Rhode Island events calendar

12th Annual Pawtucket Arts Festival, Pawtucket

Citywide. Enjoy one of Southern New England's premiere arts and entertainment extravaganzas! Features cultural performances, live concerts, stage shows and more. Call (401) 724-5200, email diane@pawtucketartsfestival.org, or visit the Pawtucket Arts Festival website for more information.

Jon Campbell, Charlestown

Begins at 7:00pm. Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Road. Multi-instrumentalist Campbell is a prolific composer of humorous and poignant songs about life on the ocean and in the Ocean State. Tunes include "The Palatine" (covered prominently by the band Pendragon), "The Providence Waltz," "Frederick's of Galilee," "Federal Hillbillies", "Roomful of Quahogs," and "One Clam Cake." Call (401) 364-6211, or visit the Cross Mills Public Library website for more information.

Public Clambake, Middletown

5:00pm–8:00pm. Kempenaar's Clambake Club, Valley Road. You are invited to an old-fashion clambake! When the bake bell rings, we'll serve you a feast of clam chowder, steamed clams, mussels, a whole lobster, chourico, and much more. Cash bar, entertainment. Rain or shine. Advance ticket purchase required. Call (401) 847-1441, email c84kemp20@aol.com, or visit Kempenaar's Clambake Club website for more information.

Providence Ghost Tour, Providence

Begins at 7:00pm. Prospect Terrace, Congdon Street. A walking ghost and haunted history tour of the East Side of Providence, featuring ghosts, murders, suicides, fires, and unfortunate gruesome accidents! Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 in person. Visit the Providence Ghost Tour website for tickets and more information.

13th Annual Rhythm and Roots Festival, Charlestown

Ninigret Park, 4813 Old Post Road (Route 1A). Annual roots musical festival with blues, New Orleans R&B, Cajun, Zydeco, Swing, etc. Features two huge dance floors, four music stages, dance lessons, food vendors, kids activities, evening dances, instrument instruction, and more! Call (888) 855-6940, email office@rhythmandroots.com, or visit the Rhythm and Roots Festival website for tickets and more information.

Tastes of the Working Waterfront History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Newport Restoration Foundation Museum Store, 415 Thames Street. Taste, touch and smell your way through history while learning about the sailors, merchants and immigrants who lived and worked along Lower Thames Street. Adults, $12; children 12 and under, $5; reservations suggested. Call (401) 324-6111, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

Re-dedication of the Hugh Cole Well Monument, Warren

Begins at 10:00am. Behind the Kickemuit Middle School, 525 Child Street, at the west end of the bike path. On September 2, 1917, descendants of Hugh Cole dedicated a monument marking the original well constructed by him at his second Swansea residence in 1677 following the close of the King Philip War. Recently restored, the monument will be re-dedicated in a small ceremony. Call (508) 837-9029, or email drweed@cox.net for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

13th Annual Block Island Lion's Club Clam Bake, Block Island

12:00pm–4:00pm. Narragansett Inn, Ocean Avenue. $37 for lobster, clams, mussels, clam chowder, corn and drink; $15 for hamburger, hot dog, clam chowder, corn, and drink. Call (800) 383-2474, or visit the Block Island Chamber of Commerce website for more information.

13th Annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival, Newport

Saturday, 12-9pm; Sunday, 12-8pm; Monday, 12-6pm. Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf. Paint the town green! The Emerald Isle sends some of its most entertaining exports to Newport in this three-day celebration of Celtic shenanigans! Kick up your heels and let your Irish lilt ring loud with traditional Irish step-dance, comedy routines, and the spirited sounds of nonstop Irish music. Call (401) 846-1600, or visit the Newport Waterfront Festivals website for more information.

Sundays on the River, Central Falls

1:00pm–4:00pm. Central Falls Landing, Madeira Avenue and Broad Street. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. These forty-five-minute narrated tours depart on the hour. Adults, $10; seniors/children, $8. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Blithewold Hosts An Intimate Garden Tour, Bristol

2:00pm–4:00pm. Address and directions provided upon event registration. This seaside project of Louis Raymond's is all about what's glorious from June through November: traditional high-summer perennials are joined by huge swathes of the full variety of Summer-interest shrubs and trees, many of which are hard-pruned to maximize their colorful foliage. Blithewold members, $30; non-members, $35. Call (401) 253-2707, or visit the Blithewold website for more information.

Marquis Birthday Celebration, Cranston

Begins at 2:00pm. Joy Homestead, 156 Scituate Avenue. Honor the memory of the Marquis du Lafayette on the occasion of his 252nd birthday. Revolutionary War groups welcome. Free. Call (401) 944-9226, email joyhomesteader@verizon.net, or visit the Cranston Historical Society website for more information.

Newport's Jewish History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Museum of Newport History, 127 Thames Street. Stroll the neighborhood where Newport's early Jewish settlers worked side by side with their neighbors. Hear stories about the founders of Touro Synagogue and learn about the legacy of religious freedom they left behind. Adults, $12; Newport Historical Society members, $10; children ages 12 and under, $5; space is limited, reservations strongly recommended. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

12th Annual Labor Day Open House, Woonsocket

9:30am–4:00pm. Museum of Work and Culture, Market Square. Admission is free to the museum all day. This year's open house celebrates the birthday of Rhode Island's greatest baseball player, Napoleon Lajoie. Call (401) 769-9675, or visit the Rhode Island Historical Society website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tour, Woonsocket

6:00pm–8:00pm. Savini's Italian, 476 Rathbun Street. Observe how to make porketta (Italian pork roast) and enjoy a meal of porketta, roasted potatoes, salad, and vegetable. Price: $19.50. Reservations required. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gourmet Tours, Newport

2:00pm–4:00pm. Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Avenue. We feature a two-hour chef-led walking tour of some of the best kitchens Newport has to offer. In a mile-and-a-half walk you will experience seven stops and get a behind-the-scenes look and taste of what makes these places great. $45 per person. Call (401) 787-4058, or visit the Newport Gourmet Tours website for more information.

Friends of the Kingston Free Library Annual Book Sale, Kingston, South Kingstown

10:00am–2:00pm. Kingston Free Library, 2605 Kingstown Road. All books are in perfect gift-giving condition, most priced well below $5. Call (401) 783-8254, email macomstock@skpl.org, or visit the South Kingstown Public Library website for more information.

Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, Newport

6:00pm–8:00pm. Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Avenue. Enjoy a rare chance to spend the evening at Rough Point. Stroll through the mansion and view the 2010 exhibit 'Doris Duke's Extraordinary Vision.' This year's event features a pacific rim theme, based on Doris Duke's extensive travels, including a dinner buffet. Proceeds benefit the Doris Duke Fund for Historic Preservation, which supports local preservation projects through grants. Call (401) 849-7300, or visit the Newport Restoration Foundation website for more information.

Third Annual Feast in the Field, Portsmouth

6:00pm–10:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Includes appetizers and tour of the vineyard; four-course chef's tasting highlighting local seafood, meats, and seasonal produce, paired with wines from Greenvale, Newport, and Sakonnet Vineyards; seasonal assortment of fruits and artisan cheeses. $150 per person benefits southern New England's farms and farmers. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Providence Ghost Tour, Providence

Begins at 7:00pm. Prospect Terrace, Congdon Street. A walking ghost and haunted history tour of the East Side of Providence, featuring ghosts, murders, suicides, fires, and unfortunate gruesome accidents! Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 in person. Visit the Providence Ghost Tour website for tickets and more information.

2010 HCEA International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition, Carolina, Richmond

Begins at 8:00am. Washington County Fairgrounds, 80 Richmond Townhouse Road. The show features demonstrations and displays of horse-drawn, gas and diesel-powered antique construction machinery, cable and hydraulic shovels and cranes, hit and miss engines, antique trucks and tractors, and displays by the Quonset Air Museum and the Navy Seabees Museum. Age 12 or over, $5 daily, $10 for a weekend pass. Call (401) 294-9259, or visit the New England Rock Busters website for more information.

Secret Garden Tours Fall, Newport

10:00am–5:00pm. Kingscote Mansion, 253 Bellevue Avenue. Enjoy a stroll through the extraordinary gardens of Newport's most exclusive homes. On this self-guided walking/driving tour, visitors will be privy to the seldom-seen gardens of seaside estates and Colonial homes. Rain or shine. Call (401) 847-0514, email admin@secretgardentour.com, or visit the Newport Secret Garden Tours website for more information.

Historic Foodways Workshop, Bristol

4:00pm–8:00pm. Coggeshall Farm Museum, Poppasquash Road. Local food, hearth cooking, and an eighteenth century dinner in one exciting evening! Participants in this workshop will spend an evening exploring what it meant to "eat local" in 1790s Rhode Island. Guests will help select heirloom produce from the garden, and will help pepare and enjoy candlelit dinner based on receipts from Amelia Simmons' 1796 American Cookery. Members, $50; non-members $60. Call (401) 253-9062, email info@coggeshallfarm.org, or visit the Coggeshall Farm Museum website for more information.

Open House at Hearthside Mansion, Lincoln

1:00pm–4:00pm. Hearthside House, 677 Great Road. Now celebrating its 200-year anniversary with tours given by guides in period costume. Numerous antiques and artifacts fill this historic house museum, including a special exhibit on the 1904 World's Fair, at which Hearthside was used as the model for the Rhode Island building. Adults, $4; children, free. Call (401) 726-0597, email info@hearthsidehouse.org, or visit the Hearthside House website for more information.

Better Barns: Old and New Tour, Foster

9:00am–4:00pm. Reverend Hammond Meeting House, Foster Townhouse, Howard Hill Road. A self-guided tour of seven Foster barns and several historic sites within the town. $10. Rain or shine. Call (401) 647-2486 or (401) 647-3050, or visit the Foster Preservation Society website to register or for more information.

Ultimate Lighthouse Tour, Providence

9:00am–4:00pm. Save the Bay Center, Fields Point, off Allens Avenue. Boat tour and lecture with Don Doucette and Dave Kelleher. Save the Bay members, $40; non-members, $50. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required. Call (401) 272-3540 x133, email rdatta@savebay.org, or visit the Save the Bay website to register or for more information.

A Country Day at Pardon Gray Preserve, Tiverton

10:00am–4:00pm. Pardon Gray Preserve, Main Road (Route 117). A family fun day... kids' games, crafts, entertainment, great food, exhibitors, pony and hay rides, pet dog contest, Master Gardener workshops, special 9/11 ceremony, Native American singers and drummers, Native American crafts, Touch-a-truck, home baked pie with Gray's Ice Cream. Rain date: September 12. Call (401) 816-0126, email info@tivertonlandtrust.org, or visit the Tiverton Land Trust website for more information.

Rum and Revolution History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Museum of Newport History, 127 Thames Street. Hear stories of taverns, distillers, rum runners and more. This sevventy-five-minute interactive tour explores the changing role of alcohol and its importance throughout Newport's 300 year history. Adults, $12; Newport Historical Society members, $10; children ages 12 and under, $5; reservations suggested. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

Vintage Baseball, Providence

Begins at 11:00am. Ardoene Field, Narragansett Avenue and Santiago Street. Providence Grays vs. the Brooklyn Atlantics. Visit the Providence Grays website for more information.

28th Annual Annual French Farmers Market and Heritage Day, Woonsocket

9:00am–3:00pm. River Island Park, 16 Bernon Street. Day-long authentic French open-air produce market, with Franco-Canadian entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and both a Dynamite and Apple Pie cook-off, celebrating local ethnic and cultural heritage. Ranger-guided river tours aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer will also be available, departing from Thundermist Dam at Market Square. Rain date: September 12. Call (401) 769-9846, or visit the Northern Rhode Island Council on the Arts website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Raptor Weekend, Bristol

10:00am–4:00pm. Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street. Swoop into Bristol for the largest celebration of raptors in New England. Eagles, hawks, falcons and owls—the hunters of the avian world—will be featured in live flight presentations, educational programs, and activities for the whole family. Call (401) 245-7500, or visit the Audubon Society of Rhode Island website for more information.

Sundays on the River, Central Falls

1:00pm–4:00pm. Central Falls Landing, Madeira Avenue and Broad Street. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. These forty-five-minute narrated tours depart on the hour. Adults, $10; seniors/children, $8. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

American Legion Warren Post 11 2nd Annual Clambake, Warren

Begins at 1:00pm. Pete Sepe Memorial Pavilion, Asylum Road. Event to benefit the restoration of the historic 1842 Armory Hall. Wine, beer, and soda available. Great prize raffles, 50/50 raffle, and two ten-pound lobster raffles. Purchase tickets from Mercier's Hardware, 193 Water Street, or call Bob Hamel at (401) 245-5386.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat, Providence

2:00pm–3:30pm. Providence Public Library, 150 Empire Street. Author David Dosa, MD, will talk about and sign his book telling about the remarkable cat who predicts when dementia patients at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence will die. Call (401) 455-8090, email tmason@provlib.org, or visit the Providence Public Library website for more information.

Little Neck Cemetery: Stories and Myths, Riverside, East Providence

6:30pm–8:00pm. Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Avenue. Michael Znosko, Chairperson of Little Neck Cemetery, will share interesting and unique stories and myths about the residents and monuments of this historic burying ground that dates back to 1662. Hear about the Willets and the Browns and learn who is buried in the plot purchased by Lizzie Borden. Call (401) 434-1986, email eplibraryjoyce@yahoo.com, or visit the Riverside Branch Library website for more information.

State Party Primaries, Statewide

9:00am–8:45pm. Voting for the men and women who will represent you in government, whether local or national, is your right, and should also be considered your duty. While it's always exciting to vote in a presidential election, it can be argued that state- and local-level elections will have a bigger effect on your day-to-day life. So don't slack off—get out and vote! Visit the Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of State website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tour, Woonsocket

6:00pm–8:00pm. River Falls Restaurant, 75 South Main Street. See a demonstration of how to make Ma Glockner's delicious cinnamon rolls followed by Ma Glockner's recipe of berched chicken, salad, and fries. Price: $19.50. Reservations required. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Gallery Night, Providence

5:00pm–9:00pm. Various venues. Hop a free Art Bus and visit more than two dozen galleries, museums, and historic sites. Free parking at select locations. Call (401) 751-2628, or visit Gallery Night Providence for more information.

Newport Gourmet Tours, Newport

2:00pm–4:00pm. Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Avenue. We feature a two-hour chef-led walking tour of some of the best kitchens Newport has to offer. In a mile-and-a-half walk you will experience seven stops and get a behind-the-scenes look and taste of what makes these places great. $45 per person. Call (401) 787-4058, or visit the Newport Gourmet Tours website for more information.

2010 Most Endangered Properties Photography Exhibit Opening Reception, Providence

5:00pm–9:00pm. Chabot Fine Art Gallery, 379 Atwells Avenue. The ten properties selected for the 2010 Most Endangered Properties List have been imaginatively captured by professional photographers. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public. Exhibit runs through October 16. Call (401) 831-7440, or visit the Providence Preservation Society website for more information.

The Warren Mill Project, Warren

5:30pm–8:30pm. The Tourister Building, 99 Main Street (third floor, north end). A unique exhibition of photographs, maps, artifacts, and an art installation depicting the history of Warren's mill culture from 1847 to the 1930s, plus a guest lecture by historian Rick Greenwood. Free. Call (401) 245-0424, or visit the Warren Preservation Society website for more information.

George Washington: Lessons in Leadership, Peace Dale, South Kingstown

7:00pm–8:30pm. Peace Dale Library, 1057 Kingstown Road. Rhode Island's own Gerald M. Carbone, author of Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution, speaks about his new book, part of the Great Generals series published by Palgrave MacMillan. Call (401) 789-1555 x112, email , or visit the Peace Dale Library website for more information.

Farmer to Farmer Pasture Walks, Foster

Begins at 6:30pm. Holdsworth Farm, 18 Ponagansett Road. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Jane Christopher and Chris Ulrich are slowly resurrecting the family farm. With technical and financial assistance from NRCS Holdsworth Farm has selectively thinned its forest land, reclaimed fields, installed fencing, and purchased watering troughs and other livestock equipment. Rhode Island Raised Livestock members, free; non-members, $10. Call (401) 575-3348, or email RIRaisedLivestock@verizon.net for more information.

Providence Ghost Tour, Providence

Begins at 7:00pm. Prospect Terrace, Congdon Street. A walking ghost and haunted history tour of the East Side of Providence, featuring ghosts, murders, suicides, fires, and unfortunate gruesome accidents! Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 in person. Visit the Providence Ghost Tour website for tickets and more information.

French Canadian Cultural Entertainment Weekend, Pawtucket

6:00pm–8:00pm. Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, 175 Main Street; Lefoyer Club, Fountain Street. Celebrate the ethnic culture and heritage of French Canada with music, dancing, storytelling. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

10th Annual Block Island Lion's Club Inshore Fishing Tournament, Block Island

6pm Friday to 12pm Sunday. Register at Block Island Fishworks, Ocean Avenue. All are welcome to vie for generous prizes donated by national and local businesses. $40 entry fee includes a tournament shirt and all-you-can-eat cookout at the Payne's Dock, Sunday at 1pm. Call (401) 466-5392, email bifishworks@msn.com,or visit the Block Island Fishworks website for more information.

Open House at Arnold House, Lincoln

11:00am–4:00pm. Eleazar Arnold House, 487 Great Road. Join a representative from Historic New England for a tour of this rarely-open seventeenth-century stone-ender. Admission $5. Visit the Historic New England website for more information.

Pirates and Scoundrels History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Museum and Shop at Brick Market, 127 Thames Street. During this seventy-five-minute tour, see where scoundrels lived, where pirates earned a living, and where criminals were put to trial and punished. Learn why this colony was sometimes known as Rogue's Island. Adults, $12; Newport Historical Society members, $10; children ages 12 and under, $5; reservations suggested. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport Historical Society website for more information.

Quilts, Quilts, and More Quilts!, Slatersville, North Smithfield

10:00am–4:00pm. Slatersville Congregational Church, 25 Green Street. Quilt show presented by Blackstone Valley Piecemakers. Vendors, quilt raffle, raffle baskets, and white elephant table. Lunch served from 11am-3pm. Admission, $5; seniors $4; men free when accompanied by a paying customer. Email Rebecca@AngelLilyDesigns.com, or visit the Angel Lily Designs website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Annual 13 Moons Turtle Clan Powwow, Lincoln

12:00pm–5:00pm. Chase Farm, 677 Great Road. Come and learn about our heritage with native dancing, drumming, stories, and vendors. Free. Call 401-480-9854, email eaglecries100@aol.com,or visit the Eastern New England Metis 13 Moons Turtle Clan website for more information.

Historic House Tour, Little Compton

9:00am–4:00pm. Wilbor House, 548 West Main Road (Route 77). Visit nine beautifuil properties. $25 in advance; $30 on day of event; tickets on sale June 1. Call (401) 635-4035, email lchistory@littlecompton.org, or visit the Little Compton Historical Society website for more information.

Glocester Heritage Day, Chepachet, Glocester

9:00am–4:00pm. Main Street. Enjoy day-long events, local heritage, and special activities; arts, crafts, antiques, and more. Call (401) 568-8967, or visit the Glocester Heritage Society website for more information.

Sundays on the River, Central Falls

1:00pm–4:00pm. Central Falls Landing, Madeira Avenue and Broad Street. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. These forty-five-minute narrated tours depart on the hour. Adults, $10; seniors/children, $8. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Off the Beaten Path, Jamestown

2:00pm–5:00pm. Watson Farm, 455 North Road. Historic New England invites you to join Don and Heather Minto, farm managers for thirty years, for a personal tour of the 265-acre Watson Farm (cira 1796). Learn about the history of the region and gain an insight to Rhode Island's agricultural past, present, and future as you hike scenic pastures overlooking Narragansett Bay. Garden and Landscape members, free; Historic New England members, $3; nonmembers, $8. Call (401) 423-0005, or visit the Historic New England website for more information.

Cornerstone Auction Gallery Monthly Antiques Auction, West Warwick

Begins at 3:00pm. The Ivy Garden, 272 Cowesett Avenue. Cornerstone Auction Gallery is the longest continuously run auction company in Rhode Island, with over fifty years experience. Preview at 3pm; box lots at 5pm; main auction at 6pm. Call (401) 439-0294, email cornerstoneauctiongallery@gmail.com, or visit the Cornerstone Auction Gallery website for more information.

Lost Villages of Scituate, Cranston

Begins at 7:00pm. Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston Street. Following a brief business meetng of the Cranston Historical Society, Raymond A. Wolf will speak about his book, Lost Villages of Scituate. Call (401) 922-9226, or visit the Cranston Historical Society website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tour, Cumberland

6:00pm–8:00pm. Diamond Hill Vineyards, 3145 Diamond Hill Road. Enjoy a sampling of Diamond Hill Vineyard's award winning wines and nibble from a platter of assorted crackers, cheese, and fruit. Price: $19.50. Reservations required. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Meet the Author, Providence

7:00pm–8:15pm. Providence Public Library, Central Branch, 150 Empire Street. William R. Holland, author of A School in Trouble: a Personal Story of Central Falls High School will be on hand to talk about and sign his book, which seeks answers to why some Central Falls High School students had school success while over half of their classmates failed to graduate. Call (401) 455-8134, email calendar@provlib.org, or visit the Providence Public Library website for more information.

Newport Gourmet Tours, Newport

2:00pm–4:00pm. Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Avenue. We feature a two-hour chef-led walking tour of some of the best kitchens Newport has to offer. In a mile-and-a-half walk you will experience seven stops and get a behind-the-scenes look and taste of what makes these places great. $45 per person. Call (401) 787-4058, or visit the Newport Gourmet Tours website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council 25th Anniversary, Lincoln

6:00pm–8:00pm. Twin River Event Center, 100 Twin River Road. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council will hold its 25th Annual Dinner Meeting honoring a quarter century of tourism development in Rhode Island's historic Blackstone River Valley. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

King of the Lobby, Newport

Begins at 6:00pm. Colony House, Washington Square. Kathryn Allamong Jacob, author of King of the Lobby, will discuss how Sam Ward, a colorful character with a Newport connection and brother to Julia Ward Howe, harnessed delicious food, fine wine, and good conversation to become the most influential lobbyist of the Gilded Age. Admission, $5; NHS members, $1; reservations requested. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport Historical Society website for more information.

S.S. John W. Brown, America's Oldest Surviving Liberty Ship, Providence

10:00am–4:00pm. Providence Piers, Conley's Wharf, 200 Allens Avenue. The public is invited to tour the World War II-era ship and see the 140-ton triple-expansion steam engine, crew quarters, bridge, chart room, radio room, mess rooms, troop berthing areas, gun decks and more. $5 donation requests; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (410) 558-0164, or visit the Liberty Ship website for more information.

Hale House Pre-Opening Gala, Matunuck, South Kingstown

6:30pm–8:30pm. Edward Everett Hale House, Route 1 (next to the Robert Beverly Hale Library). Exclusive pre-opening sunset soiree and the debut of the fully restored historic house. Music, libations, and hors d'oeuvres will help celebrate this historic milestone. Minimum donation: $50 per person; tickets are limited. Call (401) 783-1328, or visit the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society website for more information.

Providence Ghost Tour, Providence

Begins at 7:00pm. Prospect Terrace, Congdon Street. A walking ghost and haunted history tour of the East Side of Providence, featuring ghosts, murders, suicides, fires, and unfortunate gruesome accidents! Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 in person. Visit the Providence Ghost Tour website for tickets and more information.

Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival, Newport

Various venues. Restaurant wine dinners, seminars, auctions, a grand tasting and much more bring together food and wine experts and connoisseurs from around the world. Call (401) 846-1600, or visit the Newport Mansions website for more information.

Old House ABCs History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Museum and Shop at Brick Market, 127 Thames Street. From the seventeenth century architectural style to the nineteenth century Victorian splendor, learn the ABCs of architecture in this exquisitely preserved city on a seventy-five-minute walking tour. Adults, $12; NHS members, $10; children 12 and under, $5; reservations suggested. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

Public Opening of Hale House, Matunuck, South Kingstown

12:00pm–4:00pm. Edward Everett Hale House, Route 1 (next to the Robert Beverly Hale Library). After a four-year restoration effort, PHS will officially open the doors of this historic site and cultural center with guided tours of the newly restored interiors and grounds. Call (401) 783-1328, or visit the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Historic Foodways Workshop, Bristol

4:00pm–8:00pm. Coggeshall Farm Museum, Poppasquash Road. Local food, hearth cooking, and an eighteenth century dinner in one exciting evening! Participants in this workshop will explore what it meant to "eat local" in 1790s Rhode Island. Guests will help select heirloom produce from the garden, and will help prepare and enjoy a candlelit dinner based on receipts from Amelia Simmons' 1796 American Cookery. Members, $50; non-members $60. Call (401) 253-9062, email info@coggeshallfarm.org, or visit the Coggeshall Farm Museum website for more information.

Narragansett Bay Cruise aboard the S.S. John W. Brown, Providence

10:00am–4:00pm. Providence Piers, Conley's Wharf, 200 Allens Avenue. Take a six-hour voyage into the history of sea and air adventure as if it were 1944. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages will be enhanced by live 1940s big-band music, military re-enactors and other entertainers, flybys of vintage World War II aircraft and ship staffers manning the guns to fight off 'attacking Axis planes.' Tickets $140; must be purchased before September 23. Call (410) 558-0164, or visit the Liberty Ship website for more information.

Ultimate Lighthouse Tour, Providence

9:00am–4:00pm. Save the Bay Center, Fields Point, off Allens Avenue. Boat tour and lecture with Don Doucette and Dave Kelleher. Save the Bay members, $40; non-members, $50. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required. Call (401) 272-3540 x133, email rdatta@savebay.org, or visit the Save the Bay website to register or for more information.

19th Annual Swamp Yankee Days Family Festival, Ashaway, Hopkinton

10:00am–6:00pm. Crandall Field, 188 Main Street (Route 3). Family festival featuring crafters, vendors, exhibitors, demonstrations of rural living and food. Sample Jonny Cakes, listen to live bands, make a scarecrow, enter the Mr. and Mrs. Swamp Yankee Contest or be the next Karaoke Idol! Antique fire engines, flea market, and children's activities. Play Cow Chip Bingo on Sunday! Call (401) 539-0120, or visit the Rotary Club of Chariho website for more information.

Citizens Bank Free Sundays on the River, Central Falls

1:00pm–4:00pm. Central Falls Landing, Madeira Avenue and Broad Street. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer, underwritten by Citizens Bank Foundation. These forty-five-minute narrated tours depart on the hour, first come, first served. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

3rd Annual FOOS Arts Festival, Cranston

11:00am–5:00pm. The Artists' Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square. Join us for an outdoor end of summer celebration featuring live music and theater, artisan vendors, art activities and contests including a Human Art Contest, Street Art Contest and a series of "artisified" carnival games, a Doggie Show-Off Contest, pony rides, food and more. $1 Admission; free for kids 12 and under. Rain date October 3. Call (401) 490-9475, or visit the Artists' Exchange website for more information.

Great Swamp Massacre Commemoration, South Kingstown

Great Swamp Monument Road, off Route 2. Call (401) 364-1100, or visit the Narragansett Indian Tribe website for more information.

S.S. John W. Brown, America's Oldest Surviving Liberty Ship, Providence

10:00am–4:00pm. Providence Piers, Conley's Wharf, 200 Allens Avenue. The public is invited to tour the World War II-era ship and see the 140-ton triple-expansion steam engine, crew quarters, bridge, chart room, radio room, mess rooms, troop berthing areas, gun decks and more. $5 donation requests; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (410) 558-0164, or visit the Liberty Ship website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tour, Woonsocket

6:00pm–8:00pm. Chan's Fine Oriental Dining, 267 Main Street. Learn how to make Won Ton Soup and enjoy a family style Chinese gourmet feast followed by Chan's famous blues jam. Price: $19.50. Reservations required. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Carolina: The Smallest of the Small, Peace Dale, South Kingstown

7:00pm–9:00pm. Peace Dale Library, 1057 Kingstown Road. Join us with filmmaker Carla Ricci for a showing of her film about the village of Carolina, Rhode Island. Free, but space is limited; please pre-register. Call (401) 789-1555 x112, email , or visit the Peace Dale Library website for more information.

Westerly Armory Fundraiser, Westerly

Begins at 7:30pm. Westerly Armory, 8 Dixon Street. Join us for a swing dance with the sensational fifteen-piece orchestra ROMPS. $12 in advance, $15 at the door; proceeds benefit the Westerly Armory. Call (401) 596-8554, or visit the Westerly Armory website for more information.

Block Island Birding Weekend, Block Island

Join the Audubon Society of Rhode Island for the annual weekend of fall birding. More than 150 species of birds have been seen on Block Island on fall weekends! Field trips for both novice and advanced birders led by expert leaders are featured. Special salt marsh bird identification, bird banding demonstrations, wildflower identification, and a special evening program. Call (401) 949-5454, email programs@asri.org, or visit the Audubon Society of Rhode Island website for more information.

Providence Ghost Tour, Providence

Begins at 7:00pm. Prospect Terrace, Congdon Street. A walking ghost and haunted history tour of the East Side of Providence, featuring ghosts, murders, suicides, fires, and unfortunate gruesome accidents! Great for Halloween! Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 in person. Visit the Providence Ghost Tour website for tickets and more information.

Providence Roller Derby, Providence

Begins at 7:00pm. Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street. Sakonnet River Rats vs. The Mob Squad. Chicks on skates, pushing each other around—it's good, old-fashioned family fun! Doors open at 6pm. $10 online; $13 at the door; kids 6-12 half price. Visit the Providence Roller Derby website for more information.

Ultimate Lighthouse Tour, Providence

9:00am–4:00pm. Save the Bay Center, Fields Point, off Allens Avenue. Boat tour and lecture with Don Doucette and Dave Kelleher. Save the Bay members, $40; non-members, $50. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required. Call (401) 272-3540 x133, email rdatta@savebay.org, or visit the Save the Bay website to register or for more information.

Cranberry Thanksgiving, Exeter

1:00pm–4:00pm. Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, 390 Summit Road. Come celebrate the harvest of the cranberries with dancing, singing, and storytelling. Raffle, food, gifts, museum tour, openinf of new Dovecrest exhibit. Adults, $4; children, $2. Call (401) 539-7213, email lorenspears@tomaquagmuseum.com, or visit the Tomaquag Museum website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Newport Storm Beer Dinner at the Smoke House, Newport

Begins at 6:30pm. Smoke House Cafe, America's Cup Avenue. Celebrate the summer with the perfect marriage of BBQ and beer, brought to you by Newport's premier BBQ joint and brewery. $42 per person, tax and gratuity additional. Call (401) 848-9800, email info@smokehousecafe.com, or visit the Smoke House Cafe website for more information.

High Tea, Johnston

3:00pm–5:00pm. Smith-Appleby House, 220 Stillwater Road, Smithfield. Socialize, enjoy homemade finger foods and desserts, and try your luck in the raffle/auction. Pat Perry from Sneak Peek Productions will give a presentation on "The Language of Flowers." Hats and gloves are optional. $20; space is limited, reservations required. Proceeds benefit the Johnston Historical Society. Call Kit Rhodes at (401) 231-7523 for tickets, email info@johnstonhistorical.org, or visit the Johnston Historical Society website for more information.

Newport's Buried History: Slavery and Freedom History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Museum and Shop at Brick Market, 127 Thames Street. Listen to stories about Newport's people of color, enslaved and free. Visit the circa 1697 Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House and the colonial African burying ground on a ninety-minute walking tour. $12 per person; $10 for Newport Historical Society members; $5 for children aged 12 and under; reservations suggested. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

22nd Annual Stop n Shop Tastes of Rhode Island, Newport

Begins at 12:00pm. Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf. Fine food, fine wine, and living well—this phrase sums up what it means to be from Rhode Island. The Tastes of Rhode Island offers the best Rhode Island has to offer with some of the state's finest cuisine, arts, and culture. Call (401) 846-1600, or visit the Newport Waterfront Events website for more information.

36th Annual Harvest Fair, Middletown

10:00am–5:00pm. Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road. From hay and pony rides to pumpkin painting and children's crafts, the Norman Bird Sanctuary celebrates country pleasures at its annual Harvest Fair offering families a wealth of time-honored games and live entertainment. Call (401) 846-2577, or visit the Norman Bird Sanctuary website for more information.

The Original Providence Ghost Walk, Providence

Begins at 3:00pm. The eleventh season of the Providence Ghost Walk, led by Rory Raven, author of Wicked Conduct, departs from the corner of Benefit and College Streets. Hear tales of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and mysterious apparitions in the night. $7 per person. Visit the Rory Raven website for more information.

9th Annual Fort Adams in the Fall Car Festival, Newport

9:00am–3:00pm. Fort Adams State Park. 200-300 cars, trucks, and vans will be on display and prizes awarded in a variety of classes. Food and beverage available for purchase. Presented by the Middletown Rotary Club. Call (401) 841-0707, email llabrecque@fortadams.org, or visit the Fort Adams website for more information

Narragansett Nation Annual Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving, Charlestown

Four Winds Building, Route 2. Call (401) 364-1100, or visit the Narragansett Indian Tribe website for more information.

Sundays on the River, Central Falls

1:00pm–4:00pm. Central Falls Landing, Madeira Avenue and Broad Street. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. These forty-five-minute narrated tours depart on the hour. Adults, $10; seniors/children, $8. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Public Forum: What's in a Name? "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations", Kingston, South Kingstown

Begins at 6:30pm. International Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame, 3045 Kingstown Road. Panelists will address for-and-against views of the state name change issue in advance of the 2010 referendum. Panelists include Keith Stokes, Joanne Melish, and Bela Teixeira. Sponsored by Rhode Island Council for the Humanitites. Free and open to the public. Call (401) 783-1328, or visit the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society website for more information.

Westerly Arts Stroll, Westerly

5:00pm–8:00pm. Artists Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal Street. Downtown galleries and studios open in unison to exhibit new works. Call (401) 596-2221, or visit the Artists Cooperative Gallery website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tour, Central Falls

6:00pm–8:00pm. La Casona Restaurant, 804 Broad Street. Learn how to make Empanadas and enjoy a typical Colombian meal of salad, rice, beans, steak, and sausage. Price: $19.50. Reservations required. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

New England Traditions, Providence

Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street. A decorative arts event with classes, vendors, raffles, and live demonstrations. Visit the New England Traditions website for more information.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Providence

6:00pm–11:00pm. Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue. This illuminating, one-of-a-kind, 'gotta glow' Halloween hot spot returns to the Zoo to transform our enchanting wetlands trail with gourd-ly grandeur! Experience the glow of 10,000 pumpkins, set in a magical display of artistry during this night-time Spectacular. Adults, $12; seniors, $10; children 3-12, $9; under 3, free. Nightly, rain or shine. Call (401) 785-3510, or visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo website for more information.

WaterFire, Providence

Begins at dusk. Waterplace Park. Water, light, smoke, music, and street performers combine to form an elemental art experience. Free. Call (401) 272-3111, or visit the WaterFire website for more information.

13th Annual Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night, Misquamicut, Westerly

7:00pm–8:00pm. Andrea Hotel, 89 Atlantic Avenue, Misquamicut Beach. The Misquamicut Players re-enact the 1605 trial for treason of Guy Fawkes. Music, bonfire, dancers, fife and drum, and more. Free admission. Rain date October 10. Call (401) 322-1026, or visit the Guy Fawkes Bonfire website for more information.

RiverWalk: Before the Fires are Lit, Providence

5:30pm–6:30pm. John Brown House Museum, 52 Power Street. Discover the winding history and continued importance of Providence's rivers! Urban outdoor sculpture and beautiful civic and commercial buildings of varied architectural styles provide the setting for stories of Providence's fabled past and dynamic present. This walk shares the history of Rhode Island's capital city and the history of WaterFire. $10; reservations requested. Call (401) 331-8575 x45, email programs@rihs.org, or visit the Rhode Island Historical Society website for more information.

Tastes of the Working Waterfront History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Newport Restoration Foundation Museum Store, 415 Thames Street. Taste, touch and smell your way through history while learning about the sailors, merchants and immigrants who lived and worked along Lower Thames Street. Adults, $12; children 12 and under, $5; reservations suggested. Call (401) 324-6111, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Historic Foodways Workshop, Bristol

4:00pm–8:00pm. Coggeshall Farm Museum, Poppasquash Road. Local food, hearth cooking, and an eighteenth century dinner in one exciting evening! Participants in this workshop will explore what it meant to "eat local" in 1790s Rhode Island. Guests will help select heirloom produce from the garden, and will help prepare and enjoy a candlelit dinner based on receipts from Amelia Simmons' 1796 American Cookery. Members, $50; non-members $60. Call (401) 253-9062, email info@coggeshallfarm.org, or visit the Coggeshall Farm Museum website for more information.

The Original Providence Ghost Walk, Providence

Begins at 3:00pm. The eleventh season of the Providence Ghost Walk, led by Rory Raven, author of Wicked Conduct, departs from the corner of Benefit and College Streets. Hear tales of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and mysterious apparitions in the night. $7 per person. Visit the Rory Raven website for more information.

18th Annual International Oktoberfest, Newport

Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf. Deutschland's most famous fall festival, offering three stages of Authentic German music and folk dancing, as well as a kindergarten with family fun activities. Enjoy the best of German and domestic Oktoberfest brews in our International Biergarten. Clean out your steins and leave some room for the bratwurst! Call (401) 846-1600, or visit the Newport Waterfront Festivals website for more information.

Autumnfest, Woonsocket

10:00am–10:00pm. World War II Memorial State Park, Social Street. Blackstone River Valley's largest annual family festival includes entertanment, kidfest, arts and crafts, food concessions, sporting events, a gigantic midway, fireworks, ten division Columbus Day Parade, consumer showcase, and Rotary beer tent. Free admission. Call (401) 762-6400, or visit the Autumnfest website for more information.

Festa Italiana, Newport County

Various venues. Celebrating Italian heritage throughout Newport County. Free. Call (401) 845-9123 or (800) 976-5122 for more information.

Scituate Art Festival, North Scituate, Scituate

10:00am–5:00pm. Village Green, Route 116. 300+ artists and craftspeople, thirty antiques dealers, arts and crafts raffle, musical entertainement, regional and ethnic foods. Call (401) 647-0057. Visit the Scituate Art Festival website for more information.

Haunted Tunnel and Pumpkins in the Park, Pawtucket

Fridays and Saturdays. Slater Memorial Park, Newport Avenue and Armistice Boulevard. A festive display for Halloween. For updated schedule of events, call (401) 728-0500 x251, or visit the City of Pawtucket website for more information.

Open House at Arnold House, Lincoln

11:00am–4:00pm. Eleazar Arnold House, 487 Great Road. Join a representative from Historic New England for a tour of this rarely-open seventeenth-century stone-ender. Free. Visit the Historic New England website for more information.

Open House at Clemence-Irons House, Johnston

11:00am–4:00pm. 38 George Waterman Road. Join a representative from Historic New England for a tour of this rarely-open seventeenth-century stone-ender. Free. Visit the Historic New England website for more information.

Wreath Laying Ceremony, Cranston

Begins at 2:00pm. Joy Homestead, 156 Scituate Avenue. Honor the memory of General Casimar Pulaski, killed at the Battle of Savannah October 11, 1778. Revolutionary War groups welcome. Free. Call (401) 944-9226, email joyhomesteader@verizon.net, or visit the Cranston Historical Society website for more information.

Old Mill Day / Family Day, Saunderstown, North Kingstown

1:00pm–4:00pm. Gilbert Stuart Birthplace, 815 Gibert Stuart Road. Corn grinding at the Hammond Gristmill, Jonnycakes, ice cream, Colonial games and activities, face painting, nature trail scavenger hunt, artist's-in-residence art sale, crafts vendors, demonstrations, and more. Admission charged. Rain date October 11. Call (401) 294-3001, or visit the Gilbert Stuart Museum website for more information.

Sundays on the River, Central Falls

1:00pm–4:00pm. Central Falls Landing, Madeira Avenue and Broad Street. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. These forty-five-minute narrated tours depart on the hour. Adults, $10; seniors/children, $8. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

63rd Annual Westerly-Pawcatuck Columbus Day Parade, Westerly

Begins at 1:00pm. Granite Street. Rhode Island's largest Columbus Day Parade—ten divisions, 2.5 mile parade route. Call (401) 596-7761, or visit the Columbus Day Parade website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tour, Burrillville

6:00pm–8:00pm. Waterfall Cafe and Bakery, 35 East Avenue. Enjoy a meal of Italian fare—eggplant and chicken parmigiana and pasta and meatballs. Price: $19.50. Reservations required. Call (401) 724-2200, email donna@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

11th Annual Tasting in Portsmouth, Portsmouth

7:00pm–9:00pm. Portsmouth Free Public Library, 2658 East Main Road. A variety of local restaurants, wineries, and breweries will bring samples of a favorite or specialty item to showcase their establishment. It's a real taste treat! Library Association members, $15; non-members, $20. Call (401) 683-9457, or visit the Portsmouth Free Public Library website for more information.

Veggie Venture Luncheon, Westerly

11:00am–2:00pm. Babcock-Smith House Museum, 124 Granite Street. Remember when Mom and Grandma reminded us to eat our vegetables? They knew what they were talking about. Come and enjoy a bountiful buffet luncheon of scrumptious vegetarian dishes that you'll never feel guilty about. Guided tours of the historic Museum House are included in the price of lunch, and Joshua's Store will be open. Tickets are $10 at the door. Call (401) 596-5704, or visit the Babcock-Smith House website for more information.

October Fest Fundraiser for South County Museum, Narragansett

Canonchet Club, Narragansett Beach. Music, dancing and the best of the wurst. Call (401) 783-5400, or visit the South County Museum website for more information.

Colonial Harvest Festival, Wickford, North Kingstown

12:00pm–4:00pm. Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive. Experience the days of the eighteenth century corn husking festivals when the Updike family of Smith's Castle presided over one of the largest of the Narragansett Plantations. Savor homemade seasonal treats and enjoy live entertainment. Rain date: October 17. Call (401) 294-3521, or visit the Smith's Castle website for more information.

Rum and Revolution History Walking Tour, Newport

Begins at 11:30am. Museum of Newport History, 127 Thames Street. Hear stories of taverns, distillers, rum runners and more. This seventy-five-minute interactive tour explores the changing role of alcohol and its importance throughout Newport's 300 year history. Adults, $12; Newport Historical Society members, $10; children ages 12 and under, $5; reservations suggested. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport History Tours website for more information.

Pawtuxet Pumpkin and Pawpaw Festival, Pawtuxet, Cranston

9:00am–12:30pm. Pawtuxet Farmer's Market, Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. "The soft, almost custardy flesh tastes like a mango, a kiwi, and an especially boisterous banana playing Twister together while listening to Don Ho."—Josh Wood.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

The 8th Annual Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour, Newport

4:30pm–9:00pm. Ballard Park, Wickham and Hazard Roads. The evening tour features a display of over 1,000 jack-o-lanterns carved by local community groups and the general public. Members of the public are invited to participate by purchasing their own display area. Displays may be taken home at the conclusion of the event. Free; rain or shine. Call (401) 619-3377, email info@ballardpark.org, or visit the Ballard Park website for more information.

Fall Book Sale, Cranston

9:00am–3:00pm. Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road. Call (401) 943-9080, email central@cranstonlibrary.org, or visit the Cranston Public Library website for more information.

The Original Providence Ghost Walk, Providence

Begins at 3:00pm. The eleventh season of the Providence Ghost Walk, led by Rory Raven, author of Wicked Conduct, departs from the corner of Benefit and College Streets. Hear tales of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and mysterious apparitions in the night. $7 per person. Visit the Rory Raven website for more information.

Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival, Newport

11:00am–5:00pm. Bowen's Wharf, America's Cup Avenue. Food! Food! Food! Area seafood restaurants serve up their most outstanding dishes. The festival offers a smorgasbord of seafood, plus kid-friendly dishes, baked goods, cider, and hot and cold beverages. Non-stop live music by local bands. Face painting, games, and other fun children's activities. Free admission, rain or shine. Call (401) 849-2120, or visit the Bowen's Wharf website for more information.

Cornerstone Auction Gallery Monthly Antiques Auction, West Warwick

Begins at 3:00pm. The Ivy Garden, 272 Cowesett Avenue. Cornerstone Auction Gallery is the longest continuously run auction company in Rhode Island, with over fifty years experience. Preview at 3pm; box lots at 5pm; main auction at 6pm. Call (401) 439-0294, email cornerstoneauctiongallery@gmail.com, or visit the Cornerstone Auction Gallery website for more information.

General Meeting of Cranston Historical Society, Cranston

Begins at 7:30pm. Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston Street. Following the meeting RISEUP Paranormal will give a presenation about the ghosts that haunt Sprague Mansion. Call (401) 922-9226, or visit the Cranston Historical Society website for more information.

WaterFire—partial lighting, Providence

Begins at dusk. Waterplace Park. An midwinter lighting will take place for the benefit of more than 400 travel writers who are attending a three-day conference. Free and open to the public. Call (401) 272-3111, or visit the WaterFire website for more information.

Fourth Annual "Keep the Fires Burning" Fundraiser, Providence

6:00pm–9:00pm. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, 10 Memorial Boulevard. You and your guests can experience an intimate WaterFire lighting in the Waterplace Basin and enjoy great food and wine. There will also be an exciting live auction, and guest appearances by your favorite WaterFire characters. Complimentary gondola rides will be available during the lighting. Proceeds benefit WaterFire Providence. Admission: $150. Call (401) 273-1155 x140, email sierra@waterfire.org, or visit the WaterFire website for more information.

Gallery Night, Providence

5:00pm–9:00pm. Various venues. Hop a free Art Bus and visit more than two dozen galleries, museums, and historic sites. Free parking at select locations. Call (401) 751-2628, or visit Gallery Night Providence for more information.

Rhode Island Preservation Celebration featuring the Rhody Awards!, Newport

5:30pm–8:30pm. Casino Theatre at International Tennis Hall of Fame, 194 Bellevue Avenue. To celebrate the positive impact preservation has on Rhode Island communities, PRI and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission are throwing a party, featuring the Rhode Island Preservation Awards, appetizers, and a cash bar of local beer and wine! PRI members, $12; non-members, $15. Call (401) 272-5101, email info@preserveri.org or visit the Preserve RI website for more information.

Farmer to Farmer Pasture Walks, Smithfield

Begins at 5:00pm. Blackbird Farm, 122 Limerock Road. Join Kevin and Ann Marie Bouthillette for a tour of Blackbird Farm and a discussion of production and marketing of grain-finished Black Angus beef. Hear how Blackbird Farm approaches the breeding and raising of their certified Black Angus beef and learn about how Ann Marie and Kevin approach the marketing of their beef and other farm products including turkeys and eggs. Rhode Island Raised Livestock members, free; non-members, $10. Call (401) 575-3348, or email RIRaisedLivestock@verizon.net for more information.

Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution, Newport

Begins at 6:00pm. Salve Regina University, DiStefano Lecture Hall, Antone Academic Center. Author Gerald Carbone drew on twenty-five years of research to chronicle Greene's rise to success and subsequent anonymity. Free; donations welcome. Call (401) 841-8770, or visit the Newport Historical Society website for more information.

6th Annual Fortress of Nightmares, Newport

7:00pm–9:00pm. Fort Adams State Park, off Harrison Avenue. Chose from two chilling Halloween attractions at one great location! The Tunnels of Terror Haunted Maze is a terrifying walk through the dark tunnels of the Fort, while the Fortress Ghost Hunt takes you on a legitimate paranormal investigation. Tours are weather dependent; sturdy footwear is required; not recommended for children under 12. Call (401) 841-0707, email rmccormack@fortadams.org, or visit the Fortress of Nightmares website for more information.

Open House at Arnold House, Lincoln

11:00am–4:00pm. Eleazar Arnold House, 487 Great Road. Join a representative from Historic New England for a tour of this rarely-open seventeenth-century stone-ender. Admission $5. Visit the Historic New England website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

Historic Foodways Workshop, Bristol

4:00pm–8:00pm. Coggeshall Farm Museum, Poppasquash Road. Local food, hearth cooking, and an eighteenth century dinner in one exciting evening! Participants in this workshop will explore what it meant to "eat local" in 1790s Rhode Island. Guests will help select heirloom produce from the garden, and will help prepare and enjoy a candlelit dinner based on receipts from Amelia Simmons' 1796 American Cookery. Members, $50; non-members $60. Call (401) 253-9062, email info@coggeshallfarm.org, or visit the Coggeshall Farm Museum website for more information.

Friends of the Library Book Sale, Pawtucket

9:00am–3:00pm. Pawtucket Public Library, 13 Summer Street. Hard covers, paperbacks, VHS, DVDs, audio books, CDs, magazines. Call (401) 725-3714 x231, email ejeffers@pawtucketlibrary.org, or visit the Pawtucket Public Library website for more information.

DAR Genealogy Workshop, Peace Dale, South Kingstown

2:00pm–4:00pm. Peace Dale Library, 1057 Kingstown Road. Members of the Narragansett Cooke-Gaspee Chapter of the DAR will be in the Rhode Island Room to offer genealogy help. Call (401) 295-8628, email smithmar@cox.net, or visit the Peace Dale Library website for more information.

Blackstone Valley Fall Foliage and Shopping Rail Excursion, Cumberland

9:00am–4:30pm. Departing from Ann and Hope. Enjoy a colorful autumn foliage train excursion on the Providence and Worcester Railroad to Putnam, Connecticut for local a festival and shopping. Order tickets online. Call (401) 724-2200, email info@tourblackstone.com, or visit the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council website for more information.

The Original Providence Ghost Walk, Providence

Begins at 3:00pm. The eleventh season of the Providence Ghost Walk, led by Rory Raven, author of Wicked Conduct, departs from the corner of Benefit and College Streets. Hear tales of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and mysterious apparitions in the night. $7 per person. Visit the Rory Raven website for more information.

Spooky Zoo!, Providence

Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue. Family-friendly Halloween fun! Come Trick-or-treat and enjoy live music and seasonal entertainment including pumpkin carving demonstrations, games, animal encounters, costumed characters, pumpkin treats for the animals and more. Kids 12 and under who come in costume receive half-priced admission. Activities are free with Zoo admission. Call (401) 785-3510, or visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo website for more information.

20th Annual Indoor Powwow, Warwick

Trudeau Memorial Center, 3445 Post Road. Enjoy pony rides, a bunny corral, barbecue, authentic teepee, and more than twenty native vendors. Call (401) 739-2700 x278 for more information.

Kenyon's Grist Mill Harvest Festival, Usquepaug, South Kingstown

10:00am–5:00pm. Kenyon's Grist Mill, 21 Glen Rock Road. Take a tour of the mill, watch the grinding, learn our history, sample Johnny Cakes and locally roasted coffee, visit with local artisans and farmers, and enjoy clam cakes and chowder. Free admission; food or clothing donation is encouraged. Free parking at Washington County Fairgrounds with shuttle bus. Call (800) 753-6966, email millstone@kenyonsgristmill.com, or visit the Kenyon's Grist Mill website for more information.

Iron Pour at Steel Yard, Providence

The Steel Yard, 27 Sims Avenue. Watch the Iron Guild fire up their furnaces for the 5th annual molten metal spectacular. In the past they've brought us fiery hearts, zombie kings, and glowing skulls. This year... stop by and see! Rain date, October 30. Call (401) 273-7101, or visit the The Steel Yard website for more information.

Charlie the Butler's Ghost Party, Cranston

Begins at 7:00pm. Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston Street. Join members of the Cranston Historical Society for ghostly goings-on. Maybe Charlie will drop by, as well. Admission $10; space is limited so reserve early. Call (401) 944-9226, email charliethebutler@verizon.net, or visit the Cranston Historical Society website for more information.

6th Annual Fortress of Nightmares, Newport

7:00pm–9:00pm. Fort Adams State Park, off Harrison Avenue. Chose from two chilling Halloween attractions at one great location! The Tunnels of Terror Haunted Maze is a terrifying walk through the dark tunnels of the Fort, while the Fortress Ghost Hunt takes you on a legitimate paranormal investigation. Tours are weather dependent; sturdy footwear is required; not recommended for children under 12. Call (401) 841-0707, email rmccormack@fortadams.org, or visit the Fortress of Nightmares website for more information.

Jazz Tastings, Portsmouth

12:30pm–4:00pm. Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road. Our fine wines exemplify the beauty of our historic farm. $15 per person includes award-winning live jazz, six different wines and the wine glass. Call (401) 847-3777, email information@greenvale.com, or visit the Greenvale Vineyards website for more information.

The Original Providence Ghost Walk, Providence

Begins at 3:00pm. The eleventh season of the Providence Ghost Walk, led by Rory Raven, author of Wicked Conduct, departs from the corner of Benefit and College Streets. Hear tales of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and mysterious apparitions in the night. $7 per person. Visit the Rory Raven website for more information.

Spooky Zoo!, Providence

10:00am–3:00pm. Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue. Family-friendly Halloween fun! Come Trick-or-treat and enjoy live music and seasonal entertainment including pumpkin carving demonstrations, games, animal encounters, costumed characters, pumpkin treats for the animals and more. Kids 12 and under who come in costume receive half-priced admission. Activities are free with Zoo admission. Call (401) 785-3510, or visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo website for more information.

Mid-Term Elections, Statewide

9:00am–8:45pm. Voting for the men and women who will represent you in government, whether local or national, is your right, and should also be considered your duty. While it's always exciting to vote in a presidential election, it can be argued that state- and local-level elections will have a bigger effect on your day-to-day life. So don't slack off—get out and vote! Visit the Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of State website for more information.

Westerly Arts Stroll, Westerly

5:00pm–8:00pm. Artists Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal Street. Downtown galleries and studios open in unison to exhibit new works. Call (401) 596-2221, or visit the Artists Cooperative Gallery website for more information.

Cornerstone Auction Gallery Monthly Antiques Auction, West Warwick

Begins at 3:00pm. The Ivy Garden, 272 Cowesett Avenue. Cornerstone Auction Gallery is the longest continuously run auction company in Rhode Island, with over fifty years experience. Preview at 3pm; box lots at 5pm; main auction at 6pm. Call (401) 439-0294, email cornerstoneauctiongallery@gmail.com, or visit the Cornerstone Auction Gallery website for more information.

Gallery Night, Providence

5:00pm–9:00pm. Various venues. Hop a free Art Bus and visit more than two dozen galleries, museums, and historic sites. Free parking at select locations. Call (401) 751-2628, or visit Gallery Night Providence for more information.

Premier of local independent film "Gotta Find Barry", Cranston

Park Cinema, 848 Park Avenue. Made in Rhode Island by Rhode Islanders, Gotta Find Barry tells the story of a two ghost hunters who break into a haunted mansion to find and hang out with their dead best friend one last time. $10 general admission. Visit the Park Cinema or Rich Camp Entertainment websites for more information.

Westerly Arts Stroll, Westerly

5:00pm–8:00pm. Artists Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal Street. Downtown galleries and studios open in unison to exhibit new works. Call (401) 596-2221, or visit the Artists Cooperative Gallery website for more information.

Pawtucket Winter Wonderland, Pawtucket

4:00pm–8:00pm. Slater Memorial Park, Newport Avenue and Armistice Boulevard. See 400 decorated Christmas trees, twenty Victorian buildings, and a talking snowman, and enjoy free visits and photos with Santa, train rides, hay rides, carousel rides, food court, and entertainment. Free admission and parking. Call (401) 728-0500 x251, or visit the City of Pawtucket website for more information.

Gallery Night, Providence

5:00pm–9:00pm. Various venues. Hop a free Art Bus and visit more than two dozen galleries, museums, and historic sites. Free parking at select locations. Call (401) 751-2628, or visit Gallery Night Providence for more information.

Cornerstone Auction Gallery Monthly Antiques Auction, West Warwick

Begins at 3:00pm. The Ivy Garden, 272 Cowesett Avenue. Cornerstone Auction Gallery is the longest continuously run auction company in Rhode Island, with over fifty years experience. Preview at 3pm; box lots at 5pm; main auction at 6pm. Call (401) 439-0294, email cornerstoneauctiongallery@gmail.com, or visit the Cornerstone Auction Gallery website for more information.

Westerly Arts Stroll, Westerly

5:00pm–8:00pm. Artists Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal Street. Downtown galleries and studios open in unison to exhibit new works. Call (401) 596-2221, or visit the Artists Cooperative Gallery website for more information.

Block Island Census, Block Island

Albion Pub, Ocean Avenue. Everyone on-island overnight will be counted! Call (401) 466-2747, or visit the Block Island Chamber of Commerce website for more information.

Westerly Arts Stroll, Westerly

5:00pm–8:00pm. Artists Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal Street. Downtown galleries and studios open in unison to exhibit new works. Call (401) 596-2221, or visit the Artists Cooperative Gallery website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.

Victory Day, Statewide

Rhode Island is the only state that still celebrates the World War II surrender of Japan, which took place on August 14, 1945 (North American time). Formerly known as Victory Over Japan or VJ Day, the name has been shortened to reflect modern sensitivities. State and municipal offices are closed, and it's a holiday for employees of many Rhode Island businesses.

Newport Gallery Night, Newport

5:00pm–8:00pm. Various venues. Art exhibits at galleries include handblown glass, woodblock prints, award-winning photography, international handcrafts, and fine arts. Many of the galleries host opening receptions, and introduce artists and new exhibits on Gallery Night. Free admission to all galleries; free parking at Newport Visitors Information Center, 23 America's Cup Avenue, or Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue. Call (401) 848-8200, email info@newportgalleries.org, or visit the Newport Art Galleries website for more information.