughn Trio (8/23) and Big Cat Blues (8/30). Bring your blankets or chairs to enjoy these free concerts on the lawn. To complement each performance, Chef Scott plans theme menus for purchase at the concerts (quantities are limited, call early to reserve at 401-847-3912), or bring your own.
Happy picnicking!
Sweet Berry Farm, Middletown RI
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Welcome to From Stem to Stern, an insider’s blog featuring local voices and their adventures throughout Newport and Bristol County. We’ll be featuring everything from the dining scene, events, festivals and nightlife to on the water and outdoor escapades plus family-friendly activities. Our contributors include local personalities, local bloggers and staff from the NCCVB.