The opulence and historic charm of Newport, Rhode Island has drawn summer crowds from Boston, New York, and other East Coast cities for centuries thanks to its fresh seafood, winding cobblestone streets, and Gilded Age mansions (such as The Breakers). It’s an ideal warm-weather destination for girls’ weekends, couples’ getaways, and family trips — especially when planned around one of Newport’s many summer soirées and events.
The Breakers, one of Newport’s historic Gilded Age mansions, is open daily for tours / Photo courtesy Discover Newport
Whether you’re jetting in for a classic New England regatta or planning an indulgent getaway fit for a foodie, getting to Newport is a breeze with Tradewind Aviation’s regularly scheduled shuttle flights and private charters. Avoiding crowded airports and summer traffic means more time to take advantage of the plethora of happenings scheduled this summer and fall in Newport.
Find the perfect Newport, RI summer event to plan your trip around with this list of five can’t-miss happenings.
Newport Regatta
Newport’s rich sailing history will be on display July 10th and 11th at the annual Newport Regatta, an event that’s been held in the waters surrounding the Rhode Island coast for 37 years. The regatta was held over three weekends in 2020, but it’s back to normal this summer when Newport welcomes 11 classes of sailing yachts along with their captains and crews to town.
Newport Jazz Festival
Photo courtesy Discover Newport
Scheduled to be held July 30th through August 1st at Fort Adams State Park, the Newport Jazz Festival returns this year after a hiatus in 2020. The 2021 edition will be an intimate occasion to comply with state and local government restrictions. This year’s headliners include Wynton Marsalis, Andra Day, Robert Glasper, and many more artists, and the festival promises attendees many surprise collaborations.
Newport International Boat Show
Photo courtesy Discover Newport
One of New England’s finest and largest boat shows returns this year for its 50th edition — the Newport International Boat Show, which will be held September 16th through 19th at the Newport Yachting Center. The in-water show takes place over 14 acres of waterfront and draws hundreds of powerboats and sailboats ranging from 15 to 90 feet to Newport. Even attendees not interested in purchasing a boat will enjoy the programming and seminars designed to commemorate the Boat Show’s Golden Anniversary.
Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival
Photo courtesy Preservation Society of Newport County
With its engaging seminars, wine-pairing dinners, and focus on local and regional foods, the three-day Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival would be special even if it didn’t take place in a Gilded Age estate with breathtaking ocean views. But the fact that it’s held at Rosecliff, the mansion built by silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs at the turn of the 20th century, makes it even more spectacular. This year’s event will be held September 17th through 19th, and a full schedule of events will be released when tickets become available in early July.
Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week
Where better to discover the finest rare and vintage cars in the world than Newport, the home of motor racing in the U.S.? It was in Newport that Willie K. Vanderbilt and his friends made a sport of racing their new automobiles down Ocean Drive (much to the chagrin of their neighbors). They eventually moved their competitions to a horse racing track, where the first Vanderbilt Cup was held in 1900. This rich history will continue this fall when Newport hosts the Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week from September 30th through October 3rd. The week’s flagship event will be the Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance, which will feature more than $1 billion worth of vintage automobiles and supercars.
To learn more about Tradewind’s scheduled shared charter flights to Newport, private charters to Newport, RI, and booking your Newport vacation, please visit our website or contact our specialists at charter@flytradewind.com or at 1-800-376-7922. To receive a private charter quote, please complete our charter request form. To learn more about Tradewind’s comprehensive safety plan, please visit our COVID-19 Response page. For the latest travel updates, please visit our Travel Advisory page.