Rhode Island Family Fairs & Festivals
13 family events across Rhode Island for 2026.
RecurringTomorrowNewport Jazz Festival
The granddaddy of jazz festivals, founded in 1954 and still one of the world's premier jazz gatherings.
RecurringIn 8 daysCharlestown Seafood Festival
The original Rhode Island seafood festival and a South County summer institution, serving fresh local lobster, clam cakes, chowder, and fried seafood to crowds at Ninigret Park.
RecurringIn 13 daysWashington County Fair
Rhode Island's iconic South County fair and the state's premier agricultural gathering since 1967, drawing tens of thousands each August even though Rhode Island has no traditional state fair.
Recurring4.8(106)Rhythm and Roots Music Festival
A beloved three-day roots music festival at Ninigret Park showcasing Cajun, zydeco, blues, country, bluegrass, Americana, and more across three stages.
RecurringNorth Scituate Art Festival
A Columbus Day weekend tradition in the rural village of North Scituate, drawing artists, craftspeople, and antique dealers to the town green for three days each fall.
RecurringRhode Island Comic Con
The Northeast's major pop-culture convention, filling the Rhode Island Convention Center and Amica Mutual Pavilion with celebrity guests, comic artists, cosplay, panels, gaming, and vendor halls.
Warwick Holiday Craft Show
There will be over 75 local arts and crafts vendors selling a variety of items.
RecurringWaterFire Providence
Providence's signature public art installation, lighting more than eighty braziers on the three rivers of downtown as music and crowds gather along the walkways.
RecurringRhode Island International Film Festival
A premier showcase of independent cinema and an Oscar-qualifying festival for short films, presented by Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival.
RecurringPVDFest
Providence's signature citywide arts festival, filling downtown streets and parks with international music, dance, circus, visual art, food, and participatory performances.
RecurringBlack Ships Festival
A Newport summer tradition celebrating the friendship between Japan and the United States and Commodore Perry's 1854 opening of Japan.
RecurringFool's Rules Regatta
A delightfully absurd Narragansett Bay tradition in which teams race homemade, non-motorized vessels built from found materials and sheer optimism.
RecurringFederal Hill Stroll
A tasting tour through Providence's historic Little Italy, with participating restaurants along Atwells Avenue offering sample-size portions of Italian and contemporary cuisine.
Frequently asked questions
How many family events & festivals are there in Rhode Island?
Our directory lists 18 family events & festivals across Rhode Island for the 2026 season, including Rhythm and Roots Music Festival, Newport Winter Festival and Gaspee Days.
When is the best time for family events & festivals in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's family events & festivals cluster in June and July — that's when you'll find the most to choose from.
What are the most popular family events & festivals in Rhode Island?
By Google review score, Rhythm and Roots Music Festival in Charlestown ranks among the most popular, with a 4.8-star rating from 106 reviews.