Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island
Summer may be just about over in the Northeast, but thankfully nowhere in the country embraces cool weather like the people of New England. The seaside town of Newport, Rhode Island serves up a variety of seasonal fairs, festivals and events throughout the fall. Thankfully they’re all just a short ride from downtown Boston!
Here are just a few of our favorites.
40th Annual Harvest Fair (October 4-5, 2014)
Billed as a good old-fashioned country fair, it may be the most authentic of its kind in the state. This weekend-long event invites guests to “cross the monkey bridge, brave the mud pit, scale the greased pole, and ride the Mabel Express Barrel Train.” More than sixty crafters and artisans will be showcasing their works alongside a Home and Garden competition, family-friendly games, hay rides, and more. Throughout the weekend, there will also be plenty of great live music and fantastic craft beer on tap at the Harvest Fair Beer Garden.
International Oktoberfest (October 11-12, 2014)
Newport’s annual International Oktoberfest offers all the tipsy good fun of Munich’s classic Oktoberfest event, but with a family-friendly bent. Visitors can enjoy authentic Austro-German cuisine, plenty of great German beer at the International Biergarten, and performances by popular Oktoberfest bands and dance troupes. Tip for families: attend on Sunday as it tends to be less crowded.
Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival (October 18-19, 2014)
If there’s one thing New Englanders know, it’s seafood and the 24th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival is a celebration of “the harvest of the sea”. Visitors can taste the best local seafood, including clam chowder, stuffed quahogs, lobster, shrimp, clam cakes, scallops, raw oysters, and more. It’s an entirely family-friendly event and there’s plenty of kid-friendly fare as well. There’s live music throughout the weekend, including everything from Celtic to folk, and sea shanties to blues. The best part is that admission is free!
The Third Annual Newport Food Truck Festival (October 25, 2014)
Food trucks have caught on in a big way in New England and the Newport Food Truck Festival celebrates with some of the area’s best. This one-day event offers a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, BBQ, Asian, desserts and, of course, seafood. Food trucks scheduled to appear include Citizen Wing, Compliments Food Truck, Chanterelle To Go, Frozen Hoagies, GottaQ, Jerry’s Pastries, and more. Admission is just $5 cash and food and drinks can be purchased separately.
The fun doesn’t have to stop when the festivals are over! Join one of the countless tours of Newport whether by land or by sea. We highly recommend the latter, especially once the sun goes down when visitors can hop aboard an evening tall ship cruise of Newport’s bay area. It’s the perfect experience to round out your travels through one of New England’s most stunning destinations.
See all that Boston has to offer with these tours!
-Contributed by Mike Richard
Can’t-Miss Fall Fairs & Festivals in Newport from Boston Things to Do