Rhode Island History Exhumed
Events Calendar
There are hundreds of events, large and small, happening around the Ocean State on any given day. The events listed below were hand-picked by Quahog editors to complement the character and content of Quahog.org. Submissions are welcomed, but are subject to editorial selection. Please see our Submission Guidelines for details.
Follow our Facebook page for additional events that may not be included here.
Events are subject to change. Please check the provided link or phone number for current details.
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| Rhode Island Tours | Various venues. Whether you want to explore Rhode Island by air, by bicycle, by foot, by road, by rail, or by water, there's a tour for you. Check out our Tours page for a comprehensive list of possibilities. For house and historic site tours, see our list of links to Museums and Historic Houses. Irregularly scheduled or one-off tours are listed below in our Events Calendar. |
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| Newport History Walking Tours | Check website for times | Various venues. Explore the streets and sites of Newport while listening to fascinating tales of colonial Newport, the War of Independence, the Gilded Age, pirates and rum runners, and the Triangle Trade. Visit historic homes, government buildings, houses of worship, and cemeteries. Prices vary; reservations recommended. (401) 841-8770; www.newporthistorytours.org. |
| Providence Ghost Tour | Check website for times | 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! Adults (13+), $25; children (5-12), $15. (401) 484-8687; providenceghosttour@gmail.com; providenceghosttour.com. |
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| Newport History Walking Tours | Check website for times | Various venues. Explore the streets and sites of Newport while listening to fascinating tales of colonial Newport, the War of Independence, the Gilded Age, pirates and rum runners, and the Triangle Trade. Visit historic homes, government buildings, houses of worship, and cemeteries. Prices vary; reservations recommended. (401) 841-8770; www.newporthistorytours.org. |
| Providence Ghost Tour | Check website for times | 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! Adults (13+), $25; children (5-12), $15. (401) 484-8687; providenceghosttour@gmail.com; providenceghosttour.com. |
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| Rhode Island Red Food Tours | Thursdays through Sundays, 12-3:30pm | Choose from two different walking tours—Newport or Providence—each featuring a selection of tasting locations and alcohol pairings. Learn about important historical sites, cultural folklore, and Rhode Island's architecture along the way. Reservations required. (401) 684-1110; www.rhodeislandredfoodtours.com. |
| WaterFire | Begins at dusk | Waterplace Park. Water, light, smoke, music, and street performers combine to form an elemental art experience. Free. (401) 272-3111; www.waterfire.org. |
| Boat Tour of Green Jacket Shoal | 3:30-4:45pm | Providence River Boat Company, 101 Dyer Street. Join us as we welcome David Robinson, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, back again for a 75-minute exploration of the Providence waterways and Green Jacket Shoal. Here, David has found the remains of a historical floating dry dock and twenty-six wooden-hulled vessels, deemed "Rhode Island's largest ship graveyard" and a reminder of the industrial fervor that transformed Providence into a thriving commercial waterfront. David's lecture on, and experience with, Green Jacket Shoal is fascinating and we are thrilled to welcome him aboard again this season! We sold out quickly last year, so reserve your seats soon! Tickets $43-$45. (401) 580-BOAT, www.providenceriverboat.com. |
| Ultimate Lighthouse Tour | 9am-4pm | Save the Bay Center, 100 Save The Bay Drive. These seven-hour narrated lighthouse cruises are for the true lighthouse aficionados. See nineteen active and inactive Rhode Island historic lighthouses, while taking in breathtaking views of the Newport Pell Bridge, Gaspee Point, Prudence Island, and other spots along the way. Starting in Providence, we will motor down the West Passage to Newport and return home via the East Passage. A lunch stop at Rose Island will include a tour of Rose Island Lighthouse and grounds. And, if you're a U.S. Lighthouse Society Passport holder, get your passport stamped with us! Members $110; non-members, $125; space limited; reservations required. (401) 203-7325 x133; education@savebay.org; www.savebay.org. |
| Newport Gallery Night | 5-8pm | 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. (401) 935-8591; info@newportgalleries.org; www.newportgalleries.org. |
| East Providence Historical Society Open House | 1-3:30pm | John Hunt House, 65 Hunts Mills Road. Learn about the history of East Providence and this historic home. Family games, 1-3pm. Hike the grounds with Ernie at 1:30pm. Free. (401) 438-1750; www.ephist.org. |
| Providence Gallery Night | 5-9pm | Various venues. Register for a free tour or visit more than two dozen galleries, museums, and historic sites on your own. Free parking at select locations. (401) 484-0726; gallerynight.prov@gmail.com; www.gallerynight.org. |
| Vintage Baseball | 11am | Rocky Point State Park, 1 Rocky Point Avenue. The Providence Grays are a vintage base ball club, playing by rules dating from 1864 and 1886. Games, both home and away, are scheduled throughout the summer; check www.providencegrays.com or Facebook for schedule details. |
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| Providence Ghost Tour | Check website for times | 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! Adults (13+), $25; children (5-12), $15. (401) 484-8687; providenceghosttour@gmail.com; providenceghosttour.com. |
| Newport History Walking Tours | Check website for times | Various venues. Explore the streets and sites of Newport while listening to fascinating tales of colonial Newport, the War of Independence, the Gilded Age, pirates and rum runners, and the Triangle Trade. Visit historic homes, government buildings, houses of worship, and cemeteries. Prices vary; reservations recommended. (401) 841-8770; www.newporthistorytours.org. |
| Rhode Island Red Food Tours | Thursdays through Sundays, 12-3:30pm | Choose from two different walking tours—Newport or Providence—each featuring a selection of tasting locations and alcohol pairings. Learn about important historical sites, cultural folklore, and Rhode Island's architecture along the way. Reservations required. (401) 684-1110; www.rhodeislandredfoodtours.com. |
| WaterFire | Begins at dusk | Waterplace Park. Water, light, smoke, music, and street performers combine to form an elemental art experience. Free. (401) 272-3111; www.waterfire.org. |
| East Providence Historical Society Open House | 1-3:30pm | John Hunt House, 65 Hunts Mills Road. Learn about the history of East Providence and this historic home. Family games, 1-3pm. Hike the grounds with Ernie at 1:30pm. Free. (401) 438-1750; www.ephist.org. |
| History of Rhode Island Trees | 3:30-4:30pm | Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road. Join Matt Largess for this informative free nature walk. (401) 846-2577; www.normanbirdsanctuary.org. |
| Newport Gallery Night | 5-8pm | 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. (401) 935-8591; info@newportgalleries.org; www.newportgalleries.org. |
| Providence Gallery Night | 5-9pm | Various venues. Register for a free tour or visit more than two dozen galleries, museums, and historic sites on your own. Free parking at select locations. (401) 484-0726; gallerynight.prov@gmail.com; www.gallerynight.org. |
| Rhode Island Post Card Club Meeting | 9am-1pm | Knights of Columbus Hall, 15 Bassett Street. Members meet to socialize, buy and sell. Post cards of all descriptions, including town views and holiday greetings, will be available for sale. Open to the public with no admission charge. ripcc.org. |
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| Providence Ghost Tour | Check website for times | 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! Adults (13+), $25; children (5-12), $15. (401) 484-8687; providenceghosttour@gmail.com; providenceghosttour.com. |
| Newport History Walking Tours | Check website for times | Various venues. Explore the streets and sites of Newport while listening to fascinating tales of colonial Newport, the War of Independence, the Gilded Age, pirates and rum runners, and the Triangle Trade. Visit historic homes, government buildings, houses of worship, and cemeteries. Prices vary; reservations recommended. (401) 841-8770; www.newporthistorytours.org. |
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| Rhode Island Red Food Tours | Thursdays through Sundays, 12-3:30pm | Choose from two different walking tours—Newport or Providence—each featuring a selection of tasting locations and alcohol pairings. Learn about important historical sites, cultural folklore, and Rhode Island's architecture along the way. Reservations required. (401) 684-1110; www.rhodeislandredfoodtours.com. |
| Alcohol and Politics in Colonial Newport | 5:30pm | Newport Historical Society Resource Center, 82 Touro Street. It may surprise many to learn that on average Colonial Americans consumed twice the volume of alcohol than a modern American. They held fast to their belief that alcohol cured illness, lifted spirits, commemorated cultural events, and just made things generally better. In fact, it was not surprising to see alcohol accompanying any meal, and taverns were the hub of cultural and social interactions. What colonists were drinking was not so far from our own social practices today—fermented fruit wines, beer, cider, and, of course, rum. The truth is that our relationship to alcohol has long been part of a political history that reveals a lot about our association of celebration and throwing back a few drinks! Maria Chiancola, Ph.D. will take a closer look at the celebratory beverages of Colonial Newport and consider how our relationship to alcohol has evolved. After the talk, following in colonial custom, enjoy a signature cocktail to celebrate the holiday season. Members and active duty military, $20; non-members, $25; advance registration suggested. (401) 846-0813; ddaly@newporthistory.org; www.newporthistory.org. |
| East Providence Historical Society Open House | 1-3:30pm | John Hunt House, 65 Hunts Mills Road. Learn about the history of East Providence and this historic home. Family games, 1-3pm. Hike the grounds with Ernie at 1:30pm. Free. (401) 438-1750; www.ephist.org. |
| Newport Gallery Night | 5-8pm | 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. (401) 935-8591; info@newportgalleries.org; www.newportgalleries.org. |
| Rhode Island Post Card Club Meeting | 9am-1pm | Knights of Columbus Hall, 15 Bassett Street. Members meet to socialize, buy and sell. Post cards of all descriptions, including town views and holiday greetings, will be available for sale. Open to the public with no admission charge. ripcc.org. |
| St. Joseph's Day | Wherever zeppole are sold. Honor Jesus's foster dad with a faceful of zeppole! |