“Secret’s Out That Fall is Best Time to Visit” — Newport’s Coxe, Smith on Upcoming Season

“Secret’s Out That Fall is Best Time to Visit” — Newport’s Coxe, Smith on Upcoming Season

GoLocalProv caught up with Trudy Coxe, CEO and Executive Director of The Preservation Society of Newport County, and Evan Smith, President and CEO of Discover Newport, for GoLocal LIVE over Labor Day weekend — and both said that while summer in Newport was very successful this year, that fall is increasingly becoming an even bigger destination season for the region. 

"Well, everyone in Newport says it was the busiest season of all — and our numbers show that it was very active, so we were very happy about that," said Coxe. "It think the milestone we’re excited about is that at the end of July, we gave our 40 millionth tour since the opening of the Preservation Society in 1945. The two people were recipients of prizes [including] airline tickets to come back to Newport, they got a $250 shopping spree in our stores, they got two nights in a local hotel. It was a really big thing because it means that Newport tourism is alive and strong."

"We also hit another milestone — we now have 50,000 people who are members of the Preservation Society," said Coxe. "Our membership has never been this large, and I believe it’s up to 47 states and 21 countries where our members come from, so people really like us, and they love the mansions."

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Cox spoke to the fall season coming up — and how Columbus Day is their biggest weekend of the year.

‘We’re just about ready to celebrate our wine and food festival the third week of September — and that is always a big attraction. 

SEE MORE BELOW VIDEO

"[Columbus Day] is a huge weekend. Things have changed so much," said Coxe. "It used to be that Rhode Island and the summer communities of Rhode Island shut down Labor Day weekend….that has changed dramatically, and it is party due to the cruise industry coming into Newport all through the months of September and October — and those two months are huge."

Discover Newport's Smith spoke as well to the summer season -- and gave GoLocalProv the rundown of ww

"July and August were fantastic — we got off to a bit of a slow start in June, which was rainy," said Smith -- who rushed to help on a particularly windy Friday at the Newport Marriott, when an umbrella toppled over during the interview. 

SEE SMITH INTERVIEW BELOW

"Fall is the best time to be in Newport, I think to be in Rhode Island, frankly. It’s the best weather — hot days, cool nights. We get a lot of foliage, people coming in with the cruise ships, conventions, weddings — so the travel season is far from over — in fact, I think the secret is out that it’s the best time fo visit Rhode Island

Smith ran through some of the fall highlights in Newport, which include the following this year:

Sept 12-15 International Boat show 

Sept 20-22 Newport Food & Wine Festival

Sept 20 & 21 Harbor Lights Newport 2019

Oct. 3-6- Audrain Concours & Motor Week

Oct. 5-6- Norman Bird Sanctuary Harvest Fair

Oct. 11-14 Rogue Island Comedy Festival

Oct. 12 Broadway Street Fair 

Oct. 19-20 Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival