These 6 Rhode Island Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S., but it throws some of the biggest and boldest celebrations in New England. From yummy seafood feasts by the beach to world-famous music festivals, historic parades, and art shows, the Ocean State knows how to turn summer weekends into something unforgettable. And because the state is so compact, some of its charming small towns pull double duty, hosting more than one major festival each year. Here’s a look at six Rhode Island towns that have the most unique festivals.
Charlestown Festivals
Charlestown is a laid-back beach town that punches well above its weight when it comes to festivals. Known for its sandy beaches, salt ponds, and the sprawling Ninigret Park, Charlestown turns into a hub of food, music, and summer fun each year, hosting two of the Ocean State’s most popular festivals.
Charlestown Seafood Festival
The Charlestown Seafood Festival is one of New England’s most mouth-watering events, and claims to be the first festival of its kind in the U.S. Whether or not that’s true probably doesn’t matter, as the three-day seafood extravaganza has grown in size and popularity since it first started in 1985 as a one-day, seven-vendor event. While Rhode Island’s seafood, including lobsters, steamers, chowder, clam cakes, fish and chips, a raw bar, and much more, is the star of the show, there’s plenty of opportunities to work off the calories in between visits to the onsite beer and wine tents and food vendors, like Cousins Maine Lobster, Matunuck Oyster Bar, and Blount Clam Shack.
There’s a midway, fireworks, a car show, amusement rides, and a wide variety of artisans on display, while on the main stage, 10 bands provide a live soundtrack for all three days of festival fun. Recently, the 40th anniversary of the festival took place in August, attracting over 40,000 seafood-loving festival goers. Mark your calendars for the 41st Annual Charlestown Seafood Festival on August 7, 8, and 9, 2026, in Ninigret Park.
Rhythm & Roots Festival
The Rhythm & Roots Festival showcases a wide variety of musical genres, including Zydeco, boogie woogie, blues, honky tonk, country, bluegrass, and Cajun, you name it. The festival typically runs over the long Labor Day weekend, with the 2026 festival scheduled for September 4 to 6, 2026. More than just a music festival, the event features a covered 4,400-square-foot wooden floor called the Dance Floor, which attracts dancers from across the United States and Canada; a Roots Stage, which offers workshops and jam sessions for would-be musicians; and the Rhythm Stage, where seven bands perform each day of the festival.
The event is held in Ninigret Park in Charlestown, where festival goers can camp or glamp onsite, overnight, or for the entire festival. Craft vendors are on hand to sell clothing, jewelry, and paintings, while food vendors like the Chili Brothers, GottaQ Barbeque, and Thai Jasmine are festival favorites.
Wickford Art Festival, North Kingstown
The Wickford Art Festival began as a modest sidewalk art show, but has since grown into one of New England’s most celebrated outdoor art events. Initially led by Robert MacMeehan and Pearl Marsh, the success of the small art show led to the creation of the Wickford Art Festival in 1962. After the first festival, the Wickford Art Association was formed to promote Wickford as a thriving arts center. The 62nd Wickford Art Festival was held over two days in July 2025 with more than 200 juried artists showcasing work in painting, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, jewelry making, and more.
The annual festival is held in Wilson Park every summer. Festival goers can follow a trail leading to the historic village of Wickford in North Kingstown to discover well-preserved 17th- and 19th-century architecture, Wickford Harbor and Narragansett Bay, waterside dining at Wickford on the Water, and artsy shops like Flatfish Cottage, the Mermaid’s Purl, and the Woven Path.
Bristol Independence Day Festival, Bristol
Known as the unofficial “Fourth of July Capital” of the United States, Bristol holds the oldest continuous Independence Day Celebration in the country, and is ranked one of the Best Fourth of July Celebrations in America. It is also the longest celebration, kicking off almost a month of festivities on June 14 with a Flag Day ceremony, followed by weeks of free outdoor concerts, pageants, fireworks, a black-tie ball, ultimately culminating on July 4 with a 2.5-mile-long parade through the streets of Bristol along red, white, and blue stripes painting on the streets marking the parade route.
The celebration began in 1785 when Reverend Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church, and a veteran of the Revolutionary War, conducted Patriotic Exercises. How it morphed into a parade is anyone’s guess, but it’s thought that the procession of community members walking to the patriotic exercises resembled a parade. This year, Bristol marked its 240th year by celebrating the Fourth of July in a big, bold way.
Newport Festivals
Renowned for its Gilded Age mansions, Cliff Walk, and spectacular ocean views, the town of Newport transforms into a global stage every summer, hosting both the legendary Newport Jazz and Newport Folk Festivals at Fort Adams State Park.
Newport Jazz Festival
The first Newport Jazz Festival was held on July 17 and July 18, 1954, at the Newport Casino, and was called the First Annual American Jazz Festival. The two-day event in Newport became the blueprint for future jazz festivals. It featured panel discussions and live performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, and Billie Holiday, with 13,000 fans in attendance. Founded by Massachusetts native George Wein, owner of the famed jazz club Storyville in Boston, the festival has a storied past, including repeated name changes, a riot in 1971, after which the Newport City Council revoked its license, a move to New York City, then Saratoga Springs, and a mini-festival held on the grounds of the White House in 1978 for the festival’s 25th anniversary.
Today, the granddaddy of all music festivals has found a home at the 10,000-capacity Fort Adams State Park, and this year’s festival attracted artists like Janelle Monáe, The Roots, and Jacob Collier. Next year’s Newport Jazz Festival runs July 31 through August 2, 2026.
Newport Folk Festival
Founded by George Wein, who’d already had success with the Newport Jazz Festival, the Newport Folk Festival first debuted in 1959 with performances by Pete Seeger, the Kingston Trio, and newbie Joan Baez. The event drew about 13,000 folk music fans, but it wasn’t until a complete unknown named Bob Dylan took the stage in 1965 that the festival gained the notoriety that follows it to this day. Dylan famously challenged the idea that true folk music was only acoustic music by plugging in amplifiers, and was booed by the audience.
In the ensuing years, the non-profit festival ran into financial difficulties. It went on hiatus until it was resurrected as a for-profit venture in 1985 and moved to Fort Adams State Park. This year’s event was held from July 26 to July 28, 2024, and as usual, the lineup didn’t disappoint with performances from country superstar Luke Combs, Public Enemy, and Jack Antonoff. Save the date! From July 24 to July 26, 2026, the Newport Folk Festival returns for its 67th year.
Washington County Fair, Richmond
The Washington County Fair is Rhode Island’s largest Agricultural Event. It was first held in 1967 on the grounds of Perryville Grange in Wakefield to celebrate and preserve the state’s farming heritage and support the region’s agricultural sector. The fair is organized by “Grangers,” members of a historical agricultural society founded in the 1800s to help farmers and rural communities. After two years in Wakefield, the fair outgrew its original space, and the Grangers purchased a large tract of land in Richmond.
The five-day event includes music and concerts, midway rides, tractor pulls, livestock show, food and concession stands, exhibitors, and more. The annual event is massively popular with Rhode Islanders, with about 130,000 fairgoers in attendance last year. The countdown to next year’s fair has already started. The 59th Washington County Fair will be held on August 12 to 16, 2026, in Richmond.
Gaspee Days, Pawtucket Village, Warwick/Cranston
Gaspee Days is a long-running festival held in Pawtuxet Village, located between the cities of Warwick and Cranston, Rhode Island. The festival is held over several days every June to commemorate a moment of early rebellion in American history against the British crown, when colonists from Rhode Island burned the British revenue schooner, the HMS Gaspee, during what is considered the first bloodshed of the American Revolution. It is also referred to as America’s “First Blow for Freedom” or the “Gaspee Affair.”
Since 1965, the town has hosted a multi-day series of events called Gaspee Days, including an arts and crafts festival, a symphony in the park, fireworks, a Gaspee Days parade, a colonial encampment, and more. The Gaspee Days celebration concludes with a reenactment of the burning of the Gaspée at Pawtuxet Park.
Unique Celebrations In Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be tiny, but it boasts around 400 miles of coastline, charming historic towns, and a proud independent streak dating back to colonial days, which is still on full display today. That spirit of community and celebration shines through its unique festivals, from seafood smorgasbords to iconic jazz legends and from small-town art shows to parades older than the nation itself. You can always find a reason to celebrate in Rhode Island.
