15 Must-Do Spring Events and Happenings in Rhode Island
March 25, 2024
Rhode Island has so many things to do the whole year through but in the springtime we are just getting ready to bloom, literally! Here is your must do spring event list in Rhode Island for 2024!
U Pick WIcked Tulips, April 1st through May 15th, 2024
Topping out this list of must do spring events in Rhode Island is Wicked Tulip Farm, afterall, who doesn’t need a bouquet of tulips to brighten an otherwise grey spring. From Exeter RI to Johnston to Preston CT there are over 1.5 million planted bulbs all for only $1 a stem! Surely, when Tiny Time wrote the tune “Tip Toe Through The Tulips’ he was singing about the Wicked Tulip Farm or the happiest place in Rhode Island!
Admission is $20-23 per person which will include 10 tulips, any tulip stems after that are $1ea. Pro Tips: Sign up for the newsletter to get notifications of ticket releases. Tickets must be purchases online only. BYOBucket for quicker checkout and a camera for all those bloomin shots you’ll want for the gram!
Newport Beer Festival, April 20th 2024, 2PM -5:30
Now in its 12th year The Newport Beer Festival is coming to Fort Adams once again for an afternoon of live music and at least 50 craft brewers. Local and regional brewers are offering over 150 tasting selections. Admission to this fun-filled, al fresco event at Fort Adams State Park will cost $65 and includes a souvenir tasting glass and all samples for the 1st 200 purchasers. All ticket purchasers will be enetred into a grand drawing. Brewers will be on hand to pour cold ones all day and quench your thirst.
Looking for the most enjoyable way to get there? The Jamestown Newport Ferry will offer express ferry service from Jamestown. The festival take place rain or shine, in true “hearty New England” style. For tickets go here.
NEWPORT OYSTER & CHOWDER FESTIVAL, MAY 18-19th, 2024, 11AM -6PM
From bivalves to chowder, Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival is one of the best things to do in Rhode Island. You can taste your way around the Ocean State – all in one place! Sip champagne and enjoy oysters and chowder from local growers and vendors along Newport’s bustling waterfront all weekend long. With more than 45 participating oyster farms, what better way to savor the terrior of our local waters?
The flavors are distinctive to each farm, so this is your chance to savor a sampling of them in one festive atmosphere! Growers will be shucking alongside local restaurants and you’ll enjoy live music under the colorful festival tents. Additional oysters, a full bar and other food provided by local restaurants will also be available on site. Admission is free!
Spring Lighthouse Cruises, Thursdays through Sundays
Cruise through Narragansett Bay on the Coastal Queen while guides point out the magnificent lighthouses perched on the local islands. See and hear about Goat Island, Rose Island, Castle Hill and Lime Rock without even stepping on shore. Learn about Newport’s iconic mansions, century-old churches, historic Fort Adams, the Newport Pell Bridge, Clingstone, Hammersmith Farm and more. You may even spot a local seal or two in the water if your lucky!
Spring cruising aboard the Coastal Queen offers maximum comfort as the vessel has a weatherproof main salon. It even features a center bar that can be heated on chilly days. Sit up on the open-air top covered deck where the side curtains can roll up for catching the ocean breezes or rolled down for warmth. All decks offer panoramic views and the boat’s main deck and ramps are ADA accessible. In May, cruises run Friday through Sunday. In June, cruises run Thursday through Sunday.
Rhode Island Home Show, April 4th -7th, 2024
Wow, what a great track record, seventy-five years for this annual spring event in Rhode Island, it must be worthwhile! You’ve got garden experiences and flower shows, floral competitions to inspiration and energy seminars. Over 100 vendors to shop for everyone’s taste and nest. You even have RI Craft Breweries from The Rhode Island Brewers Guild. You won’t go hungry, there are lots of great food options by some of Rhode Island best restaurants and chefs. Honestly, there is so much here and it sure beats going to a mall!
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for over 65 adults, under 15 is free. Parking and other info here.
Misquamicut Springfest, May 10th-12th, 2024
Imagine a weekend on an ocean beach where ferris wheels turn and the smell of cotton candy floats by on an ocean breeze. That is just the beginning for this family friendly festival, which also falls on Mother’s Day weekend. Enjoy music performances by John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, Robin Hathaway Big Mouth Blues Band and Rock Candy. Classic car show, dancing, beer garden, food trucks, craft carnival games & vendors will go well into the night. So, there is something for everyone to enjoy night and day!
A rain or shine event at Misquamicut State Beach. All day tickets are $12, children under 7 are free. On site parking is free.
Friday, May 10: 5 pm – 11 pm
Saturday, May 11: 11:30 am – 11 pm
Sunday, May 12: 11 am – 5 pm
NEWPORT POLO, JUNE 1st AND EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SEPT.
Unfolding weekly at Portsmouth’s historic Glen Farm, the Newport International Polo Series features teams from around the world and from major U.S. cities playing against Team USA/Newport. Polo got its start in the U.S. in Newport in 1876, thus Newport is home of America’s First Polo Club.
Today, the International Polo Field offers sweeping vistas of beautifully manicured grounds, classic white fenced pastures, elegantly restored stone barns, and miles of field-stone walls. Spectators are encouraged to picnic and tailgate to their hearts’ content. Pavilion tickets are available with reservations in advance, anyone is welcome to purchase lawn seats ($20 each). A great family and group activity, polo appeals to nearly everyone – even first timers who may be curious about the sport! PS: dogs are welcome too!
Newport Gulls First Home game of the Season, June 5th, 2024
The halcyon days of summer are perfectly manifested when you take in a ball game in the heart of the City by the Sea. The Newport Gulls are a wooden-bat, collegiate summer baseball team that’s a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Come see some of the best collegiate players who have the big leagues in their sights. This is not only a right of passage for many a little leaguer but also a must do spring event in Rhode Island for any baseball fan. Their home games are in historic Cardines Field, one of the oldest ballparks in the U.S. Baseball America Magazine calls it one of the best parks in the country by Baseball America Magazine.
Satchel Paige, Yogi Berra. Phil Rizzuto, Bob Feller and more notable players have played here! A gem for family fun, tickets to ball games are affordable at just $5 for adults, $2 for children (13-18) or those with a military ID. (Kids 12 and under are $1). A snack bar serves up classic baseball sustenance including hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, candy and more indulgent delights. Here’s the schedule.
Daffodil Days at Blithewold Mansion, April 13th -21st, 2024
Step into spring with the magnificent first flower bloom of the season. The amazing collection of up to 100,000 bulbs and 80 daffodil varieties planted over the fall is a showing not to be missed. Stroll through the gardens and grounds this spring to take in Bristol’s undeniable coastal gem, Blithewold is a 33-acre summer estate with panoramic views of Narragansett Bay and is nationally significant in American history as one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of the Country Place Era landscape movement.
The property features a 45-room mansion framed by a series of gardens that range in character from mysterious to unconventional and from poetic to practical. You’ll experience an exceptional collection of rare and unusual plants, specimen trees, an accessible greenhouse, and whimsical stonework project a character that is romantic. Class size is limited to 15 students and pre-registration is required.
British Motorcar Festival, June 7th & 8th, 2024
Get your motor running! From a parade of British cars leading into Bristol’s Independence Park to a street party in downtown Bristol with live music, food trucks, and a beer tent, the British invasion tradition continues this spring with this much-loved event that will appeal to both motorheads and casual appreciators alike.
Dragons and Mythical Creatures, April 7th through August 11th, 2024
Embark on a mythical journey where folklore meets reality at Roger Williams Zoo, encountering 60 life-size dragonsand other creatures blurring the line between science and imagination. Watch as these menacing legends move, roar, and breathe smoke, captivating your senses. Mythical dragons , serpants and unicorns span the park, reflecting shared elements and diverse cultural expressions. From the fiery dragons of Western myths to theserene symbols of fortune in Chinese legends, explore the rich tapestry of cultural interpretations.
Dragons & Mythical Creatures transcends mere exhibitions; it’s a portal to boundless imagination. Summon your courage and curiosity, for this exhibition promises an adventure that leaves you feeling like a true explorer.
Newport Daffodil Days, April 6th -28th, 2024
Experience joyful, family-centric activities amidst a breathtaking sea of one million daffodils spread across the city during Newport Daffodil Days. A celebration marking the onset of the long awaited spring. Plus, the whimsical Daffy Doggies Parade and picturesque painting sessions amidst the daffodils to exclusive garden explorations and lively gatherings, immerse yourself in one of the most dynamic periods on The Classic Coast.
46TH ANNUAL RHODE ISLAND PRIDEFEST & ILLUMINATED NIGHT PARADE, JUNE 15, 2024
Held on downtown Providence’s South Water Street, this event features participation by more than 250 nonprofit organizations, businesses, and food vendors to make a celebratory scene like none other! Venture down to the main stage providing entertainment all day for festival-goers with a variety of local, regional, and national acts, all to celebrate the individuality and culture of the LGBTQ community and welcoming individuals of all race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion and age.
PrideFest is one of Rhode Island’s biggest festivals, and for one day you won’t find another event that attracts 100,000+ festival-goers.
NEWPORT PRIDE Weekend, JUNE 28th – 30th, 2024
Every year, Newport Pride Weekend takes place throughout Newport, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while promoting love, acceptance, inclusivity and diversity. This year’s Pride Weekend returns with a full line-up of exciting must do spring events and experiences from around Rhode Island. So, why not enjoy the Pride Weekend kick-off at the waterfront Newport Harbor Hotel in addition to a colorful and spirited bike parade, music events, a Pride Market & Festival with vendors, performances, and more at the historic Great Friends Meeting House and many, many more celebratory events!
Providence pizza week, April 14th -20th, 2024
Rhode Island Red Food Tours is excited to honor the beloved pizza, in all of its diverse and delectable manifestations. Providence is ringing together chefs statewide to craft their finest and most innovative renditions of pizza. Pies range from savory masterpieces laden with toppings to delightful dessert-inspired creations. The potential for pizza perfection knows no bounds.
