A group of Newport residents, tired of hearing there's nothing to do in town during winter weekends, have organized "Winter Saturdays in Newport." The series runs every Saturday from December 3 to February 25, excluding Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Daytime activities include special sales, hot chocolate, and fun events at downtown shops and restaurants. Saturday nights from 6 to 9 p.m., the Gateway Center on the waterfront will host live bands, a cash bar, local food, and kids' movies. Two family-friendly afternoons on December 17 and February 11 will feature music, ornament and card making, cookie decorating, and gingerbread house building.
"A group of us got tired of going somewhere else to find something to do," said Sarah Chadburn, president of the Newport City Downtown Development (NCDD) board and lead organizer. "We've been meeting at The Warehouse once a month to share ideas, and this is what grew out of it."
Tickets are $10 per adult at the door (kids 12 and under free), with a season pass for all 11 events available for $75. The lineup includes the Markus Daniels Band, Sibling Reverie, Mike Goudreau Band, and others.
NCDD Director Rick Ufford-Chase noted that downtown businesses were eager to collaborate. "Little by little, step by step, we're all working together to make Newport a great place for both locals and visitors to come hang out," he said.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: Emmanuel Munoz via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
Log in as a subscriber to comment, or become a member.