Alexandra from Newport Connext returns to give From Stem to Stern readers the 411 on the Newport Winter Festival, which kicks off tomorrow and lasts for 10 fun-filled days. Visit Newport Connext for a complete schedule to plan your own Winter Festival adventure!
School’s out! For many families it's almost winter break and luckily Newport is gearing up for its annual Winter Festival, jammed pack with kid activities, live entertainment, and some mighty tempting cook-offs all about town. There’s a lot happening here in town. So much so, I am only spotting the tip of what is being offered over the course of these ten fun-filled days in Newport. Enjoy!
FAMILY FESTIVAL FUN
Ice Carving & Ice Sculptures: 2/18 11:00am Bundle the children up in their warmest hats, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and walk amongst the array of sculptures all hand crafter by local artisans. Now, these stay about so you can come at anytime, but its always fun to watch the kids’ jaws drop as the artists crank up a chainsaw or jigsaw in front of them. 12 Long Wharf Mall
Children’s Fair with Radio Disney: 2/19 & 2/20, 11:30am-4:00pm We love this fair! Let the kid’s run about, release some much needed energy, and enjoy a day full of face-painting, reptile shows, crafts and bounce houses.
We love this 2-day event, think of it as an indoor carnival perfectly fit for all kiddos to have fun! Newport Marriott
A Princess Party at 41North: 2/21, 1pm-3:30pm Who wants to play princess for a day?! Calling all mini-queens over for a royal afternoon full of sweetness and tiaras. Space limited to 100 so reserve you ticket now! 41 North, 351 Thames Street
Teddy Bear Story Time: 2/22 11:00am Milk & cookie time! Come bring your favorite Teddy Bear and listen to the musical storyteller Christopher 'Kavi' Carbone sing some songs and tell some stories of the wonders of winter. Hampton Inn & Suites, 317 West Main Road
Kids Dance Party with Dance Force: 2/22, 6:30pm-8:30pm Whose got some moves? Seems the Mambo Room is making some space for the high-energy dance troop, the Dance Force, to show at kids some of the latest cool dance moves. Get dancing! The Mambo Room, 337 Thames Street
12th Annual "Live Jazz for Kids”: 2/23, 1:00pm-4:00pm This is always a fun free event that kids enjoy. With the music set for the kiddos, let them bop back and forth as you taste a glass of wine or just enjoy the barn ambiance.Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth
Beach Polo: 2/25 & 2/26, 2:30pm Do not miss this. Come enjoy what makes Newport so special, as the Newport International Polo Series sponsors two entertaining games of polo on the beach. It’s beautiful and exciting. The kids love this. Easton’s Beach
Sand Sculpting Day & Kid’s Festival Day: 2/26 11:00am-2:00pm The kid adventure begins with a block hunt at 11:00am! Get on down to the beach, it’s the hoorah of the festival! It’s going to be a fun filled day full of entertainment, a kid block hunt party, a plunge (brrr…), and sand sculptures. No one is ever too old to enjoy walking a beach full of five feet sand castles and sea creatures finely detailed down to their last scale. Easton’s Beach
The Newport Winter Festival has over 150 fun filled activities going on during its 10 day duration, so please check out Newport Winter Festival for more favorite events to choose from for your liking. See you about town and happy family time!
Connect with other Newport moms, get savory recipes and find out more about family life in the City-by-the-Sea by visiting NewportConnext.com
“Let the festivities begin!” …Cue the holiday music please! Newport is adorned in the soft white shimmer of twinkling lights, fresh greens
and holly, and the sound of holiday music trails from our downtown shops and restaurants. My favorite part about this holiday is our city's captivating sparkle. As the temperature begins to drop, you still feel this encompassing warmth from all the golden hues of lights that adorn our city’s streets to the merriment of all those bustling around you.
In a season when families are adoringly celebrating their special holidays and traditions, you can’t help but feel the palpable energy of community and blithe spirit. Oh, and those children…hands cupped with cocoa, high pitched giggles, and excited little voices (repetitively) dolling out their lists…thank goodness we live in a city that savors every moment of this special season!
Click the link below for my picks for family Holiday Happenings in Newport. Although many are Christmas related, town’s seasonal spirit is honoring each and every child’s special holiday!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO NEWPORT CONNEXT'S HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS GUIDE!
Family film buffs need to look no further than newportFILM’s November mini-fest this weekend for a pre-holiday delight that will put us all in the spirit of imagination and creativity. From a Friday night flick on football perfectly suited for any older child to adult, to a fantastic kid film on snowmen, school, and silly kid shenanigans, there is a little something suited for all the various ages and stages of kids and families about town.
On Friday: UNDEFEATED (PG-13) 7pm, Jane Pickens Theater Got any little football lovers in the house? This “Friday Night Lights” type film documents the Manassas High Tigers, an inner-city Memphis football team that has seen it’s share of hardship and challenges in past. Unfolding a full season, from the first kick-off to the final game, families will be moved by this film’s passion, the coach’s compassion, and the team’s undeniable perseverance and youthful spirit. It'll make a great family night out with any child who loves this sport, or date night! (PS: Come an hour early to the theater for the pre-film wine reception hosted by Salvation Café starting at 6pm)
Saturday Day: SNOWMEN (PG) 1pm, Jane Pickens Theater Three cheers for a kid film full of enthusiasm, and remembering to make the children the main characters! This heartfelt film will leave the kids giggling and the parents smiling. Smartly written, the film follows three elementary aged boys on a mission to gain some notoriety in town (school) through building snowmen and capturing a new Guinness World Record. All the typical mayhem of bullies, to a crush, to a mentor follow suit, but the real spirit lies in the film’s main character, a boy who believes in himself and everyone around him. A smart (and always welcomed) lesson that each child will take home with them…that, and the gleeful anticipation of setting their own records!
Saturday Night: BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY (Unrated Documentary) 7pm, Jane Pickens Theater This documentary has gotten a lot of buzz (and awards) in the film industry! Being Elmo tells the tale of the man, Kevin Clash, behind the lovable red puppet. Come spend an evening inspired by how one boy’s dream of becoming a puppeteer and working with Jim Henson, came true. You’ll be just as captivated by Kevin as your children are by Elmo. With an impressive list of actors, and behind the scenes glimpse at all that create the magical world of Sesame Street, this film is a great family night out for an older child, a puppeteer in the making, and parents alike. (PS: Come an hour early to the theater for the pre-film wine reception hosted by Salvation Café starting at 6pm)
Keep posted on newportFILM events by visiting their web site here and stay on top of these and other family happenings in and around Newport by visiting Newport Connext here.
“The sea captain has returned from his mysterious journey, and brought back a creepy crew of gray faced ghouls and walking dead goons….ooooh!” I creepily whispered to my six-year-old and his best pal as we passed two (very friendly) men caked in impressive zombie makeup. To my delight, the Newport Yachting Center has been eerily transformed into three clearly sectioned haunted adventures called The Haunted Shipyard.
The Haunted Pier 23 (where all the zombies hail) is too scary for any kids under the age of ten, and parents should decide if their child could handle this eerie tour for the older ones, but the “Lights-On” Spooky Wharf is perfect for 2-8 year-olds ready for a sweet, simple, and playful treat.
The kid tent is a NON-SCARY tent with six activity stations ranging from the Witches Brew, to Pirate Digging, to Alligator Pond, along with Sully the fuzzy blue monster from Monsters
, Inc. Each activity is joyfully rewarded with a treat for the kid’s goody bags that they are handed upon entering. I noted the 2-5-year-olds really enjoyed the pirate digging, witches brew, and decorating masks. Meanwhile, the 6+ crew thoroughly enjoyed the candy rewards of each activity and the bumper boats, where they can slam and smack into each other at a simple puttering speed…tons of giggles!
For the older (I’d say elementary age) kids, head across to the third tent called The Armory…a.k.a. the Zombie Hunt. This space resembles something straight out of a Wii combat zone; it’s pretty darn cool. After meeting the targeted zombie and werewolf, my son was game for getting behind the appointed partition area, wearing his safety mask, and shooting pink paint pellets at his moving targets. To my delight, the safety and expertise on hand allowed this nervous mom to enjoy such a big-kid moment. And oh boy, did those kids love this activity!
Top off your night with a quick bite at the Creepy Canteen (the bloody aprons are fantastic), a drink for the parents (yes, please) at the Boo Bar, and I’d say you’ve had a gruesomely good evening!
The Haunted Shipyard at the Newport Yachting Center continues tonight through Halloween. Click here for hours, tickets and prices.
As a transplant to Newport, I am convinced that the residents of Aquidneck Island reside here because of all the community involvement the spectacular views, and the plethora of ongoing local activity such as Saturday’s the Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour. This family event is a glowing spectacle full of local involvement. Many of our little tikes and students at local schools carve the showcased pumpkins themselves. Not sure you’ll find your way? No worries, just listen for the sound of children talking excitedly about all the varying shapes and designs they see gleaming back at them on this jogging-stroller friendly trail. If you haven’t gone before, I guarantee that yo
ur whole family will not only have a great time, but you will bump into someone you know-its just that type of event. From children to adults, this evening is one of community, creativity, and Halloween spirit.
The 9th Annual Ballard Park Tour begins at 4:30pm and ends at 9:00pm (rain or shine--so those Wellies might come in handy). Do not shy away if you have early to bed tikes; the woods produce just enough low light to allow the little kids to have the most wonderful time.
After the tour, walk across to Rogers High School for some more family fun, and a great haunted house hosted by our local teens…Its sure to be a scream of a good time!
Ballard Park is located across the street from Rogers High School, in Newport, on the corner of Hazard & Wickham Roads, 401-619-3377.
Learn about more local events, moms to watch, easy seasonal recipes and more by visiting Alexandra's momtastic website, NewportConnext!
Photo courtesy BallardPark.org
Welcome to the third and final installment of my round-up of great places to play with your children (click here for the Tiny Tots edition and click here for the Mixed Bag edition). Today's focus: kids at that delightfully ambitious age of practicing tricks on their skateboard or offering up advice on what they are “just dying” to try next. These suggestions are perfect for this little brood.
Fort Adams Pack the bikes, helmets, and water bottles for this 2-mile bike loop around the fort that is fun for the whole family, now called the Bay Walk. You will have the best view in town as you bike and play with your big kids on one of our city’s most welcoming spots in town. *Make it the “great expedition” by popping into Sail Newport and renting a tandem kayak. You’ll be the coolest parents around! Fort Adams State Park, Newport
Sachuest Point Middletown’s wildlife refuge is so inviting for a great hike/exploration with your big kids and adults alike. Allow them to map out your course, and be sure to spot one of the many local deer that reside up on this majestic point as you loop through the paths. Sachuest Point Road, Middletown
Norman Bird Sanctuary: The elementary ages are at the perfect stage for a great climb up to Hanging
Rock. Pack water, a snack bar (they always get hungry at the most random times), and hike up to the most marvelous view in town. Third Beach Road, Middletown, www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
Whatever activity you decide, take advantage of the outdoors while this weather lasts! Please be sure to share any “Must Do’s” you wish me to spot, and join me on Newport Connext to meet other local moms, to print out some amazing recipes, and get the skinny on living the family like in and around the City-by-the-Sea! Happy Fallin’!
Hiking Sachuest Point
It’s Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Harvest Fair this weekend! See that exclamation mark...that’s for all the enthusiasm and endearing memories that goes along with this announcement. There is something so heartwarming about this fall festival, from the pitched tents in the plowed down field, to parking on the grass, to the sound of kids running all about laughing. This is a cherished family weekend event full of autumn fair fun. Frankly, it’s the closest we’ll ever get to a small town country fair, and the kids love it!
Norman Bird Sanctuary, a.k.a NBS, provides adults with a plethora of local crafts to buy, a country shop full of local jams & baked goods, the home & garden competitions, and two full days of old fashioned kid fun from the hay rides, to the mud pit (yep...the kids go nuts for this), old-fashioned tug-o-war (see below!), to the Scarecrow contest...its an event not to be missed!
Fortunately it goes all weekend so you can easily plan it around your soccer matches, kid activities, and family scheduling. Come enjoy a great day(s) of fun! And bring that camera.
October 1st-2nd (Saturday & Sunday),10am-5pm at Norman Bird Sanctuary, Third Beach Rd., Middletown, RI, (401) 846-2577, www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
For more family-friendly fun and to connect with local moms, visit www.NewportConnext.com
The second in my trilogy of Outdoor Play and Parks picks continues (scroll down or click here for the first post on the series focusing on tiny tots). Today I’m featuring a trio of spaces I love for when you’re accommodating multiple ages, which moms of more than one know how challenging can be. These are perfect for the play-date, or family time, of kiddos ranging from the sippy cup stage to the doing wheelies stage!
Jamestown Community Park I can’t say enough about this park! It has climbing, crawling, and running areas suited for all ages & stages. A perfect mini-trip topped off with a stop at the library, adjacent to this town’s park. 26 North Road, Jamestown
Howland Park Dads love this park! With a paved hockey rink that beckons kids to bring their bikes, balls, and roller blades, this park is always packed with families having fun. Third Beach Road, Middletown
King Park Oh the view! Bring a ball, the dog, and lunch as the kids energetically fling themselves, back and forth, on the playground’s glider, and the family Fido runs all around on the little town beach. Wellington Avenue, Newport
Stay tuned next week for my final park picks for the "all grown up" kiddos--you know, the ones who have it all figured out, and connect with other Newport moms, get the Family 401 and "Yummy Tummy" recipes, and find out more about family life in the City-by-the-Sea by visiting NewportConnext.com!
I love the fall! I love the brisk, cool air, the change of the season’s colors, and the undeniable bustle of life and laughter at the parks in the afternoons. Its a time of change, from those brilliant golden hues dressing our trees to the new layers of clothing on the kids. Here are my top picks of outdoor park/recreation fun for moms, dads, and little one to enjoy all season long. Get shaking, and enjoy this colorful season!
FOR THE TINY TOTS
Whether just beginning to walk, or puffing out their little chest after a big-kid day of nursery/pre-school, these are the perfect spots for a few hours of play-date fun.
Freeborn Park This park is perfectly tailored for ages 1-3 years. In fact, we named it the baby park because all the equipment is sized just so. Freeborn Street, Newport
Newport Library Park-This park is pre-k play-date central! From use of space, to the swings, to the perfect jungle gym it makes perfect sense why moms love this park. Corner of King Street & Bowery Street, Newport
Cardines Field Key component: its fenced in! Between the toddler friendly ramps and easy climbs, this park is a little local treat. The corner of Bridge Street & America’s Cup Avenue, Newport
Simmon’s Farm This great little petting zoo provides big belly laughs amongst kiddos as the farm animals eagerly greet their little guests in hopes of being fed some of the petting zoo food Simmons Farm provides. A must do! 1942 West Main Rd., Middletown, simmonsorganicfarmri.com
Stay tuned next week for my park picks for all ages, and connect with other Newport moms, get savory recipes and find out more about family life in the City-by-the-Sea by visiting NewportConnext.com
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!