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Destinations » North America » United States » Rhode Island » Newport » City Guide: Entertainment

Newport, RI » Entertainment Things to Do, Nightlife, Performances

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For a small city by the sea, Newport has its share of culture, nightlife and special events. The island area can keep you entertained all night whether you are alone, with a group of colleagues or with your family. By day, visitors enjoy seeing naval ships and yachts from all over the world docked at the water's edge. By night, expect crowds of yachtsmen and sailing crews to fill the downtown area. Spot sailors from Europe and Asia joining in on the fun. Thames Street, where Newport's nightlife happens, runs along the harbor with nearby parking venues, allowing visitors to park and then stroll the area. Bars, cafés, restaurants and shops cram the cobble-stoned street from beginning to end. Expect to find establishments and clubs open late into the night. At Newport mansions along Bellevue Avenue find nighttime classical music concerts and special holiday celebrations.

Theater


Theater maintains a firm place in Newport's nightlife. The Newport Repertory Theatre puts on several productions per season. For theater with a historical but fun twist, look no further than those famous mansions. The Astors' Beechwood gives visitors a glimpse of what life was like when aristocratic families filled the houses on Bellevue Avenue, with ongoing society balls and murder mystery tours. Actors play the parts of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, and act out scenes from the Gilded Age. Belcourt Castle offers ghost tours appropriate for school age children and adult group activities. For drama without the history, the Newport Dinner Train offers nighttime mystery tours.

Cinema


Newport also provides venues for moviegoers of all types. The city hosts the annual Newport International Film Festival. While Newport and surrounding towns have an abundance of chain movie theaters, the Opera House Cinema is the best secret in Newport. Catch an independent or foreign film in quiet, old-fashioned theater surroundings complete with warm, buttery popcorn and shabby, velvet seats.

Sports


For sports entertainment, there is plenty of fun for sports fans of all kinds. Tennis fans may watch an evening match at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which hosts exhibition tournaments. The newest addition to Newport's sporting events is the minor league baseball team, the Newport Gulls. The stadium is near the Visitors Center and within walking distance to downtown. Enjoy gambling and a unique sport at the renovated Newport Grand Jai Alai.

Festivals and Live Music

Newport takes its music culture seriously. From early spring to late fall, the city hosts annual musical events including the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Week. For live music enthusiasts, Newport Blues Café offers nightly jazz or blues shows. The Auld Mug Lounge presents a spirited cabaret on Goat Island. In warmer months, several bars along the waterfront open their outdoor space to live bands that fill Thames Street with everything from folk to rock and roll. Fort Adams State Park is host to several contemporary musical artists throughout the summer months. Less than an hour away in nearby Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro attracts popular big name artists to the Newport scene.

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