Summer Guide: Fairs and festivals

Plus, celebrations, circuses, and other seasonal happenings
By PHOENIX STAFF  |  June 5, 2013

 0607_fairs_smirkus_top.jpg
LITTLE BIG TOP Cirkus Smirkus, at the Washington County Fairgrounds July 19 and 20.

JUNE

JUNE 8 | RHODE ISLAND SCOTTISH HIGHLAND FESTIVAL| The event features entertainment, competitions, Highland dancing, sheep dog demonstrations, and more | 9 am-5 pm | Washington County Fairgrounds, 80 Richmond Townhouse Rd, Richmond | $15, $5 ages 6-12, free under 6 | 401.596.5849 | riscot.org

JUNE 8 |WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE| Downtown Providence | 401.273.1155 | waterfire.org

JUNE 8 + 9 | FESTIVAL FETE'S GARDEN CITY CENTER ART FESTIVAL with more than 140 artisans, food, music, strolling entertainment, and more | Garden City Center, Rte 2, Cranston | 401.374.3899 | festivalfete.com

JUNE 14 | SMITH'S CASTLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL| Savor strawberry shortcake! Plus craft vendors and children's activities | 12 to 4 pm (rain date June 16) | Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Dr, Wickford | 401.294.3521 | smithscastle.org

JUNE 15 | RI PRIDE FEST with a GLBT marketplace and business exposition + a Kids Pride Zone + entertainment (with headliner Thea Austin) + the Illuminated Night-Time Parade | 12 to 8:30 pm | South Water St, Providence | 401.467.2130 | prideri.com

JUNE 21-23 | NEWPORT FLOWER SHOW| This year's theme: "Jade: Eastern Obsessions," with judged horticultural specimens and floral designs, garden exhibitions, lectures and demonstrations, and the Gardeners' Marketplace | Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave, Newport | $23 ($25 June 21), $6 ages 13-17 | 401.847.1000 | newportmansions.org

JUNE 22 | 3RD ANNUAL BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE SUMMER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL with food + craft vendors + music by the Atwater-Donnelly Trio + Cantrip + Aoife Clancy + Core 4 + Sheila Falls & Mark Roberts + Genticorum + the Gnomes • Paddy Keenan + Cassie & Maggie MacDonald + Robbie O'Connell • Pendragon + Irish step dance featuring Tir Na Nog Irish Dance and Showcase Dance Productions + more | 11 am to 7 pm (rain date June 23) | Diamond Hill Park, Rt 114, Cumberland | $15, $10 seniors, $5 kids, free under 5 | 401.725.9272 | riverfolk.org

JUNE 22 | RHODE ISLAND CHARTER 350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION with an open house from 10 am-1 pm, Junior Ranger activities, Native drumming, and Ranger programs from 1-6 pm, and a "Singing About Providence" concert featuring WS Monroe, Billy Mitchell, Indigo Bethea, Heather Rose, Jacob Haller, and Ed McGuirl from 4-6 pm | Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St, Providence | 401.456.0200 | goprovidence.com

JUNE 22 + 23 | NARRAGANSETT ART FESTIVAL| This festival features more than 100 fine-art exhibitors, mostly from New England. Displays include oils, acrylics, drawings, graphics, sculpture, photography, watercolors, and pastels. Proceeds from artist-registration fees benefit the Rotary Club scholarship program |9 am to 5 pm | Veterans Memorial Park, Memorial Sq, Narragansett | Free | 401.789.7713 | wakefieldrotary.com

JUNE 22-JULY 7 | BIG APPLE CIRCUS| One-ring European-style circus with clowns, acrobats, and horses | Ninigret Park, Rte 1A, Charlestown | $15-$45 | 401.364.0890 | bigapplecircus.org

JUNE 23 | INCREDIBLE ICE CREAM THROWDOWN with samples from two dozen local ice cream vendors | 2-5 pm | The Rhode Island Eye Institute, 150 East Manning St, Providence | $10 | rifoodfights.com

JUNE 29 | ZOOBILEE! FEAST WITH THE BEASTS| A fundraiser for the Roger Williams Park Zoo with food and beverages from local restaurants and caterers, music by the World Premiere Band, an auction, and more | 7-11 pm | Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence | $125 | 401.941.3910 x 453 | rwpzoo.org


JULY

JULY 4 | BRISTOL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE| Visitors are encouraged to arrive before 8 am. The 228th parade starts from the corner of Chestnut and Hope streets (Rte 114) at 10:30 am | Free | 401.253.0445 | july4thbristolri.com

JULY 4 | ANCIENT & HORRIBLES PARADE| Local residents and costumed marchers parody news and cultural events | 4 pm | Chepachet Village, Route 44, Glocester | 401.568.6206

JULY 4 | ARNOLD MILLS JULY 4TH PARADE| Nate Whipple Hwy (Rte 120) to Arnold Mills Village Common, Cumberland | 401.333.1381 | arnoldmillsparade.com

JULY 6 + 7 | 3RD ANNUAL FIRST LIGHT POWWOW| The Affiliated Tribes of New England Indians present Native American drumming, dancing, and storytelling, crafts and foods, and more | 10 am-5 pm | Burnside Park, Kennedy Plaza | 401.413.2167

JULY 7 | CAPE VERDEAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION| Traditional food, music, dance, arts and crafts, and a children's area | 12 to 7 pm | Roger Williams Park Temple to Music, 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence | 401.222.4133 | preservation.ri.gov

JULY 13 + 14 | WICKFORD ART FESTIVAL| The country's oldest open-air art fair features more than 250 artists from around the world | 10 am to dusk | Wickford Village, Rte 1A, Wickford | 401.294.6840 | wickfordart.org

JULY 13 |WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE| Downtown Providence, RI | 401.273.1155 | waterfire.org

JULY 13 + 14 | NEWPORT KITE FESTIVAL| Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Dr, Newport | Free | 401.244.5264 | newportkitefestival.com

JULY 18-21 | 30TH ANNUAL BLACK SHIPS FESTIVAL| The festival features more than 50 events, workshops, and demonstrations of Japanese culture, including kite flying, sushi making, karate, origami, and Taiko drumming. Call or visit the Web site for detailed information on events and tickets | Newport | 401.847.7666 | blackshipsfestival.com

JULY 19 + 20 | CIRCUS SMIRKUS' 26TH ANNUAL BIG TOP TOUR| Washington County Fairgrounds, Rte 112, Richmond | $19, $17 kids | 877.SMIRKUS | smirkus.org

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