August in Newport heralds the return of two world renowned music festivals hosted by the town…

The Newport Folk Fest and the Newport Jazz Festival.

Both events take over the town during the first two weekends in August.

The Newport Folk Fest is happening weekend August 4-6, 2006, at Newport Casino starting at 8:00pm on the Friday, and Fort Adams State Park for the Saturday and Sunday performances at 11:30am – 7:00pm.

Ticket prices range from $30 for Friday to $59 each day at gate.

The Newport Folk Festival is an American institution and remains one of the longest running music gatherings in the country. Early on in the 60’s it defined the folk boom and became the central event for the folk world. It was where Joan Baez became a star and Bob Dylan went electric in one of the most infamous gigs in music history.

The festival maintains its popularity by bringing contemporary, often chart-topping performers together with other extraordinary musicians carrying forward the tradition of folk music.

For a full schedule of performance artists check out the official web site at http://www.newportfolk.com/

The famous Newport Jazz Festival is the following weekend of August 11-13, 2006. Again Friday is at the Newport Casino at 8:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday performances at Fort Adams State Park 11:30am – 7:00pm.

Since the first gathering of the “First American Jazz Festival” came roaring into the Newport Tennis Casino on a mid-July weekend in 1954, it added a much needed “shot in the arm” for the jazz world.

Over the next five decades, history was made repeatedly at Newport, in moments great and small. Miles Davis revived a flagging career there in 1955, as did Duke Ellington the following year. And virtually everyone else in jazz — from Billie Holiday to Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal to Archie Shepp — came to grace the Newport stage, reaching some of the largest and most receptive audiences of the era.

Despite location and crowd challenges in the 1970’s The Newport Jazz Festival has evolved into an institution of immeasurable influence and international reach.

Ticket prices start from $30 for Friday and $65-$75 for Saturday and Sunday.
Schedule and performance artists check out official site here.

The Newport Casino can be found at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Bellevue Avenue close to downtown Newport.

Fort Adams State Park is outside the town on Harrison Avenue.

For suggestions of destinations and attractions while visiting Newport, check out my Newport R.I. section at the website by clicking here.

Until next week have great trips and summer weekends.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacations Guide.com