12 Events To Keep You Buzzing 🐝 This Spring – April Lil Rhody Round-Up
April 1, 2018
Spring is here! Those are three words we almost never thought we’d say. The days are longer and warmer and busier. There are plenty of events this month to get you outside and keep you having fun. These 12 Events (13 if you count taking our food tour) will keep you buzzy🐝 all April long.
When planning your spring to-do’s, don’t forget about us! Our 2018 food tour season starts on Friday, April 20 and tickets are available now!
Follow Rhode Island Red Food Tours on social media to keep up with all of the fun happenings in Rhode Island this month (and every month!)
Together RI – Bring Your Ideas to the Table Various times and locations in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Foundation is hosting these collaborative pop-ups across Rhode Island this spring. Bring a head full of ideas and an empty belly (every event is catered!) Whether you’re Lil Rhody born and raised, a recent transplant or just committed to bettering our state, these events are for you.
The idea is to get groups of diverse, engaged people together to brainstorm and collaborate. The Foundation will help moderate and guide discussions, but the floor is open for discussion. It’s a comfortable and casual way to spark new ideas and find creative solutions to the challenges facing our state.
Visit the Rhode Island Foundation’s website for more information. To view a full calendar of events, click here. Together RI events are free and registration is encouraged.
Tournées French Film Festival
Roger Williams University
Monday, April 2 – Saturday, April 7
Roger Williams University and Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival join forces for the Sixth Tournées French Film Festival. This year’s theme is “Connecting through Storytelling.”
There will be a showtime each day of the festival at 6 pm. Each film will have English subtitles. For the full list of shows and their synopsis, click here.
The film fest is free and open to the public. Movies will be shown at the Feinstein College of Arts & Sciences Room 157 on the Roger Williams University campus. For an interactive campus map, click here.
Unbound 2018 Art Book Fair
Fleet Library at RISD
Saturday, April 7 at 11 am – 6 pm
After a successful first year, RISD Unbound is back! Unbound is a daylong celebration of RISD artists’ books, zines, and experimental printed matter. RISD students and faculty, artists, creators, and designers flock to RI to show off their works.
This year’s fair features 52 exhibitors, 1/4 of which are current RISD students. Support local artists, find your new favorite thing, and have a fun!
Fleet Library at RISD is located at 15 Westminster Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
Newport Daffodil Days Festival
Saturday, April 14 – Sunday, April 22
Get daffy for daffodils! 866,500 daffodils are ready to bloom in Newport, just in time to enjoy the warm spring weather. This year’s Daffodil Days Festival is packed with fun events to enjoy with the whole family, even the furry members! Festival highlights include the Daffy Doggies Parade, Bellevue Avenue Classic Car Display, painting the daffodils and garden tours.
Find the full calendar of events here. Learn about Daffy Deals and purchase your Daffy pins here.
Friends or family planning a spring visit? Impress them with a Rhode Island Red Food Tour! Now booking in Providence and Newport.
Newport Rhode Race
Easton’s Beach
Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 am – 1:30 pm
Newport Rhode Race on Easton’s Beach kicks off the Daffodil Days Festival. Rhode Races is known for their scenic race routes all across Rhode Island. This race may be the prettiest of them all. The course takes runners by historic mansions and gorgeous ocean views. The race starts and ends at Easton’s Beach, where thousands of daffodils will be in full bloom.
Register for the Marathon, Tufts Health Plan Half Marathon or 5K, here.
Urban Agriculture Kick-Off
Groundwork Community Garden
Saturday, April 14 at 11 am – 1 pm
Get your hands in the dirt and get ready for gardening season. Groundwork’s Urban Ag Kick-Off is at four of their community gardens in Providence. Click here for locations. Experts will be at each location to answer questions about organic growing and offer their advice. Whether you’re planning your first garden or looking for ways to improve, this event will help you start spring off right.
You can even pick up non-GMO, organic seeds and low-cost, locally made organic fertilizer. The seeds and fertilizer are free to all attendees.
Learn about becoming a South Side Community Land Trust member for more perks, including high-quality compost pick-up, here.
Tales of the Slave Trade Walking Tour
Linden Place
Saturday, April 14 at 11 am
The Tales of the Slave Trade focuses on Bristol’s DeWolf Family and their involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The DeWolfs were Bristol’s most important family in the 18th and early 19th centuries. They were also one of the largest slave traders in New England. Robin Tremblay, Linden Place museum educator, will walk and talk guests through the history of the DeWolfs and Bristol’s slave trade.
The walking tour begins at Linden Place Mansion and continues to downtown Bristol. The tour ends at the historic DeWolf Tavern, once a waterfront warehouse. Robin will point out and stop at significant sites tied to Bristol’s lengthy involvement in the slave trade.
Tickets for the tour are $20 and reservations are required. To reserve your spot, call (401) 253-0390 or e-mail info@lindenplace.org.
Linden Place is located at 500 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Need your daily foodie fix? Follow us on social media for inspiration from our food tour partners and all across the state!
Meet Your Maker
Hope & Main
Sunday, April 15 at 10 am – 2 pm
Pick up your local food favorites at April’s Meet Your Maker. Peruse and sample food from Rhode Island’s up-and-coming food businesses. Local farmers and artisans often participate in Meet Your Maker, covering all of the bases.
You can even try out the new Hope & Main app! The app allows you to shop from your phone, place an order and pick up at the market. It makes shopping and supporting local makers and farmers even easier!
Hope & Main is located at 691 Main Street in Warren, Rhode Island.
Food Truck Friday
Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village
Friday, April 20 at 5 pm
The food trucks are back in town! April is the official start of food truck season and we couldn’t be happier. Some of our food truck faves will be at this year’s first Food Truck Friday. We can’t get enough of Friskie Fries, Presto O Strange-O Coffee Truck, and Rocket Fine Street Food. Find the full food truck line-up, here.
In addition to the food trucks, there will be wine and beer, live music, and plenty of activities for the kiddos. Picnic and high top tables are limited, so bring a blanket or chairs to get comfy and enjoy the night!
Roger Williams Park Zoo and Carousel Village is located at 1000 Elmwood Ave in Providence, Rhode Island.
Italian Wine Dinner
CRU Cafe
Saturday, April 21 at 7 pm – 10 pm
Treat your taste buds to a three-course meal at CRU Cafe in Newport. Whether you go for a date night, girl’s night, or your mom, your tummy will thank you.
First Course: Seared Sea Scallops with mushrooms, spinach, sage, cream, and angel hair pasta
Second Course: Tuscan Laganelle with sausage, ricotta, and mozzarella
Third Course: Steak Aioli with mushrooms, garlic, black pepper, roasted asparagus, and potato rosettes
Dessert: Classic Tiramisu
There will, of course, be wine and other alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Tickets for Italian Wine Dinner at CRU Cafe are $50/person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (401) 314-0500.
CRU Cafe is located at 1 Casino Terrace in Newport, Rhode Island.
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind foodie experience in Newport or Providence. Our 2018 season starts Friday, April 20. Book your Rhode Island Red Food Tours experience today!
Urban Vintage Bazaar Westminster Arcade Saturday, April 28 at 10 am – 5 pm
Urban, vintage, and bazaar are three of our favorite words. There will be over 20 vintage vendors at this spring’s bazaar at the Westminster Arcade. There are sure to be plenty of treasures to find. There will be men’s and women’s clothing, jewelry, vinyl records, vintage cameras, lighting and housewares, art, and much more.
After you’re done shopping, stop in for a coffee at New Harvest or brunch at Rogue Island. Stroll outside and for a treat at Knead Doughnuts or shopping further down Westminster.
The Arcade is located at 65 Weybosset Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
Eat Drink RI Festival
Wednesday, April 25 – Saturday, April 28
Now in its seventh year, Eat Drink RI Fest is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever. New to the festival is the Sommelier Smackdown, which kicks off the festival on April 25 at Easy Entertaining’s Café. Some of the states best sommeliers will compete in a wine theory quiz, blind tastings, and more. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.
Treat yourself to the Dinner by Dames at Skyline Waterplace. Five of Rhode Island’s most talented chefs and bartenders will put together a multi-course dining experience. Dinner by Dames is on Friday, April 26 and tickets can be purchased here.
The third main event is Truck Stop, which has grown to include 23 food trucks. Pick and choose from some of the top food trucks in RI. Enjoy live music and strolling around with friends. Tickets are $85 and include food from all of the food trucks and one drink. Tickets benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and can be purchased here.
