How To Make The Most Out Of The Newport Folk Festival

Every year since 1959, the Newport Folk Festival has been a wonderful two day music event and epicenter for the folk music scene. It’s brought a number of famous musicians into the spotlight and fan’s scrapbook pages before they were popular, and continues to be a showcase for talent both old and new. For these reasons, it’s considered a great musical destination during the summer. If you’re considering folk festivals this summer, here’s a few tips I’ve picked up from the Newport event.

In terms of lodging arrangements, Newport has many very nice hotels and campgrounds fairly close to this festival’s site. One nice campground worth checking out is called Melville Ponds. Don’t expect to be sleeping at this festival, however, since the Fort Adams State Park does not offer this service.

The Newport festival encourages people to be environmentally responsible, and so emphasizes that multiple bicycle parking areas are near the festival entrance, as well as buses and water shuttles. Regular car parking passes are also for sale, but will cost more if purchased at the event itself, rather than ahead of time.

Newport makes the following items restricted from being brought into the event: alcohol, pets, glass containers, and, obviously, a/v recording devices. All of these things are usually kept out of large music events, so common sense tells you that officials and security will enforce them. One other interesting item that is banned from the festival is a beach umbrella, which obstructs the view of other concertgoers. However, if the umbrella is medically necessary, authorities will make an exception.

At a mid-summer music festival, adequate sun protection is one of the keys to safety. Bring lots of water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and possibly a hat to ensure that you’re protected, and keep applying the sunscreen throughout the day. There’s money worth spending on some of the better, local food vendors (like delis) that will be serving their wares. Also, wear weather-appropriate clothing. If you only have room for one pair of footwear, make it a versatile one, like leather brown boots, for instance, hat will survive the festival under any weather whatsoever.

Try and make time for the merchants other vendors at this festival; they’ve always got some very interesting stuff. One guitar sponsor’I think it was for a takamine acoustic guitar, but I could be wrong’had a really cool songwriting contest and guitar giveaway.

Whether you decide to go to both days of this fine festival, or just one, have fun and be safe at Newport!