24 Autumn Adventures – October Lil Rhody Round-Up
September 11, 2019
Autumn is a busy season for Rhode Islanders. With all of these great events coming up, we have a lot of planning to do. With all of the festivals, we should rename Columbus Day Weekend “Festival Weekend” in Rhode Island. There are a ton of great festivals this time of year, so plan accordingly. You don’t want to miss out on any of the fun!
Speaking of missing out on the fun… you don’t want to miss our 2019 food tour season. Our season will end in November, so book your food tour experience today! Use code “RIFOOD” for 10% off all October and November food tours. Must book before September 30. Don’t forget to take time to plan your office holiday party too! If you’re in charge of party planning for work and need to book your holiday events we want to reward you and your team for thinking ahead. Now’s the time to secure an awesome holiday celebration for your staff. Until September 30th, you can get 10% off your entire event just by putting down your security deposit for an event in November or December! New event inquiries only. Inquire here.
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!)
Haunted Boat Tours
Every Wednesday evening in October
Get your spook on during a haunted boat tour of Providence’s riverways. Captain Peter and guest guides from Providence Ghost Tours will introduce you to some of Providence’s longest-lingering residents. Surrounded by moonlit bridges and cobblestone walkways, you’ll cruise through downtown Providence and hear about some of the city’s dearly departed.
Tours are approximately 60 minutes. All tours are reservation only, so you must book ahead. Tickets are $26 for adults and $22 for children under 18. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Tours depart from The Fox Point Marina, located at 525 South Water Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
2019 Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week
Thursday, October 3 – Sunday, October 6
Fun fact: the first American car race, the Vanderbilt Cup, took place in Newport. Given its rich motoring history, Newport is the premier destination for a Concours & Motor Week. Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week celebrates the history of sportsmanship and motoring in Newport. The Museum is hosting several events, including Wine by the Water, Coffee at the Concours, and seminars. Events are held during all four days of the Motor Week. Each day will have something new and exciting for automotive enthusiasts to experience. The full lineup of events is available here.
Ticket prices vary by event and are available for purchase here.
The Audrain Automobile Museum is located at 222 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Thursday, October 3 – Sunday, November 3
Roger William Park Zoo’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is the best way to get in the Halloween mood. This year, travel through a seasonal wonderland. Pumpkin displays will take you through autumn’s beauty, winter’s swirling snow, spring’s first blossoms, and summer’s ocean breezes. Carvers from Passion for Pumpkins keep carving and enhancing the displays throughout the run of the show. They expect to go through over 20,000 pumpkins during this year’s display.
Remember to add the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride to your trip. The zip ride is open every night (weather permitting) during the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. 115 feet in the air, you can see out to Providence and into the Narragansett Bay.
The trails open at 6 pm, all week long. The weekends are the busiest, so if you’re not up for a wait, check it out during the week!
Tickets to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular are available here.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is at Roger Williams Park Zoo, which is located at 1000 Elmwood Ave in Providence, Rhode Island.
WaterFire
Full lighting on Saturday, October 5
WaterFire season is winding down for the fall. There are only two more full lightings scheduled before the end of their 2019 season. The current schedule is available here.
If you have yet to experience WaterFire, put it at the top of your fall bucket list, come in the afternoon for a food tour, take a late afternoon boat tour then sit and soak in the unique experience. Between the music and the magical atmosphere, it’s something you’ll never forget.
PS: WaterFire is the perfect time to check out the new River Walk Pedestrian Bridge!
RI Harvest BBQ 2019
Sunday, October 6 from 4 pm – 7 pm
The RI Harvest BBQ celebrates the most special time in New England – the autumn harvest. This isn’t your ordinary BBQ – there will be incredible food, drink and a great sense of community. You know it’s the real deal because RI Harvest BBQ was voted Editor’s Choice for Best Chef’s Celebration by RI Monthly!
At the BBQ, Rhode Island’s best and brightest chefs partner with local farmers, fishermen, brewers, vintners, musicians, and artisans to celebrate our foodie community and raise money for an important cause. All proceeds of the event will go to supporting Chefs Collaborative.
Tickets are $75 for adults, $25 for children ages 11-17, and children under 10 are free. Tickets are available for purchase here. You can also find the full lineup of chefs, vendors, and entertainers on their Eventbrite page.
RI Harvest BBQ 2019 will take place at Schartner Farms, located at 1 Arnold Place in Exeter, Rhode Island.
2019 Broadway Street Fair
Saturday, October 12 from 12 pm – 6 pm
Fall might just be our favorite season in Newport, Rhode Island. Enjoy the best season in Newport at the 2019 Broadway Street Fair. Broadway is Newport’s historic Main Street and is always a lively representation of the city. Last year more than 15,000 visitors strolled along Broadway and enjoyed the annual street fair.
The street fair begins at Equality Park and extends all the way to Washington Square. The streets will be filled with music, food, family activities, exhibiting artists and makers, and local non-profits.
The 2019 Broadway Street Fair can be found in downtown Newport, Rhode Island.
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind foodie experience in Newport or Providence. Perfect for parties, celebrations, and quality time with friends and family. Book your Rhode Island Red Food Tours experience today!
Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh-Off
Frerichs Farm
Saturday, October 12 from 9 am – 5 pm
These are some seriously big pumpkins. Last year’s largest pumpkin weighed in at 1,914 lbs!
Other than giant pumpkins, visitors can expect pumpkin painting, a corn maze, pirate ship and western town for the kids to play in, build-your-own scarecrow stations, rides, and on-site food trucks. This event is sure to get everyone in the family in the fall spirit!
Admission is free, but there is a $5 parking fee.
Frerichs Farm is located at 43 Kinnicutt Ave in Warren, Rhode Island.
Scituate Art Festival
Saturday, October 12 – Monday, October 14
Scituate Art Festival is the true sign that fall in Rhode Island has arrived. For those who have not been, it is much more than just an art festival. Nestled in quaint, beautiful Scituate, this festival features 200 art and craft exhibitors, antique vendors, a food court, live music, and a huge art/craft/antique raffle. Grab a bag of sweet and salty kettle corn, peruse the antique vendors, and find your favorite art piece.
The festival began in 1967 and 53 years later, it’s still kickin’ for good reason.
Scituate Art Festival is free for all to enjoy. If you’re looking for directions, use 554 Greenville Road in North Scituate, Rhode Island.
Federal Hill Columbus Day Weekend Festival
Saturday, October 12 – Monday, October 14
Atwells Avenue is the center of the Federal Hill Columbus Day Weekend Festival. Dozens of food and retail vendors, the annual parade, games and amusement rides will line Atwells Avenue. In addition, there will be three entertainment stages each day. You can find the full schedule of events here.
One of the weekend’s highlights, the Columbus Day Parade kicks off at 11 am on Sunday, October 13. The parade features all of the must-haves including marching bands, dozens of floats and civic groups. The entire weekend is family-friendly, but kiddos especially love the parade.
The Federal Hill Columbus Day Weekend Festival can be found on Atwells Ave in Providence, Rhode Island.
Providence Honk Festival
Monday, October 14 from 2 pm – 10 pm
Providence + Honk = PRONK! The Pronk! Festival is an annual celebration of diversity and music. Pronk! Blurs the lines between audience and performer for an interactive experience. It is a very colorful, eclectic, and fun celebration. People from all over gather to have fun and celebrate life. Musicians, artists, activists, makers, and groups from around Rhode Island take over South Water Street. The best way to fully understand the festival is to read their manifesto:
“PRONK MANIFESTO: RECLAIMS the streets with brass, beats, and feet! IS a free occupation of public space. IS people-powered music. No wires, no amps, off the grid. IS a party. IS spawned from the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, MA that has “grown into a new type of street band movement—throughout the country and across the globe—outrageous and inclusive, brass and brash, percussive and persuasive, reclaiming public space with a sound that is in your face and out of this world.” (~HONK!) SUPPORTS education & questioning of mainstream narratives. IS an antidote to mainstream culture. IS a celebration of resistance to consumerism, colonialism, hatred, and injustice. HAPPENS because of the work of hundreds of volunteers. CELEBRATES Providence. IS NOT consumer-driven. ENCOURAGES youth to engage with music and art as a platform for social change. IS family-friendly. AIMS to build relationships between and among artists and organizations. IS NOT a Columbus Day parade. BELIEVES artists and musicians have something to contribute to social justice movements. DOES NOT support complacency and unquestioned acceptance. ASPIRES to spark meaningful dialogues around challenges dividing our communities. SEEKS to utilize the visual and auditory noise of artists and local, national, and international street bands to highlight the important work of activists making change in our own community.”
Providence Honk Festival can be found on South Water Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
In town for an upcoming festival? Book a food tour to get familiar with Rhode Island’s food scene. Now offering tours in Providence and Newport. Book today!
FireBall at the WaterFire Arts Center
Friday, October 18 starting at 6 pm
Support WaterFire at their annual FireBall! It will be an exciting evening of dinner, dancing, art, and special surprises. There are a variety of ticket packages and pricing. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
The WaterFire Arts Center is located at 475 Valley Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
Tomaquag Museum’s Annual Honoring & Cultural Showcase
Friday, October 18 from 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
The showcase honors and supports Indigenous cultural tourism in Rhode Island through a dynamic intertribal cultural celebration at URI.
4 pm – 7:30 pm (ticket not required): Indigenous Arts Market
5:30 pm (VIP ticket required $150): VIP dinner reception with a silent auction, performer and honoree meet & greet, dinner, and private performances
7:30 pm (general admission ticket required $40): Indigenous performance showcase
All proceeds benefit the Tomaquag Museum. You can purchase tickets and find more information here.
The Tomaquag Museum is located in Edwards Hall, 45 Upper College Road in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
The Uncommon Women of the Common Burying Ground
Saturday, October 19 at 11 am
Learn something new and celebrate some of the remarkable women of Newport! “Remarkable women have contributed to society from the beginning of time and Newport has been home to scores of them. Visit the Common Burying Ground gravesites of influential women like Ida Lewis, Ann Franklin, and Jane Stuart as well as the sites of less well-known, but no less remarkable women like Sophia Little, Harriet Rice, and Temperance Grant. Join Lew Keen, chair of the Newport Historic Cemetery Commission and Trudy Keen, independent researcher as they present the histories of these and other uncommon women.”
Reservations are required for this limited tour. You can purchase tickets here for $20 per person.
The tour departs from the Newport Historical Society Museum & Shop, located at 127 Thames Street in Newport, Rhode Island.
Pumpkins, Pints and Bountiful Bites
Saturday, October 19 from 2 pm – 8 pm
Pumpkins, Pints and Bountiful Bites is such a fantastic name for a fall festival. This is a free event for the whole family to get out and enjoy. There will be a bounce house, games, music, food trucks, face painting and – of course – beer!
The Guild is located at 461 Main Street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Providence Hard Cider & Doughnut Fest
Saturday, October 19 from 3 pm – 9 pm
Part bar hop, part sweet celebration. The Providence Hard Cider & Doughnut Fest features five bars and restaurants, premium hard ciders, and 3,000 custom doughnut creations. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly once they go on sale – don’t delay! This festival is 21+.
General admission tickets are $25 and group rates are available. Get all of the details and purchase your tickets here.
14th Annual Halloween Iron Pour: The Odyssey
Saturday, October 19 from 5 pm – 9 pm
Get ready – The Steel Yard is hosting the “raddest and hottest Halloween party,” Iron Pour: The Odyssey. Experience a live, performative iron pour, live music and entertainment, a Yardie Bar powered by Revival Brewing Company, and lots of family-friendly fun!
Tickets start at $15 and are available for purchase here.
The Steel Yard is located at 27 Sims Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island.
Don’t dilly dally! Our food tour season will be over before you know it. Book your Rhode Island Red Food Tours experience before we wrap up our season in November. Book today!
Bowen’s Wharf 29th Seafood Festival
Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20
Bowen’s Wharf 29th Seafood Festival is a free and family-friendly celebration. If you didn’t know already, Rhode Islanders loooove their seafood! Fresh, local seafood will be available for purchase at the event. Think fish tacos, lobster rolls, fried calamari, clam chowder, stuffed quahogs, and more! There will also be cocktails and beer available for those of age. And for people of all ages – fresh smoothies, donuts, and kettle corn to satisfy your sweet tooth! Live music will be played throughout the event, so bring your dancin’ shoes!
8,000-10,000 people celebrate the “Harvest of the Sea” every year and this might be the last outdoor seafood festival in Rhode Island before old man winter sets in.
Bowen’s Wharf 28th Seafood Festival is located at 13 Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island.
Little Pumpkins Party
Thursday, October 24 from 4 pm – 5 pm
Dress up your little pumpkin and roll them over to the Providence Athenaeum to celebrate Halloween with a lively, interactive musical experience. Light refreshments will be served and the whole family is welcome to celebrate at the library!
Registration is required, but the event is free. You can register here or you can call the library to register at (401) 421-6970.
Providence Athenaeum is located at 251 Benefit Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
Providence Mob Tour
Friday, October 25 from 7 pm – 9 pm
Did you know that Federal Hill was once the headquarters of the New England mafia? The Providence Mob Tour will take you through the history of organized crime in Providence, the locations of notorious crimes and gangland murders, and the hangouts of the Mafia Don and his Capos.
Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase here.
Providence Mob Tours leave from Garibaldi Square, located at 99 Atwells Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island.
4th Annual Halloween CarnEvil Celebration
Friday, October 25 from 7 pm – 11 pm
Newport Vineyard’s annual Halloween celebration is the region’s premier costume party with an evening full of performers, music, dancing, and prizes. The event is strictly 21+.
Tickets are $45 per person and are available for purchase here. Tickets include Creepy Cocktail Hour with nosh food and 1 glass of wine or beer.
Newport Vineyards is located at 909 East Main Road in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Raising Spirits Walking Tour
Saturday, October 26 from 10 am – 11:30 am
The second historical cemetery tour on our October round-up. Who says you can’t learn something new, appreciate history and enjoy the Halloween vibes?
Join Stages of Freedom for a walking tour of Providence’s historic African American gravesites. This guided tour will introduce you to some of the important African Americans buried in this historic 1700 cemetery. Along the way, you’ll even meet some of them! Re-enactors will bring the story to life.
Tickets are $18 per person and are expected to sell out. Purchase your tickets here.
11th Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Stroll & Social
Saturday, October 26 from 1 pm – 3 pm
What’s cuter than dogs in Halloween costumes? We sure can’t think of anything. Dress up with your dog or just enjoy the cuteness.
The dog stroll and social will begin at Wag Nation, located at 92 William Street in Newport, Rhode Island.
Beervana Fest
Saturday, October 26 at 1 pm and 6 pm
The Beervana Fest mission is to “enlighten and educate the community for the responsible appreciation of craft beer.” So if you’re a craft beer enthusiast, this event is for you. Enjoy two floors of world-class craft beer with 60+ tasting tables and 250+ brews available for tasting. You can find the list of attending breweries here.
Beervana tickets include one tasting glass, 2 oz pours, a festival guide and one bottle of water. Tickets are $55 per person and can be purchased here.
Beervana Fest is located at the historic Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Sucrée: A Spooky Celebration of Sweets!
Thursday, October 31 from 6 pm – 8 pm
Gracie’s in Providence is putting on the sweetest event of the season. Don your Halloween costume and head to Gracie’s for a supernatural cocktail hour and a three-course dessert tasting. It’s going to be four-courses of Halloween-inspired deliciousness! Four of New England’s most creative and talented pastry chefs will conjure up a signature dessert course. Caitlyn McGuire of Ellie’s Bakery, Melissa Denmark and Karissa Bednarz of Gracie’s, and Eric Brown of Pinky Ring in Chicago (formerly of Gracie’s) will be servin’ up the spooky treats. The evening’s cocktail pairings will be designed by Liz Smith, a former Gracie’s bartender.
The event begins with a standing cocktail hour and passed hors-d’oeuvres. Once seated, guests will enjoy each signature dessert course paired with cocktails.
Costumes are encouraged, so start brainstorming your super sweet get-up.
Tickets for Sucrée – A Spooky Celebration of Sweets are $80 per person and include tax and gratuity. They can be purchased here.
Gracie’s is located at 194 Washington Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
