Events Calendar - 2025

Find a multitude of fun events and great things to do, including weekend events, throughout the year, like music, festivals, comedy, outdoor fun, boat cruises, excursions for families and kids, food, wine and beer tastings.

Check out the listings of year-round Fairs & Festivals throughout New England. Also be sure to read our list of Great Things To Do in New England. Whether you're curious about what to this weekend, this month, or this season, we have you covered.

For events specifically related to the anniversary of the American Revolution, please visit our MA250 Events Calendar.

-= Featured Events =- All Ages Fairs & Festivals Fall & Foliage Food, Wine, Beer Holidays Museums Sports

We welcome the events that are open to the public. Click here to Submit your Event for FREE

Find Great Theater and Music throughout New England on our Performing Arts pages!

-= Featured Events =-

Waterfire Providence 2025

Apr 8, 2025 - Nov 3, 2025 Memorial Boulevard at Waterfire Basin Providence, RI 02903

2025 Schedule

May 15: Sunset lighting at 7:59PM
May 31: Full lighting; Sunset 8:14PM. Vendors open at 7PM.
June 19: Partial lighting; Sunset 8:22PM. Vendors open at 7:30PM.
July 4: Full lighting; Sunset 8:24PM. Vendors open at 6:30PM.
July 17: Sunset lighting at 8:17PM.
August 9: Full lighting; Sunset 7:54PM. Vendors open at 6:30PM.
August 18: Basin lighting only; Sunset 7:41PM.
September 27: Full lighting; Sunset 6:34PM. Vendors open at 5:30PM.
October 4: Full lighting; Sunset 6:22PM. Vendors open at 5:30PM.
October 30: Sunset lighting at 5:42PM.
November 1: Full lighting; Sunset 5:40PM. Vendors open at 4:30PM.
December 31: New Years Eve sunset lighting at 4:25PM.

Sunset

Patriot Pass Savings at Concord Museum

May 5, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025 Concord Museum - 58 Main Street Concord, MA 01742

New for spring - get your Patriot Pass, a discounted bundled admission package that gives you admission to the Concord Museum and a guided historic walking tour with the Concord Visitor Center. On sale May 5th!

Open Tues-Sun 10AM - 4PM
Adults $32, Senior, $24, Youth $16.

Audubon (Almost) Full Moon Owl Prowl

Nov 4, 2025 - Nov 4, 2025 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Take to the trails on an (almost) full moon in search of owls! Join an Audubon naturalist in this guided hike of the Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge to listen and look for owls. While we never know if we’ll hear or see an owl, participants will learn a lot and have a great hike. Please dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.

4:30pm-6:00pm
Member Price: $10 adult, $5 child / Non-member price: $14 adult, $7 child

Beavers of Fisherville

Nov 4, 2025 - Nov 4, 2025 Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI 02822

Join Audubon for an evening walk and discussion regarding the beavers that have taken up residence in the Fisherville Pond. We will take a close-up look at beaver dams, lodges, and hopefully the beaver themselves. At dusk, beavers become active, so we may get to see these engineers at work. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight.

4:30pm-6:30pm
Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 8 and up.

Explore Prudence Island

Nov 5, 2025 - Nov 5, 2025 Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI 02872

Enjoy a late fall day exploring Prudence Island. Take several short walks, look for returning harbor seals hauled out on the rocks, search for migrating birds, and visit many of the Reserve's properties. Expect to walk about 3-4 miles over the course of the day. Due to limited space, reservations are required.

Depart on the ferry at 9:45am from Bristol, arriving on Prudence at 10:15am. You will be greeted by an educator from the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve who will be your guide and transport you in a passenger van for the day. Depart Prudence at 4:15pm, returning to Bristol at 4:45pm. Ferry tickets are approximately $12/round trip. What to bring: lunch and drinks for the day, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes.

9:45am-4:45pm
Fee: $12/member, $14/Non-member.

Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with Audubon

Nov 5, 2025 - Nov 19, 2026 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917

Audubon offers small-group Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with naturalist Laura Carberry. Each week a new birding destination will be chosen. Advance registration is required. Location will be sent to registered participants in advance.

Locations Across Rhode Island. Locations determined weekly.

9:00am-11:00am
Fee: $5/member, $10/non-member. Ages: 14 and up
401-949-5454

Beaver Moon Owl Prowl

Nov 6, 2025 - Nov 6, 2025 Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917

Visit Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge on the Beaver Moon night to search for owls! Audubon naturalist Marina Flannery will call for different species on the forest trails. While we never know if we'll hear or see an owl, participants will learn a lot and have a great night hike. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, and bring a flashlight. The hike will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Advance registration is required.

6:30pm-8:30pm
Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 10 and up

Owl Prowl at Ruecker

Nov 7, 2025 - Nov 7, 2025 Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, 116 Seapowet Avenue, Tiverton, RI 02878

Come and walk the trails of Audubon’s Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge at night to look and listen for our resident owls. Learn about the behavior and biology that makes these raptors so fascinating. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes for hiking, and bring a flashlight. For families with children ages 10 and up. The hike will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

6:30pm-7:30pm
Fee: $10/membe, $5/member childr; $14/non-member, $7/non-member child. Ages: 10 and up.

Bristol Bimonthly Bird Walks

Nov 7, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Join an Audubon naturalist for a morning stroll through the Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge in search of birds. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced birder, you’ll enjoy spotting and learning about resident species and seasonal visitors. Bring your binoculars and experience the sights and sounds of Fall birding! This program is offered every other Friday this Fall.

Audience: Ages 14 and up

9am-11am
Member Price: $5 / Non-member Price: $10

Nature Journaling Workshops: Successional Field Walk

Nov 8, 2025 - Nov 8, 2025 Frances Carter Preserve, Charlestown, RI 02813

Discover the art of nature observation and reflection guided by Audubon naturalists. These hands-on courses invite participants to expand their knowledge of Rhode Island’s natural history while learning and implementing field illustration techniques. Learn the technical and interpretive skills needed to communicate scientific and ecological information through art, gain new knowledge, and explore a variety of natural habitats. A journal will be provided to all participants.

10:00am-11:30am
Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: Adult

Veterans Day Nature Activities

Nov 11, 2025 - Nov 11, 2025 Bristol Nature Center; 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Discover the natural world with fun-filled family activities including crafts, animal interviews, nature stories, and more. No registration is required. Activities are included with admission.

Schedule as follows:

10:00am – 3:00pm: Craft Table

10:00am: Nature Story

11:00 am & 2:30pm: Animal Interview

1:00pm: Nature Walk

10:00am-3:00pm
Refer to the website to learn more.

Owls and Ales at Fisherville

Nov 14, 2025 - Nov 14, 2025 Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI 02822

Meet one of Audubon’s amazing owls in person! Come to the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge for a presentation on these fascinating birds while enjoying locally brewed beers. Then take a guided walk through the wildlife refuge at night to look and listen for owls and other signs of animal life. Leave the kids at home —this program is just for adults! Come prepared to go outside on a chilly winter evening. Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather!

6:30pm-8:30pm
Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 21 and up.

Beers of New England Dinner

Nov 14, 2025 - Nov 14, 2025 2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, NH 03110

Four-Course Beer Dinner

Join us in the Great Hall and raise a glass to New England’s craft brewing scene. The evening will begin with a casual cocktail hour featuring two craft beers and passed canapés, before moving into a four-course seated dinner—each course thoughtfully paired with a beer from one of New England’s local breweries.

FEATURED BREWERIES

Oxbow Brewing Company (Portland, ME)

Trillium Brewing (Canton, MA)

Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Waitsfield, VT)

Feathered Friend (Concord, NH)

Schilling Beer Co. (Littleton, NH)

Mast Landing Brewing Company (Westbrook, ME)

Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance. Limited seats available. This is a 21+ only event.

Please note: Tables are shared. If you’d like to be seated with specific guests, you’ll be able to make requests upon email confirmation.

As a special thank you, attendees of the Beers of New England Dinner will receive an exclusive 25% off code to book an overnight stay at the Grand the evening of the event.

6:00pm onwards
$125++
1-800-852-1166

Big Raptor, Little Raptor

Nov 15, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025 Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771

Meet two live raptors - a Red-tailed Hawk and an Eastern Screech owl - one of the largest hawks in Rhode Island and one of the smallest owls that can be found in our area. Explore the lives of these amazing birds of prey and touch preserved feathers, wings, and talons. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Advance registration is required.

11:00am-12:00pm
Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 4 and up

Knit Owls

Nov 18, 2025 - Nov 18, 2025 Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917

Looking to craft a holiday gift or decoration? Join Audubon and learn to knit a small, three-dimensional owl. This program is for intermediate to advanced knitters who are comfortable using double-pointed needles and knitting stranded colorwork. Instruction, pattern, and yarn provided. Participants must bring their own US size 1 double pointed needles.

5:30pm-7:30pm
Fee: $25/member; $30/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult

Native Plants and Pollinators Lecture

Nov 22, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Are you looking to support wildlife at home but don’t know where to start? Join Audubon and learn the ins and outs of gardening with native plants to support local pollinators. Take home information about what to plant, where to find native species, and many tips on how your gardening space can be a sanctuary for wildlife. Ages 15 and up.

10:00am-11:00am
Fee: $20/member, $25/non-member. Ages: 15 and up

Bank of America Free Family Fun Day

Nov 22, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025 Bristol Nature Center; 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Thanks to Bank of America, Free Family Fun Days are back this Fall! Once a month, the Nature Center and Aquarium is open free to the public. Join Audubon for nature stories, animal discoveries, crafts, hikes, and more. No need to register!

Schedule as follows:

10:00am – 3:00pm: Craft Table

10:00am: Turtle Story

11:00 am & 2:30pm: Animal Interview

1:00pm: All About Snakes – Come learn about all things snakes – biology, behavior, adaptations and more through an engaging presentation and hands on activities! For ages 6 and up.

10:00am-3:00pm
Free

Day After Thanksgiving Activities

Nov 28, 2025 - Nov 28, 2025 Bristol Nature Center; 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Give thanks for all that nature has given us. The day after Thanksgiving is for leftovers, but at Audubon it is also a day to rediscover why nature matters. Join fun nature and animal themed activities for the whole family. No registration is needed. Activities included with admission.

Schedule as follows:

10:00 am-3:00pm: Craft Table

10:00am: Nature Story

11:00am and 2:30pm: Animal Interview

1:00pm: Turkey Trot Nature Walk

10:00am-3:00pm
Refer to the website to learn more.

All Ages

Family Adventures at the Audubon Nature Center

Sep 27, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol,, RI 02809

Families and nature lovers of all ages are invited to enjoy a full day of activities in Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium. Guests can take part in hands-on crafts, nature story time, live animal encounters, guided hikes, and educational programs.

Highlights include:

● 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Craft Table

● 10:00 a.m.: Nature Story

● 11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.: Animal Interview

● 1:00 p.m.: Hands-on exploration with a seasonal theme, led by an Audubon naturalist. Kids learn all about things with wings, head out on an autumn nature hike, or discover the amazing world of snakes. No need to register. Ages 6+.

Themes:

September 27: "Wings and Things"

October 25: “Autumn Exploration”

November 22: “Scales, Scales, and More Scales”

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free, Ages: All
401-949-5454

Fairs & Festivals

🍁 Illuminate Montessori Fall Fest

Nov 8, 2025 - Nov 8, 2025 19 Forest St, Marlborough, MA 01752

Join us this weekend for Illuminate Montessori’s Fall Fest — a free, family-friendly community event celebrating the season with fun, food, and togetherness!

Enjoy a morning full of excitement and community spirit with:

🎈 Bouncy House

🎨 Fall Crafts & Games

🍔 Delicious Food Trucks

✨ Local Programs & Activities

Everyone’s welcome! Come connect, play, and make memories with your family and neighbors. We can’t wait to celebrate fall with you! 🍂

10:00AM - 1:00PM
Free

Fall & Foliage

Harvest Celebrations: A History of Thanksgiving Guided Tours

Nov 1, 2025 - Nov 30, 2025 14 Hancock Street Portsmouth, NH 03801

Harvest Celebrations: A History of Thanksgiving Guided Tours November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, & 28-30, 2025 10 AM, 11 AM , 11:30 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 1:30 PM & 2 PM Join expert guides for a 90-minute tour exploring three centuries of Thanksgiving traditions. Travel through time and visit four historic houses to learn how this holiday has evolved. Discover how people celebrated Thanksgiving in 1777 at the William Pitt Tavern, experience the height of the Victorian period in 1870 at the Goodwin Mansion, share in the experience of a Jewish immigrant family learning about the American holiday in 1919 at the Shapiro House, and learn about Thanksgiving on the Homefront in 1943 at the Abbott House and Store. Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Weekends 10AM - 2PM
Members $20; Nonmembers $25
603-433-1100

Food, Wine, Beer

Newport Restaurant Week

Nov 7, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 Multiple locations through Newport and Bristol County Newport and Bristol Country, RI 02840

The flavors of nine coastal communities, all rolled up into 10 savory days. Newport Restaurant Week takes place annually each fall, the perfect setting for this well-seasoned event. Choose from an array of prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner. *Please note: Participating restaurants and prix fixe format price points subject to change.

Varies by location.
Free to attend, food and drinks for purchase
401-849-8048

Holidays

Lake Compounce Holiday Lights ’25 On-Sale Now!

Nov 28, 2025 - Dec 28, 2025 185 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, CT 06010

Join in the Holiday Joy one last Time at Holiday Lights '25

Mingle among half a million twinkling lights starting November 28.

Bring your family for one last memory-making visit to Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce. The event will be retired after 2025, so don’t miss your last chance to mingle among a half million twinkling lights throughout the park. Hop on some of your favorite family rides while you enjoy holiday treats and admire Connecticut’s tallest Christmas tree. Be sure to stop in and say “hello” to Santa himself. Put some sparkle in your season one final time at Holiday Lights ‘25.

Holiday Lights ’25 General Admission Includes:

One-Day Park Admission to Holiday Lights ‘25
Marvel at CT's Largest Christmas Tree
Enjoy festive activities & treats
Meet & Greet with Santa
All-Day park access with select rides

Refer to site to learn more.
$34.99
860-583-3300

Museums

Free Museum Admission for All youth at the Cape Cod Museum of Art

Jul 16, 2025 - Jul 1, 2026 60 Hope Lane (just off Route 6A) Dennis, MA 02638

The Cape Cod Museum of Art is thrilled to announce a generous donation from The Design Initiative Inc., an architecture practice deeply committed to designing spaces and supporting organizations that strengthen our community. Thanks to the gift, admission to the museum is now free for all visitors 21 years old and younger for the next year. This initiative opens the doors to students and families, providing access to our permanent collection and inspiring exhibitions year-round. The Design Initiative, led by architect and artist Mary-Ann Agresti AIA, is known for creating public and workplace environments that nurture community.

Tues - Sat from 10 am - 4 pm & Sun from 12 pm - 4 pm

New Haven Museum: "It's Pronounced Ah-beetz" Exhibition Opening

Oct 9, 2025 - Oct 31, 2027 New Haven Museum 114 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510

The New Haven Museum (NHM) will open a new free-admission exhibit titled “Pronounced Ah-Beetz”, exploring the history, culture, and legacy of New Haven-style apizza.

The exhibit traces pizza’s origins from Italy’s working-class food to its rise in New Haven, highlighting the city’s “Big 3” iconic pizzerias — Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally’s Apizza, and Modern Apizza — and how they became national favorites. It will also showcase other local pizzerias such as Ernie’s, Zuppardi’s, BAR, Zeneli’s, Olde World, and the Big Green Pizza Truck, portraying the deep ties between family, food, and community.

Co-curated by Jason Bischoff-Wurstle (NHM), and Gorman Bechard, Dean Falcone, and Colin M. Caplan — the team behind the documentary “Pizza, A Love Story” — the exhibit features:

Artifacts, oral histories, and memorabilia from local collections.
Video footage from the documentary.
Replicas of the “Big 3” pizzerias, complete with a realistic brick oven.
Short histories of Foxon Park Soda and locally served beers

The idea originated in 2009 during the making of the documentary, with Caplan recognized as the main historian of New Haven pizza. Recently, following a trip to Washington, D.C., where Representative Rosa DeLauro declared New Haven the “Pizza Capital of the U.S.”, the curators expanded the project with new materials.

The exhibit’s title, “Pronounced Ah-Beetz,” reflects the authentic New Haven pronunciation of apizza (from Italian la pizza). It will be on display through October 2027.

5:30pm
Free
203-562-4183

Sports

The Head Of The Charles Regatta

Oct 17, 2025 - Nov 19, 2025 621 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02139

The Head Of The Charles Regatta isn’t just the largest rowing event in the world, it’s Boston’s second-largest sporting event and a powerful celebration of our sport, our city, and our global community. Each October, more than 11,750 athletes and over 325,000 spectators gather on the banks of the Charles River to take part in this iconic tradition.

A relentless 3-mile head course winds through the heart of Boston and Cambridge, passing the storied campuses of Harvard, MIT, and BU. Known for its sharp, unforgiving turns and seven historic bridges, the course is lined with packed crowds and electric energy, drawing athletes and fans from around the globe.

Now in its 60th year, HOCR is rowing’s annual reunion. A homecoming. A celebration of passion, resilience, and camaraderie. We inspire, engage, and elevate athletes of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, and we’re proud to lead with purpose, impact, and connection at every stroke.

Please visit here for a list of viewing locations along the Charles River.

Refer to site to learn more.
Refer to the website to learn more.