5 Weekend Musts: Newport Kite Festival + More

5 Weekend Musts: Newport Kite Festival + More

Summer is in full swing here in RI and big festivals, concerts, and activities in the great outdoors abound. So what's a busy Rhody to do this weekend? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Newport Kite Festival

Friday-Sunday  The high-flying kites will once again soar through the skies above the Southern tip of Newport at the Brenton Point State Park for the annual Newport Kite Festival. The park is a friendly and well-known premier spot to fly kites from the geographic layout that provides great winds off the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Narragansett Bay. On Friday, bring your own kite for an open flying time. On Saturday and Sunday, the festival will have a line up of events and activities, featuring prized events for children and demos of sport, show, and power kites. 10am-4pm, Friday. 12-5pm, Saturday-Sunday. Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Drive. For more information, call 401 244-5264, email [email protected], or visit the website, http://www.newportkitefestival.com.

Wickford Art Festival

Saturday-Sunday  If you’re in the mood to be inspired by fine artwork this weekend, then check out the country’s oldest open-air fair hosted by the Wickford Art Association. Set on the streets of historic Wickford Village, the festival exhibits the paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photography of more than 250 artists from all over New England and around the world. Stroll through the village while peaking in the quaint shops and houses lining the streets. Admission is free but don’t forget to bring your wallet if you find a beautiful painting to hang up on your wall. 10 am-6pm. Downtown Wickford. For more information, call 401-294-6840, email [email protected] or click here.

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37th Annual Performance of the RI Philharmonic, Narragansett

Friday  Enjoy a musical night at the Narragansett Town Beach with a two-hour concert featuring the Notables and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. The concert has been a time-honored tradition of the town for the past 37 years and will certainly be another memorable experience. The Notables will begin the show at 7:30 pm followed by the RI Philharmonic at 8 pm. A VIP Reception with a buffet dinner will start 6 pm in the North Beach Clubhouse for people interested in getting to know the members of the orchestra. Tickets are $50 and include seats in the VIP Orchestra section. 7pm. Narragansett Town Beach, 39 Boston Neck Road. To purchase VIP tickets, call 401-782-0658. For more information, email [email protected].

Friday Night Concert Series Presents: Cold War Kids, Providence

Friday  Cold War Kids will perform this Friday at Waterplace Park to end the Friday Night Concert Series. This American indie band from Long Beach, California is currently on tour to promote its newly released 4th studio LP Dear Miss Lonelyhearts. Be sure to check out the last performance of this free concert series if you haven’t done so already this summer! 7:30 pm. Waterplace Park, between Memorial Blvd & Francis St. Click here for more information.

Wings and Wishes Butterfly Garden, Westerly

Friday-Sunday  Take a family adventure to the Butterfly Garden in Westerly for an experience to interact and learn more about butterflies. A lavish green house setting will display 1,000 butterflies, representing 6 different species: Black swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Monarch, Painted Lady, Red Admirals and Zebra Longwings. Along with taking photos with these beautiful creatures, families can take part in educational/nature family programs organized by various organizations such as Mystic Aquarium and Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Saturday will also feature a butterfly parade and a costume contest. Face painting, butterfly tattoos, balloons, and a photo station will be available throughout the weekend. Admission is $3 for children 12 and under, $5 for adults. 10am-5pm. Pleasant Acres Nursery & Florist, 130 Franklin Street. Call 401-596-7761 or click here for more information on scheduled activities.