The Newport Winter Festival is celebrating its 13th anniversary this year. Beginning this Friday, February 16, and running through Sunday, February 25 the 10-day jubilee has certainly grown from its humble beginnings in 1989.
With over 150 events, the festival has a widespread economic impact on the area, and officials expect to attract over 30,000 visitors this year.
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Proceeds from the festival will benefit charities and nonprofit organizations such as the Leukemia Society of America, the Academy of Travel and Tourism, Literacy Volunteers of America, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Beginning in 1989, with only eight events, the festival was created by a group of tourism professionals attempting to showcase Newport as a winter destination, encouraging residents and visitors to “celebrate rather than hibernate”. According to David Rosenberg of Newport-based Marketing and Events, Inc., the festival was designed to develop off-season business and generate positive economic impact on the entire community. Marketing and Events, Inc. has been organizing the Winter Festival since 1990.
The Festival was recently named 34th out of 250 events in the country by Events Business News, in the company of such famous attractions as the Preakness Festival in Maryland, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Iditarod Dog Sled Race in Alaska and the Mara Flora in Ohio.
This year’s festival is presented by NBC-10, and co-sponsored by J.P. Serpa Creamery of Bristol, Continental Airlines/Continental Express, People’s Credit Union Bank of Newport, and Newport Daily News who have sponsored the event for the last 12 years. Samuel Adams will be a supporting sponsor.
Music has always been one of the main draws of the festival. This year’s lineup includes Beatlemania, who will perform on the 16th at the Hyatt Regency on Goat Island; Roger Ceresi and the Rockin’ Soul Horns, who will perform the next night in the Newport Marriott Ballroom; and Roomful of Blues, who will play on the 18th at the Hyatt Regency on Goat Island. The Newport Orchestra and Matthew Quinn and Friends will play on Thursday the 22nd. The Chris Fitz Band will perform at One Pelham East on Friday the 23rd. The United States Airforce Band of Liberty will perform on the afternoon of the 24th at the Hotel Viking, and Bellevue Cadillac will perform later that night at the same venue. Big Nazo, is also performing on the 24th, but at the Hyatt Regency.
Other events expected to draw a crowd include the Magic of Lyn on Saturday, the 17th at the Goat Island Hyatt Regency. Lyn Dillies has been performing illusions for over 20 years, and has been featured on national television and the Discovery Channel. Last August she was the first illusionist to make two live Asian elephants “appear” in front of a live audience.
The 5th Annual Newport Antiques Show at the Hotel Viking is on the 17th. Over 65 dealers from all over New England will showcase items from jewelry to furniture. Organizer Tim Alsheimer said the items range in price from $2 to $40,000. The show has been featured in Maine Antiques Weekly, and New Hampshire Antique Monthly.
The Chili Cook-Off will take place on Saturday, the 17th at the Newport Harbor Hotel. This all-you-can-eat has become one of the Winter Festival’s most popular events, said Rosenberg. There will also be a beer tasting at the Mooring Restaurant on Tuesday, the 20th.
For a complete schedule of events, visit the Web site at www.NewportEvents.com.
