Calendar of Events for April 2008 Submit your event here

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Newport County Convention & Visitor's Bureau Calendar of Events

April 3 - 27- Portsmouth: " Emerging Artists" at the Portsmouth Art Guild
       Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 1-5pm. The opening reception is April 4th from 6-8pm at The Portsmouth Arts Guild Center For The Arts, 2679 East Main Rd, next to St. Paul's Church, Portsmouth, RI. Emerging Artists: A Student Show, featuring art of area high schools students

April 5 - Portsmouth: Rabies Clinic
    12:30pm to 1:30pm at the Portsmouth Fire Station, rear entrance, 2300 East Main Rd. Animals should be either in cages or leashed. The fee is $10 and payment is required in cash (no checks). Bring your pet's most recent rabies certificate with you. Also for convenience the Portsmouth Town Clerk's office will be licensing dogs at the clinic. If you are only getting license you must bring a current Rabies Certificate that is valid through May 1, 2008.

April 12 - Portsmouth: Common Fence Music Series
       See Patty Larkin,  8pm (doors open at 7pm) at the Common Fence Point Community Hall, 933 Anthony Rd. For more information and reservations click here

April 12 - Newport: Annual Swing Dance and Fundraiser for the James L. Maher Center
       6:30-11:00 PM at the Officer’s Club, Naval Station Newport. Dance ‘Till You Drop! Plus, enjoy a dance lesson with Sara Barker from East Bay Ballroom at 6:30PM. All proceeds will benefit individuals with developmental disabilities supported by the James L. Maher Center. Each $45 ticket is considered a $25 tax deductible donation. The James L. Maher Center is required to provide a guest list to security for the base. Therefore, ADVANCE PURCHASE is required for admission. Furthermore, each guest will be required to provide photo identification at the gate in order to gain access to the base. See the full information flyer here and the Maher Center Web site here

April 19 - 20 - Portsmouth: Spring Craft Fair hosted by Cherish the Moments
       Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.at the Green Valley Country Club, 371 Union Street, Portsmouth.Crafters/Vendors with their Spring Creations. Floral Arrangements, Gift Baskets for any Occasion, Jewelry, Home Decor, Scented Candles, Handmade Baby Items, & Gourmet Goodies. Art & Crafts for the kids, Sand Art, Face Painting and Tattoo Art. Music performed by All Saints Academy (Sunday at 1pm). A family event for all. Crafters/Vendors Table. 50/50 Raffle. Free admission. Plenty of parking. For further information call Teresa 396-9921 or see the web site

April 19 & 20 - Portsmouth: "Beast of the East" Rugby Tournament at Glen Farm
                more info at this web site

April 19 - Middletown: ECO-DEPOT, Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off
                at Second Beach. Safely dispose of your household hazardous waste. You must schedule an appointment. Click here for more information - RIRRC.org

April 19 - Newport: Royal Tea with members of Newport Baroque Orchestra and soprano soloist Mary Therese Royal de Martinez
      2pm, Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Ave., Newport, $45 admission, includes Royal Tea. Royal Tea with members of Newport Baroque Orchestra and soprano soloist Mary Therese Royal de Martinez. Visit NewportBaroque.org
Newport Baroque Orchestra is a professional period-instrument orchestra devoted to the music of the 17th- and 18th-centuries. Founded in 2003, Newport Baroque Orchestra is well-suited to the 18th-century character of Newport’s historic center, and its concerts reflect the city’s historic preservation initiatives. In this spirit, Newport is linked to the performing arts of the period, and, with its own period-instrument orchestra, Newport lives the past through the passion and beauty of historical music.

April 19 - Newport: The Shamrock Ball presented by Newport's Ancient Order of Hibernians
       8pm-12am at Belcourt Castle, 657 Bellevue Ave. The Shamrock Ball presented by Newport's Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is a black tie affair (or kilted) with Traditional Irish music by Boarding House Reach, live dance music by Roger Ceresi and The All Starz, performances by Irish step dancers & the AOH Pipes & Drums Band and elegant Irish catering by Russell Morin. Drink tickets will be sold. Passed hors d'oeuvres, stations of Irish fare & delightful desserts will be served. Onsite professional photo & a return ticket to tour Belcourt Castle are included with admission. Special discounts for tux rentals to those attending & kilt rentals offered by Waldorf Tuxedo. Ball tickets cost $110 per person. Proceeds benefit AOH Scholarship fund. Limited space. Tickets available in advance only at www.aohnewport.org

April 26 - Newport: 2008 Aquidneck Island Crop-Walk Against Hunger
      All Aquidneck Islanders and neighboring area residents and students are invited to join our local effort to alleviate hunger at home and around the world. Two routes offered – a 4 mile stroll and a 10 mile walk. All walkers will start out together at 9 AM from Emmanuel Church, 40 Dearborn St., Newport. For details and /or sponsor forms call Rev. Ginny Dinsmore, CROP Coordinator, at St.Mary's Episcopal Church (846-9700; ) or Bob Sleiertin (847-5196; ). Also, anyone can be an Online CROP-Walker or sponsor, visit CropWalk.org for details. This year canned goods may also be donated at the start of the Walk.

April 26 - Newport: 4th Annual Community Baby Shower/Health Fair
      12-2 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode Island Campus at 1 Chafee Boulevard, Newport. Community Baby Shower/Health Fair will Feature Deputy Director of National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDCSeveral agencies have come together to organize and sponsor the 4th annual Newport Community Baby Shower/Health Fair. The shower/health fair is free and open to the public and will focus on services for pregnant women and families of infants and young toddlers. Dads are welcome and encouraged to attend. Sponsoring agencies will have information available and include East Bay Community Action Program, Child & Family Services, Looking upwards, Newport Hospital, Parents as Teachers of Middletown and Newport, Visiting Nurse Services. Approximately twenty organizations will be in attendance to provide information about their services and answer questions.
      This year Dr. Melinda Wharton, MD, MPH, Deputy Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be the guest speaker at the event and will discuss current immunization guidelines and vaccine safety. Dr. Wharton has authored or co-authored more than 80 scientific journal articles, book chapters, and CDC publications. Dr Wharton will speak at 12:30 followed by a Q & A period. For more information on the Community Baby Shower please call EBCAP Head Start at 401-367-2001 x 282.

April 26 - Newport: Community Arts Connect Day at the Newport Art Museum
            1 - 4p.m. at The Newport Art Museum is located at 76 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, RI. A collaborative celebration of art with Newport Art Museum and co-sponsors VSA arts of Rhode Island, the Little Compton Community Center with additional support from the Newport County Fund of the Rhode Island Foundation. Designed to be enjoyable for people all ages, physical and developmental abilities. Tours and art-making workshops begin at 1 pm; performance by musician and story-teller Christopher “Kavi” Carbone at 2 pm. Museum is open 10 am – 4 pm and admission is free all day.See their web site at NewportArtMuseum.org

April 26 - Portsmouth: Common Fence Music Series
       See Jay Ungar and Molly Mason,  8pm (doors open at 7pm) at the Common Fence Point Community Hall, 933 Anthony Rd. For more information and reservations click here

April 27 - Portsmouth: Everything's Cool Film and Pizza Party
      4-7pm at Portsmouth United Methodist Church, 2732 East Main Road. Everything's Cool Film and Pizza Party will introduce youth (7th grade and above) to issues concerning Global Warming and Climate Change through the film Everything's Cool, which is making its way around college campuses. The film begins at 4 pm, followed by a brief discussion, pizza and foosball, air hockey, ping pong, and rock band in our youth room. This event is sponsored by the three United Methodist churches on Aquidneck Island... Calvary UMC, Middletown; St. Paul's UMC, Newport, and Portsmouth UMC. Any questions please call Rev. Bill Taylor, 401-683-1069

April 29 - Portsmouth: Portsmouth High School Choirs with members of Newport Baroque Orchestra
      1pm and 7pm, Portsmouth High School, 120 Education Lane, Portsmouth. Portsmouth High School Choirs with members of Newport Baroque Orchestra, sponsored by Target. Visit NewportBaroque.org
Newport Baroque Orchestra is a professional period-instrument orchestra devoted to the music of the 17th- and 18th-centuries. Founded in 2003, Newport Baroque Orchestra is well-suited to the 18th-century character of Newport’s historic center, and its concerts reflect the city’s historic preservation initiatives. In this spirit, Newport is linked to the performing arts of the period, and, with its own period-instrument orchestra, Newport lives the past through the passion and beauty of historical music.

Previous year's events (below) that we haven't gotten current information to update yet.

Beginning April - Newport: Schedule for Preservation Society Mansions
        The Preservation Society of Newport County will open six of its properties for daily tours starting Saturday, April 7—The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer and Green Animals Topiary Garden. Kingscote will open for the season on May 26, and Chepstow, Hunter House and Isaac Bell House will open for the season on June 23.
        Visitors to the Newport Mansions on Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8, can enjoy free tours of Chateau-sur-Mer (1852) and be the first to hear its newly-revised tour, based on recently-completed research, that sheds new light on one of America's greatest Victorian houses and the family that built and called it home for more than 100 years. Visit NewportMansions.org, or call (401) 847-1000 for the detailed operating schedule, and information about the many additional events scheduled this summer, tour packages and ticket prices. Tickets can be purchased online, at all of the houses and at the Newport Visitors Center.

April - Newport: Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch
        10am Don't forget your camera, as children pose with the Easter Bunny and scramble for eggs on the lawn of Rosecliff, followed by a scrumptious brunch buffet. Visit www.NewportMansions.org for details and ticket availability.

Apr - Earth Day 2007 Clean Ups on Aquidneck Island
RI Earth Day Site       Earth Day Network    
NOTE: Advise wearing long pants, a long sleeve T-shirt and gloves. 
             Portsmouth - April : 9am - noon. Meet at CFP Community Hall, Anthony Rd. to participate in salt marsh restoration area maintenance and general litter pickup. This year we are also looking for volunteers who will help fence off CFPIA land on Island Road. We are also looking for a donation of mulch that will be used to mulch the Rosa Rugosa bushes at the salt marsh restoration site. Register ahead of time with Mil Kinsella at 401-633-2606 or Brenda Whalen Munro at 401-682-2627 or just show up. Donations of baked goods to feed our hungry volunteers are most welcome! Bags will be available to cleanup volunteers. www.cfpia.org
             Newport - April :  8:30 am - 12 pm Meet: Building 11, Gate 11 – 1176 Howell St. Contact: Linda Finn- Girl Scouts of Rhode Island 258-6851 linda@lindafinngardendesign.com
             Newport - April (Rain Date: 5/5):  9 am - 11 am Meet: Fort Adams, Contact: Ellen Peoples, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, 832-5882, peoplesem@npt.nuwc.navy.mil
             Newport - April : 10 am - 12 pm Meet: Corner of Hillside Ave and Sunset Court, Contact: Raphe Sciola, City of Newport, Aquidneck Island Trust & Newport Housing Authority, 845-5437, www.cityofnewport.com
             Newport - April : 1 pm – 3 pm Meet: King Park, Contact: Brooke Stones, City of Newport, DPW, Clean City Program, 845-5613, bstones@cityofnewport.com, www.cityofnewport.com
             Middletown - April   (rain date 4/28 ):  9am to 3pm meet at Middletown Town Hall and/or Shachuest Beaches. More info contact: Timothy Shaw, Middletown Recreation Dept., 847-1993, tshaw@middletownri.com

April - Newport: Spring Tours of the Inns and Bed and Breakfasts
       1pm - 3pm. Tickets are $10 per person sold only at the Newport County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 23 America's Cup Avenue. Entrance into the Newport Art Museum, day of tour, is included in the ticket price. Visit the web site www.NewportHouseTours.com for more information and a list of which properties will be open which days.

April - Newport: Soap Box Derby Clinics
            9am at the Boys and Girls Club of Newport, 95 Church St. Learn how to build and race a Soap Box Derby car. Boys and Girls aged 9 through 16 are eligible to enter the race on May 13th, sign up for the clinic to learn how to build and race a car in the derby. Cars are assembled from kits available through the All American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. There will be 3 divisions this year. Stock Cars have a maximum weight of 200 pounds for both driver and car. Super Stock Cars have a 230 pound maximum. Masters Division have a 255 pound maximum for car and driver. For more information call 848-5884 or email ddittmann@cox.net.

April   - Portsmouth: Live Music at Greenvale Vineyards
           7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. in the historic Stable/Tasting Room. Greenvale Vineyards is located at 582 Wapping Road in Portsmouth. Greenvale Vineyards will be host to the Old Time Country and Celtic duo Two Old Friends. Mac McHale and Emery Hutchins have recently joined forces to sing and play songs from Ireland, the mountains and the sea. Mac and Hutch were the original founders of Northeast Winds, traveling and recording with them for nearly 18 years. They will be performing some of their favorites from the Northeast Winds as well as some very old-time traditional country music, featuring varied musical instruments such as the banjo, guitar, mandolin, concertina, bodran, and the octave mandolin. The program is sure to include some of your favorite Irish and sea songs, a good amount of hot picking instrumentals and some great sing-a-longs. Wine will be available for purchase throughout the evening. Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 at the door. Seating is limited to 35, and advance reservation is highly recommended for this intimate performance. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, please call (401) 847-3777 or visit www.localwineevents.com/Newport-Wine/, email information@greenvale.com or visit us online at www.greenvale.com

April - Portsmouth: Portsmouth Tree Commission - Tree Sapling Give-away
           8 a.m. to noon at Portsmouth Town Hall. 4 -5 different species available for FREE. Help the environment, plant a tree.

April  - Middletown: Annual Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off
                8a.m. to 2p.m.at the Second Beach parking lot (Sachuest Point Rd. Middletown) For residents of Middletown & Jamestown. Proof of residency is required (driver's license or auto registration), military personnel living in these towns must show a utility bill, lease or rental agreement along with military ID. This is for residential use only, no commercial establishments. This event is offered free to Middletown and Jamestown residents and will be held rain or shine. For more information: Middletown residents contact the Middletown Public Works Department at 846-2119, and Jamestown residents can contact the Jamestown Public Works Department at 423-7220.