Things To Do In Newport

The Big Toast, a Great Gatsby-themed benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of The Ocean State, blends the decadence of the roaring 20s with the philanthropic spirit of the modern age. Partygoers are invited to dress in flapper dresses and fedoras (or business casual). They can also sample their fill of fine wines, craft beers, and quality liquors, celebrating just like the Prohibition-Era speakeasy dwellers did.

The evening's entertainment takes place at the Linden Place Museum. Throughout its storied history, the well-maintained mansion has entertained four presidents, generations of socialites, and famous performers such as Ethel Barrymore Colt. Appropriately enough, it even served as a set for the 1974 film adaptation of the The Great Gatsby.

The Preservation Society of Newport County protects and showcases Newport's one-of-a-kind architectural heritage. During tours of Newport's museum-houses, visitors get a glimpse into three centuries of American history, from the French Baroque styling of Rosecliff, high-Victorian splendor and fancy French name of Chateau-sur-mer. Tourists can trace the steps of some of America's most wealthy families as they explore latter-day castles such as Cornelius Vanderbilt II's The Breakers or the Isaac Bell House. Special events give guests a hands-on insight to the everyday people that worked in New England's most famous mansions, while annual occasions such as the Newport Flower show celebrate the treasured traditions and landscapes of Newport each year.

A crew of professional mariners at Confident Captain/Ocean Pros prepares students to navigate the earth’s bluest patches with instruction in all facets of boat operation and maintenance. A schedule of classes includes primarily Saturday and Sunday sessions, which take place 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Confident Captain Training Center. Soak up lessons in vessel safety through the At the Helm program. Novice sailors absorb the basics of seafaring equipment, security measures, and barracuda-hunting calls from the Brand New Boater course ($95), and the Competent Crew class teaches the essentials of gear stowing, knot tying, and line tossing ($150).

The soldiers and military officers that once called Fort Adams home may be gone, but the paranormal energy they left behind still incites shivers in Fortress of Nightmares visitors. Guests confront the supernatural through several routes, one being ghost hunts. These 90-minute excursions into the unknown call upon The Rhode Island Paranormal Research group and knowledgeable tour guides to escort patrons through the facilities, answering questions about the barracks, officers’ quarters, casemates, and slabs of haunted meatloaf in the mess hall. Adventurers get even closer to lingering entities through rental electro-magnetic field detectors and infrared thermometers. Horror also reigns in the Tunnels of Terror, possessed stretches shrouded in spooky light and sound effects, and the zombie-themed Apocalypse airsoft range. Ghost tours offer a less-frightening look into the fort’s history and stories, thanks to a local-folklore expert who accompanies the tour guide.

A non-profit film series, newportFILM sparks cinematic discourse in the Rhode Island community with independent programming. The organization aims to invigorate the filmmaking and film-loving communities with a festival spirit year-round, hosting themed mini-festivals on topics such as animals or the environment. Films travel to a variety of theme-appropriate venues, from summer showings under the stars to atmosphere-heavy historic theaters renovated to include high-tech A/V equipment but retain their old-fashioned scratch-and-sniff popcorn-scented seats.

Zombies traditionally crave human flesh, but the undead participating in the Zombies Got Guts race hunger for something else: to be human again. Donning their most creative zombie garb, racers compete on a 10-obstacle, 3K course, winning part of an antidote for every challenge they complete. Spectators can gather around the start and finish lines for a glimpse of the undead hoards setting off or––if they're lucky––transforming back into their old selves. The event also includes hourly tours of Fort Adams and a picnic on the Fort Adams parade field.