The Ultimate RI Event Calendar — Everything to Do

CHARLESTOWN SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES CELEBRATION OF OUR COUNTRY’S 250TH ON JULY 9TH

The Charlestown 250th Semiquincentennial Committee is proud to announce a celebration of our country’s 250th birthday on the evening of Thursday, July 9 at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, Rhode Island.  

This family-friendly event begins at 6:00 p.m.  Ten food trucks will be onsite, in addition to great live entertainment by Nick Bosse and the Northern Roots.  Shortly after 9:00 p.m., a star-spangled FIREWORKS show will close out the celebration.  Plenty of convenient parking onsite.  So bring your family, friends and lawn chairs to Ninigret Park and help us celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.

Presented by Charlestown Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Charlestown 250.

For more information, please log on to www.charlestownrichamber.com or contact Executive Director Heather Paliotta at (401) 364-3878.

CONNECT WITH US:  ONLINE EVENT LINK | WEBSITE

PHOTO: Elisha Terrada, Unsplash

63rd Annual Wickford Art Festival

The Wickford Art Association is pleased to announce the final selection of 197 artists for the 63rd Annual Wickford Art Festival, taking place Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Wilson Park in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Recognized as one of New England’s premier fine art festivals, the Wickford Art Festival attracts talented artists from across the country, featuring exceptional work in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, glass, fiber, mixed media, and more. Following a competitive jury process, this year’s festival will showcase an outstanding collection of artists representing a wide range of styles, disciplines, and creative perspectives.

“We are excited to announce this year’s final artist selections,” said Linda Impagliazzo, Executive Director of the Wickford Art Association. “The Wickford Art Festival brings together remarkable artists and art lovers for a weekend celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and community.”

Festival Director Heather Schold noted the strength of this year’s applicant pool. “The artists selected for the 63rd Annual Wickford Art Festival represent exceptional quality, originality, and creativity. We are thrilled to welcome both returning favorites and new artists.”

Presented by the Wickford Art Association, the festival transforms Wilson Park in North Kingstown into a dynamic outdoor gallery experience, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. Guests can browse and purchase original artwork, meet artists, and enjoy the charm of historic Wickford Village.

The 63rd Annual Wickford Art Festival will be held Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Wickford Art Association at [email protected].

Newport Kite Festival Marks Its 40th Year at Brenton Point with Two Days of Free, Community Celebration, Live Music, a Short Documentary, and the Wind

The Newport Kite Festival returns to Brenton Point State Park on July 11–12, 2026, noon to 4 p.m. both days, marking forty years of free, open-air celebration on one of Rhode Island’s most iconic public fields. This year’s milestone anniversary brings the festival’s largest programming slate to date with live music, a short documentary, Touch-a-Truck with Newport’s finest, nine food trucks, and a sky full of kites all at no cost to the public.

The occasion arrives with a first in the festival’s history: Mayor Charles M. Holder has officially proclaimed July 11–12 Newport Kite Festival Days in the City of Newport, formally recognizing forty years of volunteer-run, community-centered celebration at Brenton Point. Rhode Island General Treasurer James A. Diossa’s office joins the City of Newport among the festival’s 2026 community partners; two layers of civic recognition for an event that has never charged admission and has been free and open to the public since its founding.

“It’s free because it should be free,” wrote Festival Director Ron Kitt in his note to this year’s attendees. “In a world where free events are disappearing fast, that matters. It’s for families because families deserve a place to make memories together, year after year, generation after generation until the grandchildren are bringing their own kids and saying: "my grandmother used to bring me here.”

This year the festival makes its cultural footprint permanent. Go Talk to Claiborne, a short documentary portrait of festival founder Tom Casselman told in his own words, has been submitted to the Rhode Island International Film Festival. The six-minute film traces the Newport Kite Festival’s origins to a 1986 international cultural exchange between Newport and its Japanese sister city of Shimoda, including the story of a young man with paraplegia who built a 60-foot kite and won a trip to Japan by two votes. Go Talk to Claiborne is a preview of a feature-length documentary currently in development.

Live music anchors both festival days. The Skydog Kites All-Star Band, a group composed entirely of kite world luminaries, including world champion sport kite flyer Dodd Gross on drums, quad-line master and event announcer Dennis Smith on guitar, and principal Jason Lambert, who runs kite programs in his school, on harmonica and lead vocals, performs noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

New this year: the Sky Passport, an interactive sweepstakes inviting attendees to collect stamps from six festival stations for a chance to win limited edition kites from master builder Joel Scholz, a helicopter ride over Brenton Point, and a private tour of West Place Animal Sanctuary. The Candy Drop, generously sponsored by Dr. Angelique Ford, board-certified endodontist, returns to the main stage alongside Bol racing, sponsored by R1 Indoor Karting, and kite performances. Touch-a-Truck features the Newport Police Department on-site.

The 40th anniversary also marks the festival’s first formal effort to document its cultural history. A month-long cultural kite exhibition at the Newport Public Library, exploring kite traditions from around the world, opening July 2. The Newport Historical Society joins the festival’s growing community partner network, reflecting the festival’s deepening commitment to the rich, layered histories — working-class, immigrant, and community histories — that Brenton Point has always held.

The 2026 Newport Kite Festival is supported by an expanded community of partners including: BankNewport, United Way of Rhode Island (a Centennial Tour destination), Save The Bay, Girls On The Run RI, Get There By Bike, Cumulus Media, Macaroni Kid, St. Michael’s Country Day School, Newport Helicopter Tours, and West Place Animal Sanctuary, alongside returning sustaining partners and a full artisan village.

Eight food trucks surround the picnic lawn both days: Ben & Jerry’s Newport, Del’s, The Burrito Bowl, Mia Cane, Blount Clam Shack, Wiener Wagon, Dr. Doughboys, Hometown Poké, and What’s Up Cupcake. Services and activities include Henna by Heather, Kathi’s Creative Faces, Flatbed Fiction, Timber & Flow, Renewal by Andersen, Mik’s Mega Bubbles.

The Newport Kite Festival is free and open to the public, noon to 4 p.m., July 11–12, 2026. Brenton Point State Park is located at Ocean Drive, Newport, RI 02840. Bike racks provided by Get There By Bike. Festival maps and Sky Passport stations available on-site.

Join UCC Little Compton for our 65th Annual Summer Church Fair and 45th Annual Road Race 

On the Commons, July 10th–12th

The weekend kicks off with a Silent Auction Preview Party on Friday, July 10th from 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the Church Sunday School. The Silent Auction opens online and in person that evening at 6:00 p.m., with bidding closing on Friday, July 17th at 6:00 p.m.

The big day begins Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. with the Kids' Race on the Wilbur School fields, followed by the 45th Annual Little Compton Road Race at 9:00 a.m. in front of the school. Register for both races online at: ucclc.tiny.us/race. 

The fair is full of time-honored traditions: the White Elephant and Book Sale, Silent Auction, Church Craft Table, Children's Games, our famous Lobster Luncheon (the best deal in town!), craft and food vendors, live music, a jewelry table, and so much more.

We wrap up the weekend with our annual Tent Sunday, a joyful worship service under the big tent. We hope to see you on the Commons for a wonderful weekend!

For more information, visit our website: www.ucclittlecompton.org, follow us on Facebook @UnitedChurchLittleCompton or call the church office at 401-635-8472.

Coggeshall Farm Museum’s July Events Explore Summer Traditions and Revolutionary History 

This July, Coggeshall Farm Museum is showcasing Bristol traditions and America’s Revolutionary history. “This will certainly be a busy month for Coggeshall,” says Coggeshall Farm Museum Director Shelli Costa. “From art programs to reflecting on America’s 250th, we have a wide range of events planned. We are excited for the community to get more involved with our history this summer.” 

On Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, Coggeshall will host Herb and Garden Weekend. This is an opportunity to learn how nature provides us with the resources needed for food and medicine. Visitors can create their own herbal tea mix, participate in a scavenger hunt, or stop by the pollinator garden to look for caterpillars, butterflies and bees. This event is included with standard daytime admission, Coggeshall will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

On Saturday, July 18, Coggeshall will explore the legacy of America’s 250th with Textile Colors of the American Revolution. From the use of cochineal beetles to make the British red coats, to the indigo production for the first American flag, guests will learn about the hard work that went into making the familiar colors of the Revolution. This event is included with standard daytime admission, Coggeshall will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Falling Off Trees dye house will also be hosting dyeing classes for an additional fee of $35. Pre-registration is required for these classes.  

On Saturday, July 25, Coggeshall will be hosting Music and Arts on the Farm: Part 1, a showcase of art and music that celebrates the past. Special guests from Urban Sketchers Rhode Island will demonstrate Plein Air Painting around the farm. Musical guests, the Tautaugs, will highlight traditional folk music. Bristol Historical & Preservation Society will host a sample of their exhibit showcasing the deep immigrant history of Bristol. This event is included with standard daytime admission, Coggeshall will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Music and Arts on the Farm: Part 2 is planned for August 29. 

Please visit CoggeshallFarm.org for more information and to purchase tickets or register for these July events.  

‘NOCTURNAL’ at IMAGO Gallery

Imago Foundation for the Arts (IFA) will open a regional exhibition titled “NOCTURNAL” featuring artwork by 35 guest artists as well as IFA’s exhibiting artists, 15 poets and a showing of short films with an expansive ‘Day of Art’ on Saturday, June 20. Drop in for any of the events and be sure to come back for the evening artists’ reception.

Art and poetry in the exhibit will be on view at Imago Gallery, 36 Market Street, Warren, Rhode Island, from now to July 18. Regular gallery hours are 12-3 p.m. Thursdays, noon to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

The visual art in the exhibition explores the many dimensions of night, ranging from landscapes and interiors to dreams, rituals, city life, natural cycles, and the inner landscape of the mind. Poems by 15 poets exploring the concept of light are installed throughout the exhibition, inviting visitors to consider the relationship between darkness and illumination.

‘Day of Art’ events will begin at 3 p.m. with a showing of short films produced by Imago Film Club members and film workshop participants. The program will conclude with “Light” a film by IFA Community member Katherine Reaves, which will serve as an introduction to a poetry reading featuring nine guest poets. Vivian Eyre, IFA community member and poet, and guest poet Rosann Kozowski will introduce and facilitate the poetry reading.

Following the poetry reading, there will be a brief interlude as the gallery is prepared for the Nocturnal artists’ reception from 5 – 8 p.m. Cash awards sponsored by IFA and the Jay Barry Cultural Arts Foundation will be announced at about 6:30 p.m. Music throughout the reception will be provided by 2001 Grammy nominee jazz pianist Joe Parillo.

The guest artworks in the exhibit were selected by Leigh Tarentino, Associate Professor of Visual Art at Brown University, who has a Master of Fine Arts, Painting & Printmaking from Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Kansas City Art Institute. 

 “Alhambra Gardens, Granada, Spain,” 20x16” color print on archival paper by Charles Eastman

Preservation Society Celebrates America’s 250th with Series of Events in the Newport Mansions

The Preservation Society of Newport County is getting into the Spirit of 2026 with an insightful exhibition, theatrical performances bringing Newport’s Revolutionary history to life, programs for children and a series of lectures by leading voices in the field of American history and arts. 

• Exhibition, June 26-Nov. 1, Rosecliff: “Revolution Reimagined: Evolving Stories from Newport’s Past.” Curated by Dr. Nicole Williams, the Preservation Society’s Curator of Collections, this exhibition explores Newport’s vital role in the American Revolution through the lens of myth and memory. Visitors will learn how diverse Newporters experienced the tumult of the Revolution and how later generations of Newport-based artists, writers and activists shaped, and re-shaped, the collective memory of the Revolution at benchmark moments, including the 1876 Centennial and the 1976 Bicentennial. 

• Theatrical performances, Tuesdays and Saturdays, June 30 through September 1, 6 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Hunter House: “Loyalty or Liberty: Tales from Revolutionary Newport.” Produced in partnership with Plays in Place, “Loyalty or Liberty” combines three short plays highlighting the difficult choices faced by many during the American Revolution. Characters are based on real occupants of Hunter House, including a stranded Loyalist wife, an enslaved woman and her enslaved husband, and the French naval commander of the squadron in Newport. Supported in part by a grant from the Rhode Island 

Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250). • Family programs, Tuesdays, July 7 through August 18, 10:30-11:30 a.m.: “Time Traveling Tuesdays at Hunter House.” Children will learn about Colonial American life at one of Newport’s most important Colonial houses. 

• The David W. Dangremond Lecture, July 9, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Rosecliff: “The Athens of America: The Arts of Philadelphia from Colonial to Colonial Revival.” Speaker Alexandra Kirtley, the Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, delves into Philadelphia’s dominant role in American artistic and design identity from the early 18th century through the Revolutionary period and into the industrialized 19th century, culminating in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition at the dawn of the Gilded Age.

• The David B. Ford Family Lecture, July 30, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Rosecliff: “America at 250: From Colony to Country.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Rick Atkinson and F. Anderson Morse, Executive Director of the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, explore the American semiquincentennial in discussing the causes, consequences and characters of the war that gave birth to our nation. Atkinson is the author of “The British Are Coming” and “The Fate of the Day,” the first two volumes in a projected trilogy about the Revolution. 

• The John G. Winslow Lecture, August 11, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Rosecliff: “The Thrill of the Chase: Collecting Art in Our Time.” Speaker John A. Hays, former Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Americas, takes us on a remarkable journey of discoveries made in the field of 18th-century Rhode Island furniture. Through objects, he will reveal how connoisseurship, persistence and good fortune changed and continue to change our thinking about the greatest furniture made in the world.  

Lecture, September 10, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Rosecliff: “Revolution Reimagined: Memory and Freedom Struggles from 1876 to 2026.” Inspired by our exhibition at Rosecliff, “Revolution Reimagined,” this lecture by Dr. Nicole Williams, Curator of Collections for the Preservation Society, explores how generations of Newporters turned America’s war for independence into a rallying cry for social and political revolutions from the struggle for Black civil rights in the aftermath of the Civil War to the modern Civil Rights Movement and American Indian Movement. 

• Symposium, November 5-6, Rosecliff: The Newport Symposium: “What Makes it American.” As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, presenters will address how national identity has evolved through visual culture. Information and tickets for each program are available at www.newportmansions.org/events.

Umbrella Sky Newport Returns for Its 4th Season: Flowers in Bloom

Reimagined for its 4th consecutive year, the season’s most anticipated art installation returns with immersive new elements and is poised to, once again, become one of the most Instagram-worthy destinations in Rhode Island.

This season’s theme, 'Flowers in Bloom', is a celebration of nature's splendor and beauty. The sky will be transformed into a floating garden with colorful umbrellas painted with bold botanical designs. The theme will extend throughout the art installation, incorporating garden trellises and vibrant hanging blooms that together create an enchanting secret garden atmosphere. 

“This year’s Umbrella Sky is more than an art installation—it’s a full sensory experience,” said David Medeiros, Director/ArtScape. “We're expanding our canvas beyond the sky and incorporating new exhibit areas throughout the plaza. People are naturally imaginative, and the installation is designed to inspire the human impulse to create. Our goal is to broaden the fantasy and playfulness of the space, to create the perfect backdrop for visitors to explore, linger, and connect with the exhibit.”

Umbrella Sky Newport at Brick Market is installed in a car-free thoroughfare, drawing visitors throughout New England to this viral sensation. Escape the crowds and capture stunning selfies in a truly magical setting.

This FREE, all ages exhibit is open to the public daily and features our Summer Concert series with incredible live performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons beginning May 23rd with New England Music Award Winner - Avi Jacob.

Installation Details:

Location: Goddard Row in Brick Market Place, Newport, Rhode Island.

Dates: Now - October 24th 2026 (weather permitting).

Hours: Open Daily - Sunrise to Sunset.

Visitors are encouraged to explore during daylight hours for the full visual effect and share their experience on social media using #umbrellaskynewportri.

For more information, event updates, and behind the scenes content, follow @umbrellaskynewportri or visit www.umbrellaskynpt.org.

About ArtScape:

ArtScape is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming public spaces into captivating showcases of artistic expression. By collaborating with artists, communities, and local businesses, ArtScape seeks to enhance public places and create engaging art experiences for all to enjoy.

The Newport Comedy Series Returns…..

The Newport Comedy Series Returns….. 

Many of the very best New York and Boston comedy club headliners will be performing in Newport this year in Joe Rocco’s Newport Comedy Series. The series will consist of eight Saturday night PG-13 shows at the Newport Elks Lodge starting in April and ending in November.

The series will include nationally known, veteran, and multi-talented comedians, including Nick Griffin, Steve Sweeney, Tony V., Christine Hurley, Jimmy Dunn, and Billy Garan. Most of the performers have appeared on television programs such as The Tonight Show, Colbert, Kimmel and Conan, as well as on networks including Comedy Central, HBO, Paramount Plus, Netflix, ABC and NBC. Some have appeared in a variety of movies.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport will be the charity benefactor of the series, receiving two dollars for every ticket sold for all eight shows and all net proceeds from a live and silent auction at the series finale on November 21st. Clements’ and Lees Marketplaces is the presenting sponsor of the series.

Tickets sent on sale for all shows starting this Friday, March 13th at southcoastcomedy.com

Mr. Rocco is a co-founder and President of the original and popular Newport Comedy Series, 2001 to 2015, at the Newport Yachting Center. “We look forward to working with the Newport Elks Lodge and very excited to be bringing back the series and so many hilarious comedians starring in eight great entertaining nights of laughter in a cool and cozy setting at the Lodge on Pelham Street. These comedians are among the very best New York and Boston headliners. It's a very strong lineup.” Rocco says.

Inside “The Gilded Age” Tours Return to Newport Mansions

A special guide-led tour will explore four of the historic Newport Mansions that appear in HBO’s “The Gilded Age” series, offering insights into the making of the Emmy-winning period drama.

The Inside “The Gilded Age” Tour will be offered on Tuesdays and Fridays only, May 12 through August 28. It takes visitors through Marble House, The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer and The Elms, all of which were chosen by the series’ creator, Julian Fellowes, to provide authentic scenery. Guides will explain which scenes were filmed in each room, offer perspective on the house’s history, and give an inside view of what it takes to host a major television production in four National Historic Landmark house museums.

“Every season of ‘The Gilded Age’ has brought more scenes filmed in our houses, and it’s always a thrill to see them on the screen, populated by the characters we’ve come to know so well,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO and Executive Director of The Preservation Society of Newport County, which owns and maintains the Newport Mansions. “Of course, the houses and rooms are not identified in the show by their real names, so this tour is perfect for ‘Gilded Age’ fans who want to discover the roles these historic spaces play in the drama.”

Tickets for each tour are limited to 12 and must be purchased in advance at www.newportmansions.org/events/inside-the-gilded-age-tour-2026. The tours run from 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Bus transportation is provided, starting and ending at the Gateway Transportation Center, 23 America’s Cup Ave.

Tour participants will visit:

• The Elms, which appears frequently in the series as the Russell family’s Newport cottage as well as places in their New York mansion, including the kitchen where the staff gathers and gossips.

• The Marble House Dining Room, where Bertha Russell hosted a dinner for the Duke of Buckingham; Consuelo Vanderbilt’s bedroom, which is George Russell’s room; and Alva Vanderbilt’s bedroom, which inspired the set design for Bertha’s room.

• The Chateau-sur-Mer Dining Room and Ballroom, used for Mrs. Fish’s doll tea party; the distinctive Stair Hall seen when Mrs. Russell calls on Mrs. Fish in the first season; and upstairs rooms used by Agnes and Oscar van Rhijn.

• The Breakers Billiard Room, where railroad tycoon George Russell talks business over games on the actual billiard table once owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II; and Music Room, where guests danced during Gladys’ debutante ball and Bertha had her first social triumph.

Fans of “The Gilded Age” can check out the Newport Mansions’ “Deep Dive into the Show” for episode-by-episode insights and commentary: www.newportmansions.org/gilded-age/episode-deep-dive.

The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island, is a nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area's historic architecture, landscapes, decorative arts and social history. Its 11 historic properties – seven of them National Historic Landmarks – span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

For more information, please visit www.NewportMansions.org.

The Providence Fringe Festival

Wilbury Theatre Group Announces

FRINGEPVD 2026:

The Providence Fringe Festival

FRINGE in Focus Announced for July 12 - 18, 2026

Wilbury Theatre Group announces dates and initial plans for  FRINGEPVD: The Providence Fringe Festival®. Subtitled Fringe in Focus, the 2026 festival will be a scaled-down expression of FRINGEPVD. Taking place July 12–18 at selected venues throughout Providence’s Valley Arts District, this year's festival will offer a curated week of performances and special events that celebrate the artist-driven, adventurous spirit at the heart of The Providence Fringe. A full schedule of events will be announced at a later date.

Since its founding in 2014, FRINGEPVD has grown into one of Providence’s most vibrant cultural events, bringing together hundreds of artists and welcoming more than 20,000 audience members and visitors to the Valley Arts District each year. As the festival has expanded, so too has the scale of resources required to produce it sustainably.

“Since the beginning, FRINGEPVD has always been about access, experimentation, and community,” said Josh Short, Wilbury Theatre Group’s Artistic Director and the Founder of FRINGEPVD. “Producing a festival of this size requires a tremendous investment of time, staffing, and infrastructure. Given the current funding landscape, including the level of municipal and grant support available, we made the responsible decision to pause the full festival model this year. By scaling back and adopting a Fringe in Focus model for 2026, it allows us to recalibrate, support artists in a more meaningful way, and ensure that FRINGEPVD can return in a form that’s sustainable and strong for years to come.”

“Summer Celebrations” Block Party Coming July 31

Providence Youth Build Something To Celebrate:

Free Community Event, Designed and Produced by High School Youth, to Feature Performances, Art, Food, and Fun at the Southside Cultural Center

PROVIDENCE, RI — Over the past six months, high school students, mostly from Providence, have been excitedly preparing for a special celebration for young people and our communities. Mark your calendars for July 31, 2026, from 12–6 PM at the Southside Cultural Center (393 Broad Street). Join us for Summer Celebrations — a fun, free, all-ages block party that is thoughtfully created, organized, and brought to life by youth, for everyone to enjoy.

Learn More at New Urban Arts

Youth, families, and community members can look forward to:

Student performances

Student art show and art vendors

Karaoke

DJs and dancing

Games and prizes

Resources from local youth-serving programs

Free food

And more!

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council Celebrates 25 Years with Third Annual Fish Fun(d) Fundraiser

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council Celebrates 25 Years with Third Annual Fish Fun(d) Fundraiser

The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) invites the community to celebrate 25 years of restoring the Woonasquatucket River and the neighborhoods it connects at its third annual Fish Fun(d) fundraiser on Thursday, August 6, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Farm Fresh Rhode Island.

More than a fundraiser, Fish Fun(d) is an evening that reflects the spirit of the organization itself: creative, community-driven, and just a little unexpected. Guests can enjoy local food and beverages, live music, dancing, an amazing raffle featuring Rhode Island businesses and artists, a pre-party Greenway bike ride led by the WRWC Bike Education team, and the return of the popular watershed-themed costume contest with a $250 cash prize for the night's most imaginative river-inspired look.

This year's event aims to raise $50,000 to support WRWC's growing programs throughout the watershed.

"For 25 years, our community has transformed the Woonasquatucket River from an overlooked urban waterway into a place where people paddle, bike, learn, volunteer, and connect," said Jill Davidson, Director of Development and Communications  of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council. "Fish Fun(d) is the best time you’ll have all summer PLUS it  celebrates everything we've accomplished together while helping ensure this work continues for generations to come."

Since its beginnings in the early 1990s, WRWC has helped restore riverfront land, expanded Rhode Island's Woonasquatucket Greenway, improved fish habitat and water quality, created parks and public spaces, and developed nationally recognized environmental education and recreation programs. Today, the organization reaches more than 2,000 students annually through hands-on environmental education, teaches bicycle safety to more than 1,300 Rhode Island fifth graders each year, maintains miles of Greenway trails and parks, hosts free community paddles, leads climate resilience and urban forestry initiatives, and empowers residents through bilingual community leadership programs.

Fish Fun(d) brings all of that work together in one memorable evening while inviting supporters to invest in the future of the watershed.

Tickets are $75 per adult, and children 12 and under attend free. Proceeds directly support WRWC's environmental restoration, education, recreation, and community programs throughout the Woonasquatucket River watershed.

For tickets and event information, visit wrwc.org

Pawtucket Announces 28th Annual Photo Contest

Pawtucket: A City in Focus

Theme: “Pawtucket On The Move”

Deadline for entry: August 7, 2026

Grab your cameras and snap that picture! The City of Pawtucket and The Camera Werks proudly announce the 28th Annual City of Pawtucket Photo Contest! Twelve winning photos will be selected by a panel of local professional photographers and placed in the 2027 City Calendar. This year’s photo contest judges include Butch Adams, Christy Christopoulos, Peter Goldberg, Erik Gould and Aaron Usher.

This annual contest provides an opportunity to bring awareness to the daily life, historic locations and the ever-changing landscape of Pawtucket through the lens of a camera. The contest is open to residents and non-residents alike, but the photo must be taken in Pawtucket. After a public call for photo contest themes was advertised in January, “Pawtucket On The Move”, submitted by David W. Neil of Pawtucket was selected for this year’s photo theme.

“Each year, this contest gives us a chance to see Pawtucket through the eyes of the many people who experience and appreciate our city,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “From our vibrant neighborhoods to our beautiful parks and historic landmarks, the photos submitted always capture the spirit and pride of Pawtucket. I’m excited to continue this wonderful tradition and look forward to the many tremendous submissions that will help showcase our community in the 2027 City Calendar.”

Contest Rules: All photo submissions should follow the contest theme and must be taken in the city of Pawtucket within the past year. Only one entry per contestant will be accepted and must be submitted by the photographer entering the contest. Photo entries may be taken in color or B&W, but it is preferred the photo be taken horizontally, since winning photos will be used in the City of Pawtucket Calendar. All photo submissions must be uploaded in JPEG format and should be of high quality and high-resolution dpi. Digital cameras or cell phones may be used to take your photo.

All photo entries will be exhibited on the City of Pawtucket website, www.pawtucketri.com. Submissions should be email to [email protected]. Deadline for entry: Friday, August 7, 2026.

All twelve winning photos will be used in the City of Pawtucket’s 2027 Calendar. The Mayor’s Choice Award will receive a $100 cash prize. First Place will receive a $75.00 cash prize. Second Place will receive a $50.00 cash prize and other remaining winners will receive gift certificates.

Winners will be announced by Mayor Donald Grebien on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 4pm on the City of Pawtucket website: www.pawtucketri.gov .  For further information, please call (401) 256.4486.

The Chamber Orchestra of Barrington at St. John’s (COBSJ)  will celebrate its 10th anniversary season

Preview of 2026-27 Concert Season

The Chamber Orchestra of Barrington at St. John’s (COBSJ)  will celebrate its 10th anniversary season with guest soloists from the internationally renowned St. Petersburg String Quartet, two world premieres, and, as always, music by the masters. 

Maestro Luis Viquez, in his second season as music director, developed the program to highlight Music That Inspires Us: Ten Years of COBSJ. The 36-member chamber orchestra, which Viquez calls one of New England’s finest, performs at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Barrington.  Concerts are free but contributions at the door are most welcome.  

The new season opens August 30 with an intimate Afternoon of Chamber Music, featuring small ensemble performances. The season will end June 6, 2027 with a similar ensemble program. 

The  four orchestral concerts of the 2026-2027 season include: 

A Decade in Harmony, October 4, a signature celebratory program for COBSJ’s 10th Anniversary, will feature three guest soloists: Violist Boris Vayner and Violinist Alla Aranovskaya, both members of the St. Petersburg Quartet and violinist Alexey Shabalin of the Rhode Island Philharmonic.  The program also will include the world premiere of a work composed by COBSJ’s cellist Kari Juusela, and masterworks by Copland, Bach, and Mozart.

Landscapes of Light and Sound,  Nov. 15, will feature a composition by the late, beloved Richard Cumming, a work by Salvadoran composer, Juan Guerra, and Sibelius’ epic Third Symphony.

With Music … with Love, Feb. 4, 2027, will showcase clarinetist Peter Bianca, music educator and Rhode Island native, a world premiere of Ben Stevenson’s Huron Suite, and works by Rossini and Schubert.

Symphonic Majesty: Power and Grace, April 11, 2027, will feature the New England premier of Deanna Wehrspann’s Breath, and Brahms’ monumental Symphony No. 2. 

To support COBSJ online, visit www.cobsj.org/donate