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Rhode Island
401 Fun: The best things to do in Rhode Island Aug. 9-16 – The Boston Globe
No, I don’t mean the season finale of “House of the Dragon.” (Don’t tell me what happens, I haven’t seen it yet.) I mean your last chance to explore “Dragons & Mythical Creatures” at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Billed as an “immersive experience featuring over 60 life-size animatronic wonders.” Through Aug. 11. Not included with regular zoo admission. $9 ages 2 and up. Under 2 free. 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Details here.
RHODE ISLAND FILM FEST
The 2024 Rhode Island Film Fest runs through Aug. 11 with plenty of options to catch indie features and shorts in some 10 venues throughout Rhode Island. Look for “Lost Nation,” directed by Jay Craven, “Golden Garden Takeout,” directed by Maggie Wong, “Anna Comes Home,” directed by Amber Paulette Suzor, and “WaterFire, Art & Soul of a City…The Story Continues,” from Rhode Island PBS and RocJo Productions, in cooperation with WaterFire, among others films. See a full schedule here.
JAZZ FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Jazz musician NALEDI, who moved from South Africa “to chase music in Boston” with a scholarship to New England Conservatory, performs Aug. 9 as part of Newport Live x Norman Bird Sanctuary Outdoor Summer Series.
NALEDI recently released her EP “BATHO” (meaning “people” in Sesotho), which she calls “a journey of finding belonging in a world that’s always changing, and a celebration of our shared humanity in the fight for social justice. 7 p.m. $35. 583 3rd Beach Road Middletown. Learn more about the artist here. Details here.
DOG FEST
Ummm, I love it. Hop in the car, Fido, because we’re headed to Dog Fest. RI Night Market — an open-air evening and nighttime marketplace presented by Dunkin’ — pops up at Mulligan’s Island Golf & Entertainment Aug. 10, 4-8 p.m, with “Dog Fest RI” (free). Expect a “Blessing of The Dogs,” dog vendors, activities, food trucks, “Kids Zone,” raffles, giveaways, Makers Market, Bounce Houses, Beer Garden, and more. There’s also a ticketed “Wicked Best Martini 2024″ tent, admission from $25, to benefit the Potter League. 1000 New London Ave., Cranston. Tickets and details here. Fest details here and here.
DRINK ALL THE BEER IN RHODE ISLAND
For real. Hop on it, hop-heads: Tickets are limited for the 8th Ocean State Brewers Fest, billed as “the only beer event in Rhode Island that features Rhode Island breweries exclusively.” Taste what your neighbors are brewing, from Apponaug Brewing Company to Origin Beer Project, Phantom Farms Brewing to Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery and dozens more at the Aug. 10 fest from Rhode Island Brewers Guild sponsored by BrewBox. Cheers, Rhody. $65. 21+ 3-6:30 p.m. at Farm Fresh RI, 10 Sims Ave, Providence. Details here.
GOOOOAL!
If the Olympics has you amped, it’s time to see a soccer match up close: Rhode Island’s pro men’s soccer team, Rhode Island FC, takes on Hartford Athletic Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. At Beirne Stadium at Bryant University. 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield. Details here.
DOMINICAN PARADE & FESTIVAL
The annual Dominican Parade & Festival, presented by Quisqueya En Accion, steps off Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. in Providence at the intersection of Thurbers Avenue and Broad Street, followed by a music fest kicking off at noon at Roger Williams Park Temple to Music. This year’s theme is “Tributo a Nuestra Cultura” (“A Tribute to Our Culture.”) Details here and here.
ALPACA YOGA
The Lazy K Ranch in Foster hosts alpaca yoga Aug. 11, 10-11 a.m. Sorry goats, but alpacas are way cuter. If you see an alpaca smile, you have to smile back. Fact. BYO water, towel and mat. 10 East Killingly Road, Foster. $26. Details here.
WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR
With a pig obstacle course, a rabbit show, lawnmower racing, a pony pull and more, this week is the annual Washington County Fair, Aug. 14-18. Goals include “to promote our rural heritage… to be a venue for the FFA and 4H [and] to give families an affordable form of wholesome entertainment.” The fair, established in 1967, offers an overwhelming schedule of events jam-packed into four days in Richmond.
A few highlights: live music, antique car show, egg toss, tractor and truck pulls, live stock shows, poultry, sheep, swine and more; oxen pull, line-dancing, goat show, lawnmower races, milking contest, corn hole tournament, arm wrestling, “cow chip bingo” (IYKYK), senior pie-eating contest, jugglers, magicians and much more. Oh, and the food! Stuffed waffles, street tacos, gourmet grilled cheese, clam cakes, oysters, ice cream, apple crisp, shaved steak sandwiches, salted potatoes, barbecue ribs, gyros, corn fritters and more. Adults $12, kids 10 and under free. 78 Richmond Townhouse Road, Route 112, Richmond. Details here.
YES, CHEFS
Rhode Island puts its more than 400 miles of coastline in the spotlight during several food festivals, where fishermen and chefs who specialize in seafood get a boost. Even if you’re not a seafood lover, there are plenty of other festivals to attend to sample plates and try out local beer and wine. Globe Rhode Island’s Alexa Gagosz has put together a list of 13 food festivals that run through the rest of this year, from dining inside one of the Newport mansions with chef Jacques Pépin, to the annual oyster festival, to the Farm Fresh Rhode Island Local Food Fest at Newport’s Castle Hill Inn Aug. 13. The Farm Fresh RI fundraiser “celebrates local growers and food producers — featuring dozens of local farms paired with chefs from some of the top restaurants,” according to billing. Advance tickets only. Rain or shine. Under age 12 free. 4-8 p.m. 590 Ocean Drive. From $25. Tickets and info. for Farm Fresh Rhode Island here.
JUDY COLLINS
The legend plays Newport’s Jane Pickens Theatre Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. Stay tuned for my interview. 49 Touro St. Tickets from $69. Details here.
GREEK FESTIVAL
It’s three days of peace, love and loukoumades. We’re approaching next week’s column-territory here, so I’ll just quickly say that Pawtucket’s Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church hosts its 97th annual Greek Festival Aug. 16-18. Expect live music, dance performances, authentic Greek food and pastries — thinks Greek rice pudding, Kourambiedes, baklava, Finikia, Koulourakia, Galaktoboureko, loukoumades — kafenio (coffee area), a Greek marketplace, Greek Pride Dance Troupe, vendors, baking demos and more, according to billing. Aug. 16, 5-10 p.m. 97 Walcott St., Pawtucket. Details here and here.
BLACK SHIPS FEST
The Japan-American Society of Rhode Island hosts the 41st Black Ships Fest in Bristol and Newport Aug. 16-18. You’ll learn about the “connection between Rhode Island and Japan” and explore Japanese culture, according to billing. You might try on kimonos, participate in tea ceremonies, learn calligraphy, step aboard the tall ship Aurora, dance to Taiko drumming, browse some 100 artisans, taste treats, see martial arts demos and ikebana flower arrangements, and more. Opening ceremonies Aug. 16 10 a.m. at Rockwell Park, Bristol. Details here.
DATE CHANGE FOR “TED LASSO” STAR
In last week’s column, I mentioned that “Ted Lasso’s” Brett Goldstein was headed to PVD this week. Well, you have more time to get tickets. He’s now coming Aug. 23 for two shows. On Wednesday, PPAC announced that shows were postponed due to Goldstein falling sick.
Whether you had tickets and need a refund, or you realize you now want tickets (from $46) — all details here. 220 Weybosset St., Providence.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: ONGOING FUN …
THE GREAT ELEPHANT MIGRATION: See a herd of some 100 life-size Indian elephant sculptures in Newport, presented by Art&Newport through Sept. 6. The Great Elephant Migration is a global fundraiser to amplify indigenous knowledge and inspire the human race to share space, according to its website. The sculptures were made by a community of 200 indigenous Indian artisans according to their website. Viewing is best along the Cliff Walk, where the 52-elephant display is taking place at Salve Regina University’s McAuley Hall, The Breakers, and Rough Point. Learn more here, here and here.
BLACK HISTORY WALKING TOUR: Until now, the personal narratives and experiences of enslaved individuals in late 18th-century Newport have been largely unknown. Their voices highlight a new tour and exhibit that illuminate “the untold history of early Black Americans” and its widespread, ongoing impact in Rhode Island. Tours Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays at 10 a.m. through Nov. 30. $20 adults; $10 kids 12 and under. Departs from the Pilot House at 13 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport. Details here.
ITALIAN FOOD FEST: Foodies, rev your engines. Federal Hill, Rhody’s own Little Italy, hosts its 5th Al Fresco on the Hill on Saturdays through Aug. 31 from 5 p.m. to midnight. People can stroll the avenue and sample food from local restaurants and shop at retailers set up outside. There will also be live entertainment and artistic performances. Providence. Details here.
I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM: Beat the heat: We mapped a trail of 130 great spots to get ice cream in Rhode Island here. See some highlights here.
Until next week, Rhody: Keep rockin.’
Hear about the $30 million in infrastructure money for Tidewater
Pawtucket’s Tidewater Landing project gets $30 million for infrastructure
PROVIDENCE – Former CVS executive Helena Foulkes still leads Gov. Dan McKee by double-digits in the Democratic primary race for governor, but her whopping 34-point lead of last April has shrunk to 20 points in the wake of McKee’s TV attack ads, according to a new University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll.
The survey sampled 337 likely 2026 Democratic state primary voters, 145 likely Republican state primary voters and 664 likely general election voters between June 18 and June 23.
Among the key findings of the survey:
If the Democratic primary had been held while the survey was underway, 42% of likely primary voters would have chosen Foulkes and 22% would have chosen McKee, with restaurant owner Gregory Stevens and Wil Gregersen each getting 1%, the poll said. Thirty-one percent of respondents were undecided.
“Pluralities of moderates (46%), liberals (46%), and progressives (46%) support Foulkes, while two-thirds of socialists (66%) are undecided. McKee does best among those aged 65 and older (31%) but still trailsFoulkes (46%) among this group,” according to this poll.
McKee has narrowed the gap somewhat since the last UNH poll in April, when 45% of likely primary voters chose Foulkes and only 11% McKee.
Bottom line: Incumbent McKee, a former Cumberland mayor and lieutenant governor who has been governor since his predecessor Gina Raimondo quit mid-term in March 2021, “remains quite unpopular among likely Democratic primary voters: only 18% have a favorable opinion of him, 56% have an unfavorable opinion,” according to the poll released on Tuesday, June 30.
And then there’s this: In a hypothetical matchup between Foulkes, whoever emerges as the Republican nominee and independent Ken Block, the poll showed 38% of likely general election voters would vote for Foulkes, 22% would vote for the Republican nominee and 19% for Block.
If, however, McKee won the Democratic nomination, the potential matchup “would be very close,” with both McKee and Block getting 27% of the likely general election vote and the GOP nominee 23%; 2% would vote for another candidate. Twenty-one percent were undecided, according to the poll.
The poll is the latest in a string of bad news for the 74-year-old McKee, including his failure to clinch the endorsement of the state Democratic Party on June 20.
Depending on how you do the math, he fell three votes short of the endorsement, making him the first Democratic governor in Rhode Island to fail to win his party’s endorsement for a reelection bid since the modern primary system was created in 1948.
In the days since, Foulkes has racked up city and town Democratic committee endorsements, while McKee has only won endorsements from Pawtucket and North Providence Democrats. On Tuesday, June 30, he touted one more from the East Providence Democratic City Committee.
But McKee campaign spokeswoman Sophie Mestas hailed the poll as evidence that “the more Rhode Islanders learn about Helena Foulkes – a corporate executive who built her career on cutting healthcare access and fueling the opioid crisis – the more they want no part of her empty promises.
“More Rhode Islanders now view her unfavorably than favorably, and it’s not hard to see why,” Mestas said. “Rhode Islanders know the difference between a Governor who delivers for them and an executive who cashed in at their expense – and they’re choosing the Governor who’s always fought for working families.”
Her statement reflects disputed allegations in McKee’s TV ads about Foulkes’ record.
On the Republican front, those surveyed chose retired comedian Elaine Pelino, who has campaigned almost exclusively on Facebook (38%), over the state GOP’s endorsed candidate, Aaron Guckian (19%), an advance man and driver for former Gov. Donald Carcieri who most recently worked for the Rhode Island Dental Association.
Flying athletes in with the Special Olympics Airlift
Getting athletes to the games takes more than airplanes. Textron Aviation coordinates the effort while AccuWeather provides forecasting support to make weather-informed decisions.
Rhode Island athletes took home five gold medals, nine silver medals and 11 bronze medals at 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which wrapped up on June 26.
The Rhode Island Special Olympians left for the games in private jets provided by Textron on June 15. A total of 50 members, including 24 athletes and their families, traveled to represent and cheer on Rhode Island.
“Once we went to the hangar on the way out to Minnesota, and there was a big rally, my husband Steve and I were looking at each other saying, ‘This is big. This is huge being invited to the USA games,’” Rena Megrdichian, mother of softball player Garen Megrdichian, said. “I guess we just didn’t realize what an honor this whole process was.”
After preliminary events on June 22 to group athletes accordingly, the medal rounds across multiple sports began the next day.
Rhode Island picked up three gold medals, three silver medals and four bronzes in bowling, swimming, powerlifting and track and field events on June 23. Despite the heavy medal count for the smallest state, one athlete’s finish went viral on social media.
Thomas Poirier, of North Providence, was placed in lane 5 of group 4 in the 400-meter after finishing fifth in his preliminary race with a time of 1:20.54. The race started, and Poirier hustled as hard as he could, but coming into the final 100 meters, he found himself in fourth place. Then, he kicked it into another gear. He passed the runner in third, then second and suddenly he was gaining on the leader he was about 25 meters behind just a few seconds prior. With 25 meters left to go, Poirier passed Noah Lamusga, of Minnesota, and took the lead and the gold medal.
Poirier finished with a time of 1:17.24, three seconds faster than his time in the preliminaries.
“I saw my time in the prelims, and I was like ‘That’s good, but I just need to work harder,’ and so I did,” Poirier said.
The clip of him running the final 100 meters and his post-race interview where he says, “Rhode Island… I’m coming home golden,” currently has over 100,000 likes on Instagram.
“At first I was a little embarrassed, but I slowly and surely got used to it,” Poirier said. “I’m not used to getting fame like this.”
Poirier’s mom, Dora, was able to attend the games with her husband and daughter, Poirier’s twin sister. When they saw Thomas cross the finish line, the only emotions they could convey were shock and tears of joy.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Dora said. “We’re like, ‘Oh my god, he actually might do this.’ I honestly couldn’t believe that he did it. We hoped he would come home with something. I was so happy for him, overjoyed.”
Dora said that the family had no idea that Thomas had gone viral until later that night. They had received a few videos of friends recording the TV when the race first ended, but they kept receiving more videos, and that’s when they realized he had his viral social media moment.
Thomas also competed in the 200-meter run and 4 x 100-meter relay, where he won silver in both with a time of 30.59 and 1:07.83, respectively.
Thomas noted that the quick turnaround to compete in the three events was hard, but he knew he had to power through.
“It was definitely a little hard, but I slowly adapted to it, and I gave it my all,” Thomas said. “In the end, that other guy was just a little faster, but I still gave it my all, and I’m happy with what I came home with.”
Another one of Rhode Island’s five gold medals came from the softball team. The team had lost its first two group stage games 17-8 and 18-3 against Delaware and Connecticut, respectively, on June 22. They were able to salvage one win, a 12-9 victory against Arkansas the next day, before losing to Florida in its final group stage game on June 24.
The team suffered a couple of injuries during the group stage games, one of which was Jamar Abney, who suffered a hand injury in the final group stage game. Abney’s injury was a rallying cry for the rest of the team as they developed a slogan, “Win for Jamar,” that would define the rest of the team’s run, according to Special Olympics Rhode Island President and CEO Edwin Pacheco.
In the first game of the medal round, Rhode Island was paired up against Arkansas once more. The team was down 9-3 at one point but rallied back in extra innings to pull off the 11-10 win and advance to the gold medal game.
“The enthusiasm, the excitement that came from the team was just contagious,” Pacheco said. “You think about all the memorable moments, whether it be the Red Sox or the Patriots, and these come-from-behind wins that people still talk about 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 years later, that game between Rhode Island and Arkansas was one of those moments.”
In the championship, it was another rematch, this time with Connecticut. No miracles or comebacks were needed in this game, though, as Rhode Island won 21-7 to take home the gold.
“I feel like in the gold medal match, I thought we had a lot of energy coming into this game,” said Garen Megrdichian, of Hope. “We had some urgency, and we had some confidence, so I’m really happy that we got the gold medal, and I’m just happy for our guys.”
Garen’s mom Rena attended the games and watched her son and his team’s run to the gold medal. The emotions ran high throughout the week.
“The nail-biting and anxiety that the parents go through watching them go through all this, it really was a nail-biter,” Rena Megrdichia said. “We couldn’t be more proud. We really couldn’t be more proud of what not only Garen accomplished, but this whole team, how they came together, [and] how they supported one another.”
She spoke about the team’s camaraderie despite the struggles and the emotions all the parents felt after they took home the gold.
“They just kept saying, ‘We’re going to win this for Jamar,’ and not only did they FaceTime Jamar right after the game, [but they also] called his mother to say we won this for Jamar. So, the support they all had for each other – we were just in tears. It was just one of those times where they overcame being beaten down and not doing well, and then all of a sudden, they turned it around, and they did very, very well.”
Megrdichian’s mom noted that the teams, despite it being a competition, all became friends with one another.
“They want to play each other again,” Rena Megrdichia said. “That’s how much playing against them meant to them that they would love to get together again and play these teams again. Because it was so fun for them and they really enjoyed it.”
Poirier and Megrdichian both described just getting the call that they had made it to the USA Games as a “dream come true,” and that earning the gold medal just added to an already incredible experience.
Special Olympics Rhode Island invites any Rhode Islander with an intellectual or developmental disability to join the organization and participate in a sport at no cost, according to Pacheco.
Find the full results of the USA Games here.
Local News
The vehicle’s three occupants are believed to still be inside.
A car carrying a family of three went into the Seekonk River in Rhode Island Sunday evening, authorities said.
The vehicle entered the river near the Taft Street boat ramp shortly before 7:30 p.m., Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said in a statement.
A bystander riding a jet ski heard the car dive into the water and attempted to help, while another witness called 911, according to Goncalves.
First responders arrived within three minutes of the emergency call, Goncalves noted.
The vehicle’s three occupants are believed to still be inside, The Boston Globe reported.
Recovery efforts resumed Monday, with Pawtucket police and fire personnel working alongside Rhode Island State Police and other state agencies to remove the vehicle from the river, Goncalves said.
“Conditions are extremely challenging for dive teams due to the strong current and poor underwater visibility,” she added.
A video released by the Globe shows the car being recovered from the water Monday afternoon.
Authorities have not released the identities or conditions of the occupants.
“We ask that you please keep the family and their loved ones in your prayers as our first responders continue recovery efforts,” Goncalves said.
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