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LITTLE RHODY
eating contest— all under the festival’ s giant tent. Pawtucket, dragonboatri. com
SEPTEMBER A trailblazing addition to the Rhode Island festival scene, PVDFest showcases local, national and international musical, artistic and culinary talents, proving that Providence has more than earned its Creative Capital nickname. Providence, pvdfest. com
If you love calamari as much as the rest of Rhode Island( it is our official state app, after all), then you’ ll feel right at home at the Calamari Festival. The Narragansett-based event also features contests, live music, food trucks, kids’ activities and more. Narragansett, narragansett coc. com / event-calendar / ri-calamari-fest
OCTOBER No Rhode Island autumn is complete without a visit to Roger Williams Park Zoo’ s Jack-O- Lantern Spectacular. See thousands of
intricately carved pumpkins( from traditional to straight-up museum-worthy) as you meander through the sprawling grounds past the sleeping animal inhabitants. Providence, rwpzoo. org
When the scents of pumpkin spice and autumn leaves start filling the air, Rhode Islanders know it’ s time to head up north for the Scituate Art Festival. Here, you’ ll find art in just about every form, from paintings and photography to ceramics and clothing. Scituate, scituateartfestival. org
NOVEMBER Newport Restaurant Week is a biannual( spring and fall) event where you can sample upwards of fifty delicious deals, discounts and promotions over the span of a week. With menus ranging from surf to turf, Mexican to Italian and elegant to comfort, the November iteration is a great excuse to get out of the house even as the days grow colder and enjoy the flavors of fall. Newport, discovernewport. org / newportrestaurant-week
DECEMBER Take the whole family to watch the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, come to life at Trinity Repertory Company. The traditional story follows Ebenezer Scrooge’ s journey from solitude to redemption through the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, but each year the Trinity cast delivers a new take and twist on the time-honored tale. Providence, trinityrep. com
See the charm of a historic village transform into a winter wonderland under the brilliance of thousands of beautiful white lights at the Wickford Festival of Lights. Bring the whole family for holiday shopping, see Santa arrive at the town dock by boat and enjoy the tree lighting plus hayrides with Santa himself. Wickford, wickfordvillage. org
GRAPHICS: GETTY IMAGES.
56 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’ S NEWCOMERS’ GUIDE l 2025