April brings blooming daffodils and food festivals to Newport, RI. Our City-by-the-Sea hosts enough unique events to fill your calendar with wine tasting, fine dining, waterfront oyster sampling and family-friendly shows and tours. With input from our agents, we compiled a list of the best events taking place this spring in and around Newport, RI.
April Events
Newport Daffodil Days
This year, daffodil-seekers will find more than 1.2 million (yes, you read that right!) here in Newport County. From bike rides to shopping excursions with spring-themed window displays and beyond, daffodil-themed events are in full bloom all month long.
Where: Various locations across Aquidneck Island
When: April 6 – 28, 2024
Full details: Newport Daffodil Days
Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Viking
Enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Viking each Saturday and Sunday in April. Sip loose-leaf teas and nibble a selection of savory and sweet treats in the elegant Garden Room. The Hotel Viking’s team will help you choose the perfect tea and prepare it tableside for each guest.
Where: Hotel Viking
When: Saturdays and Sundays in April from 2 pm to 4 pm
Full details: https://www.hotelviking.com/events/afternoon-tea-service/
Newport Beer Festival
Sample over 100 of the best beers from over 50 breweries at the Newport Beer Festival (formerly the Newport Craft Beer Festival), sponsored by Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling. Listen to live music and sample beer while you walk around historic Fort Adams State Park. Food will be available from several food vendors. Admission includes a souvenir tasting glass and all samples. 21+; must have a valid ID.
Where: Fort Adams State Park
When: April 20, 2024, 2 pm to 5:30 pm
Full details: Newport Beer Festival
May Events
Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 41st Annual Birds and Breakfast
Join the Norman Bird Sanctuary for a morning of breakfast, community, bird tours, and kids’ crafts! Members get a discounted ticket price. Ticket price includes a catered breakfast by Kitchen Companion Catering, children’s crafts, live music, and family-friendly guided bird walks. Gluten-free and vegan breakfast options will be available.
Where: Norman Bird Sanctuary Studio Lawn
When: Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 8 am – 12 pm
Full Details: Norman Bird Sanctuary Birds and Breakfast
Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
No tickets are needed for this free-admission food festival, which is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Enjoy a cocktail while sampling oysters from some of Rhode Island’s more than 45 oyster farms. Local restaurants will have food for purchase and cash bars will be set up on site. Come enjoy some live music while tasting your way through some of the best food and drinks Rhode Island has to offer.
Where: Bowen’s Wharf
When: Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 11 am to 6 pm
Full details: Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
Spring Festival at Newport Vineyards
Toast the return of spring at the Spring Festival. Taste favorites from Newport Vineyards’ wine and beer bars and eat some delicious food while listening to live music. There’s even a pie-eating contest, grape stomping, and more. This year, the Spring Festival falls on Star Wars Day (May the Fourth), so they’re encouraging everyone to dress as their favorite character from a galaxy far, far, away!
Where: Newport Vineyards
When: Saturday, May 4, from 11:30 am to 5 pm
Full details: https://www.newportvineyards.com/event/21st-annual-spring-festival/
June Events
British Motorcar Festival
Back for another year is British Motorcars of New England’s annual British Motorcar Festival which takes place over two days in different locations throughout Bristol, RI. Festivities include a scenic tour around Southern New England, a block party that’s open to the public at Independence Park, and a public car show. This event raises money for local charities through car show registrations, vendor booths, area sales, and sponsorships. Help support the BMCNE while seeing some of Britain’s most beautiful and iconic motorcars!
Where: Various spots in Bristol, RI
When: Friday, June 7, and Saturday June 8, 2024
Full details: https://britishmotorcarsinbristol.com
Newport International Polo Series
See the USA play Thailand at the first match of the 2024 Newport International Polo Series season. This is Thailand’s grand debut at the Newport International Polo Series. Arrive early and catch the best-in-show contest spotlighting the most spirited fans, enter to win a door prize, enjoy refreshments, and, best of all, stay for family-friendly fun. Oh, and don’t miss the time-honored polo tradition – the halftime divot stomp!
Where: Newport International Polo Grounds & Pavilion at Glen Farm
When: Saturday, June 1, 5 pm
Full details: https://www.nptpolo.com
The 53rd Newport Bermuda Race
The Newport Bermuda Race is an annual race from Newport to Bermuda. This year, they have decided to move the race’s starting point one mile north of Castle Hill to give spectators a chance to see 200 boats start the race in style. This free event offers shoreline views, expert commentary, a beer garden, and exhibits from sponsoring partners. Plus, you’ll experience the camaraderie of other boat lovers!
Where: Fort Adams State Park
When: June 21, 2024 at 2 pm
Full details: https://bermudarace.com/newport-bermuda-race-extends-to-636-miles-offers-free-public-viewing-from-fort-adams-state-park/
Newport Flower Show
Join the Preservation Society of Newport County at the historic Rosecliff mansion for their 28th annual Newport Flower Show. This year’s theme is “At Home”, celebrating the plants and flowers we enjoy in our homes. Exhibits and displays will showcase the beauty of each artist’s interpretation of items commonly found around the home. Remember to stop by the Marketplace and take some beautiful plants home.
Where: Rosecliff
When: Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23, 2024
Full details: https://www.newportmansions.org/events/the-newport-flower-show-at-home/
Remember to check event websites for updates and to confirm if pre-registration or advanced tickets are required. Hope to see you around town this spring!
ABOUT HOGAN ASSOCIATES
Hogan Associates is an independent Rhode Island brokerage founded by Leslie Hogan and Matt Hadfield, two of Rhode Island’s most experienced agents, each with a strong track record of success in the Greater Newport real estate market. Hogan Associates’ 36 sales agents work on behalf of buyers and sellers of fine properties in the coastal communities of southern RI. The firm has offices in Newport and Middletown and is a member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, an elite broker network with more than 130,000 sales professionals located in approximately 880 offices in 70 countries and territories. In 2020 & 2021 Hogan Associates received Newport Life Magazine’s Best of Newport County award. For more information, visit HoganRI.com.
