Whether enjoying a stroll along the Cliff Walk and admiring the grounds of the magnificent Newport mansions, indulging in a bowl of clam chowder (pronounced chowda!) at a seaside café, or sipping a frozen lemonade from the deck of a sailboat, there is just no place more enjoyable than Newport in the summertime! The city-by-the-sea’s dynamic calendar of special events provides a variety of reasons to plan a Newport getaway— be it for the sports enthusiast, music buff, or green thumb!

Newport’s popular summer events kick off in tasty style at the 25th Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off www.newportwaterfrontevents.com on Saturday, June 3. Featuring all-you-can-eat chowder prepared by talented chefs from throughout the United States and beyond, the festival is the original and longest running chowder festival in the world! The competition is intense as chefs from all over the world serve up their best creations to compete for the coveted titles of Best Clam Chowder, Best Seafood Chowder, and Most Creative Chowder.

The Newport International Film Festival www.newportfilmfestival.com will draw some of the world’s most creative minds to the city-by-the-sea to share their talents with film fans on June 6-11. Newport’s historic movie theaters and additional distinctive venues make unwinding with a good movie and some popcorn even more entertaining!

The June festivities continue with two fragrant and charming events, starting with the Secret Garden Tour www.secretgardentour.com on June 16-18. On this self-guided walking and driving tour of Newport’s Historic Point neighborhood, visitors are privy to a special look at approximately 10 marvelous private gardens and the interiors of selected private homes. The floral fun continues the following weekend with another fragrant event, the Newport Flower Show www.newportflowershow.com on June 23-25. In the magnificent setting of the grand Rosecliff mansion, the event is truly a treat offering breath-taking displays, flower design classes, horticulture, garden demonstrations and lectures, and children’s activities.

Just in time for the Fourth of July fireworks, Newport welcomes a musical bang that runs through the whole season when the Snapple Sunset Music Festival www.newportwaterfrontevents.com kicks off on June 23-July 2. The concerts showcase talents in the most popular pop, folk, and contemporary music all set alongside scenic Newport Harbor— a great way to catch a breath-taking summer sunset! The tune changes a bit from July 7-23 when Newport’s most magnificent mansion settings play host to the Newport Music Festival www.newportmusicfestival.com featuring classical music by world-renowned performers.

The city-by-the-sea will reveal it sporty side starting on June 26 – July 2, at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open—the largest women’s golf tournament in the world. Top-ranked players such as 2004 U.S. Women’s Open champion Meg Mallon and past champions including Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak and Karrie Webb will lead an international field in pursuit of the most prestigious title in women’s golf. The athletes will be put to the test at Newport Country Club— a course rich in USGA history, which served as the host of the first U.S Open, held in 1895. Tickets for the championship are reasonably priced, including a great children’s deal which features free admission for kids 17 and under with a paid adult admission. Additional information is available on http://www.2006uswomensopen.com.

On July 10—16, the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships will bring 32 of the top men in professional tennis to the legendary grass courts of the Newport Casino at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The daily tournament match play is set in the backdrop of striking architecture and an intimate setting, creating a distinctively Newport professional sports event. Rounding out the week of professional tennis will be the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s induction for the Hall of Fame Class of 2006, to be held on Saturday, July 15 prior to the semifinal matches. The Class of 2006 inductees will be Patrick Rafter, Gabriela Sabatini, and Gianni Clerici.Additional details are available on http://www.tennisfame.com

July 15-16 brings a less competitive sporting event to Newport with the Newport Kite Festival at Brenton Point State Park—arguably the world’s most beautiful place to fly a kite! A lush green park located along Newport’s scenic Ocean Drive, the sweeping ocean views and great winds off the water make the park ideal for kites of all shapes and sizes. When the sun is shining brightly, the waves are crashing loudly, and the clear blue sky is lit up by brightly colored kites, one just has to appreciate the beauty of summer in Newport.

Newport celebrates the 23rd Annual Black Ships Festival on July 13-16, commemorating the historic achievements of Commodore Matthew Perry opening trade lines between the United States and Japan. This cultural event honors Japanese-American ties through traditional and contemporary music and art, sushi & sake sampling, sumo wrestling, and traditional Japanese drumming demonstrations. Event details are available on http://www.blackshipsfestival.com

Summertime is the best time to enjoy the sun and sea of Newport’s great outdoors, making Fort Adams State Park the perfect locale for two Newport traditions— Dunkin Donuts Newport Folk Festival (August 4-6) and the legendary JVC Jazz Festival-Newport (August 11-13). Thousands of music fans flock to this giant outdoor fort on the coast annually to listen to the sounds of some of the industry’s greatest. This year’s lineup for both festivals will be announced in early May. Additional information is available on www.festivalproductions.net

The summer of 2006 will also see the return of Coaching Weekend to Newport hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County, August 17-20. Authentic 19th century coaches drawn by matched and highly-trained teams of horses will make daily runs through the streets of Newport and the grounds of the Newport Mansions, in a colorful event that celebrates and preserves a century-old tradition of horsemanship and elegance. www.newportmansions.org

Wrapping up the summer and back by popular demand, is the Wooden Boat Show on August 25-27 at the Newport Yachting Center. The show will feature demonstrations, lectures, and exhibits highlighting the art and craftsmanship of wooden boats. For more information on this unique show, visit www.WoodenBoat.com.

Visitors can top off these fantastic special events with unparalleled experiences like guided tours through the opulent Newport’s mansions, refreshing sailing excursions on scenic Newport Harbor, and relaxing afternoons window-shopping in Newport’s historic downtown. Whether opting to spend their vacation days kite-flying or wine-tasting, unwinding to their favorite folk artists or catching some sun from the deck of a sailboat, vacationers are sure to enjoy summer in the city-by-the-sea!

For information about Summer Getaway Packages including overnight accommodations, admission to various attractions, and shopping and dining discounts visit www.gonewport.com and to start planning a Newport trip today!

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