6 Great Weekend Picks

6 Great Weekend Picks

Christopher Columbus himself is envious at what a beautiful long weekend we've got coming in Rhode Island, and we've hand-picked the best half dozen things to fill your agenda.

FRIDAY

Top Social Pick
Music Friday at the RISD Museum, Providence
This is not your grandmother's trip to the museum. This is a party, gallery style, and it's only $8 ($5 for museum members). Hang out, listen to music, nibble on food, and indulge in a cash bar. This Friday, Infusion Experience provides Latin Jazz against the sensual forms of Lynda Benglis' retrospective exhibition. 5:30-8:30pm, age 21+, RISD Museum, Chace Center entrance, 20 North Main St, Providence, 454-6322, or go online, here.

Top Romantic Pick
Stargazing at Frosty Drew Observatory, Ninigret Park
With the odds of a clear night being high, with reasonable warmth this weekend, and with the fantastic closeness of Jupiter, there's no better night for stargazing than this one. Opens right after dusk. call 364-9508 or go online here.

SATURDAY

Top Cause Pick
4th Annual Flames of Hope/A Celebration of Life at WaterFire, Providence

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

It's a day's worth of life-affirming events, from the Gloria Gemma 5K Run/Walk/Dog Walk to a kids and family block party, to Illuminations of Light, a musical tribute with the State Ballet of Rhode Island to men and women who battle breast cancer, culminating in a very moving Survivor torch procession. And then, of course, the inimitable WaterFire, which lights at dusk. For more details on all events, go here.

Top Outdoor Pick
13th Annual Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night, Misquamicut, Westerly
Any lover of political mayhem (and bonfires) should make the scene in Westerly, when the Misquamicut Players re-enact the famous English 1605 trial for treason of Guy Fawkes. Music, bonfire, dancers, fife and drum, and more. 7-8pm, Andrea Hotel, 89 Atlantic Ave, Misquamicut Beach. Free admission. Rain date October 10. Call 322-1026, or visit the Guy Fawkes Bonfire Web site for more information.

SATURDAY-MONDAY

Top Family Pick
Autumnfest, Woonsocket
Celebrate the long weekend in high style as the leaves in the Blackstone Valley really begin to blaze. This is the area's largest annual family festival, with food, kid activities, a gigantic midway, sporting events, and a Columbus Day parade. Sat 10am-9:30pm, Sun 10am-9:30pm, Mon 10am-6:15pm. Free admission. World War II Memorial Park, Call 762-6400 and for a full schedule, go here.

Top Local Culture Pick
Scituate Art Festival, North Scituate
It's an institution, and it's part of every Columbus Day weekend. Gear up and go into the wilds of Scituate for 300+ artists and craftspeople, 30 antiques dealers, arts and crafts raffle, musical entertainement, regional and ethnic foods. 10am-5pm, Village Green, Route 116. Call 647-0057 or visit the Scituate Art Festival Web site for more information.