Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival - 2021
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Next edition
The 2027 date isn't out yet
Usually held around mid-May.
Based on 10 past editions
Event Details
- Date & Time
- Friday, May 21, 2021, Saturday, May 22, 2021, and Sunday, May 23, 2021
- Price
- Friday opening night $60 (a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and a drink); Saturday and Sunday $40 each (six tokens, three timed sessions); extra tokens $2
Programme
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Friday, May 21st, 6-9pm
Bowen's Wharf
Opening Night Party ($60, a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and an alcoholic beverage). Live music 6pm-9pm: Jake Kulak & The Lowdown (Blues & Classic Rock).
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6-9pm
Opening Night Party (single Friday evening session; admission $60 includes a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and an alcoholic beverage)
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6pm – 9pm
Live music: Jake Kulak & The Lowdown – Blues & Classic Rock
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SESSION 1 – 11am-1pm | SESSION 2 – 1:30pm-3:30pm | SESSION 3 – 4pm-6pm
Bowen's Wharf
Three ticketed sessions ($40, six oyster/chowder tokens). Live music: 11am-1pm Timeless (Classic Rock & Oldies); 1pm-3pm The Teledynes (Surf Rock); 3pm-6pm CBD (Soulful R&B, Rock with a touch of Country). Café-style seating and outdoor bar service without ticket.
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SESSION 1 – 11am-1pm
Saturday festival session (admission $40 includes six oyster/chowder tokens)
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11am – 1pm
Live music: Timeless – Classic Rock & Oldies
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1pm – 3pm
Live music: The Teledynes – Surf Rock
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3pm – 6pm
Live music: CBD – Soulful R&B, Rock w/ a touch of Country
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SESSION 2 – 1:30pm-3:30pm
Saturday festival session (admission $40 includes six oyster/chowder tokens)
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SESSION 1 – 11am-1pm | SESSION 2 – 1:30pm-3:30pm | SESSION 3 – 4pm-6pm
Bowen's Wharf
Three ticketed sessions ($40, six oyster/chowder tokens). Live music: 11am-1pm Mel & The Unruly Roots (Folk Rock); 1pm-3pm The Z Boys (Surf Rock); 3pm-5pm The Copacetics (Reggae & Ska). Café-style seating and outdoor bar service without ticket.
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SESSION 1 – 11am-1pm
Sunday festival session (admission $40 includes six oyster/chowder tokens)
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11am – 1pm
Live music: Mel & The Unruly Roots – Folk Rock
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1pm – 3pm
Live music: The Z Boys – Surf Rock
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3pm – 5pm
Live music: The Copacetics – Reggae & Ska
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SESSION 2 – 1:30pm-3:30pm
Sunday festival session (admission $40 includes six oyster/chowder tokens)
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About This Event
Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival, Friday May 21 (6pm) to Sunday May 23 (6pm), 2021, rain or shine, at Bowen’s Wharf in downtown Newport: local oyster growers, restaurant vendors, beverage sponsors and live music, the first large-scale event in the area after over a year of pandemic cancellations.
The cause
The event benefits the Ocean State Aquaculture Association and Rhode Island’s official flagship, Oliver Hazard Perry; it celebrates the Rhode Island aquaculture seafood industry.
History
The festival started in 2016 to focus on Rhode Island’s growers; clam chowder was added later. Gap year in 2020 due to the pandemic.
On the menu
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Clam chowder / fresh chowder samples
By Participating chowder vendors
Samples of fresh chowder
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fresh chowder
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Growers: Salt Pond Oyster Co., Matunuck Oyster Farm, Watch Hill Oysters, Behan Family Farms, East Beach Oyster Co., Walrus & Carpenter Oysters
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Chowder and restaurants: Diego's, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Speakeasy Bar & Grill, Blue Rocks Catering, Newport Chowder Company
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Sweets: Sweet B's Donuts, Mooseman's Kettle Corn, Sprinkles Ice Cream
Also served
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Chowder and dishes (most celebrated recipes, including non-seafood items)
By Diego’s, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Speakeasy Bar & Grill, Blue Rocks Catering, and Newport Chowder Company
Serves its most celebrated recipes and dishes, including non-seafood items
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Oysters
By Salt Pond Oyster Co., Matunuck Oyster Farm, Watch Hill Oysters, Behan Family Farms, East Beach Oyster Co., Walrus & Carpenter Oysters
Oysters from six different local growers
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Donuts
By Sweet B’s Donuts
Donuts (treats)
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Kettle corn
By Mooseman’s Kettle Corn
Kettle corn (treat)
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Ice cream
By Sprinkles Ice Cream
Ice cream (treat)
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Specialty cocktails
By Don Julio, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Bulleit, Belvedere, Ardbeg whiskey
Specialty cocktails from brands like Don Julio, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Bulleit, Belvedere and Ardbeg whiskey
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Wines
By Cloudy Bay, Whispering Angel
Crisp wines
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Moët Minis and Chandon’s AluMinis™ (Rosé and Garden Spritz)
By Moët & Chandon
Bubbly
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Beer
By Guinness, Whalers
Cold brews sampled and served to pair with the oysters; Whalers is Rhode Island’s own
Who's who
Organised by
- Bart Dunbar President of Bowen’s Wharf Company
- Bowen's Wharf Company (Bart Dunbar, president)
Supported by
- Don Julio Beverage sponsor
- Captain Morgan Beverage sponsor
- Tanqueray Beverage sponsor
- Bulleit Beverage sponsor
- Belvedere Beverage sponsor
- Ardbeg Beverage sponsor
- Cloudy Bay Beverage sponsor
- Whispering Angel Beverage sponsor
- Moët & Chandon Beverage sponsor
- Guinness Beverage sponsor
- Whalers Beverage sponsor
- Chevrolet Sponsor; Corvette and Tahoe on display along America’s Cup Avenue
- Jamestown Newport Ferry Special express service to Bowen’s Wharf from Jamestown
Taking part
- Salt Pond Oyster Co. Local oyster grower on site
- Matunuck Oyster Farm Local oyster grower on site
- Watch Hill Oysters Local oyster grower on site
- Behan Family Farms Local oyster grower on site
- East Beach Oyster Co. Local oyster grower on site
- Walrus & Carpenter Oysters Local oyster grower on site
- Diego’s Participating restaurant vendor
- Matunuck Oyster Bar Participating restaurant vendor
- Speakeasy Bar & Grill Participating restaurant vendor
- Blue Rocks Catering Participating restaurant vendor
- Newport Chowder Company Participating restaurant vendor
- Sweet B’s Donuts Treat vendor
- Mooseman’s Kettle Corn Treat vendor
- Sprinkles Ice Cream Treat vendor
On stage
- Jake Kulak & The Lowdown Live band, 6pm–9pm Friday
- Timeless Live band, Sat 11am–1pm
- The Teledynes Live band, Sat 1pm–3pm
- CBD Live band, Sat 3pm–6pm
- Mel & The Unruly Roots Live band, Sun 11am–1pm
- The Z Boys Live band, Sun 1pm–3pm
- The Copacetics Live band, Sun 3pm–5pm
Also involved
- Ocean State Aquaculture Association Beneficiary of the event
- Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island’s official flagship; beneficiary of the event
Good to know
- Rain or shine.
- Tickets sold online in advance (https://bowenswharf.com/product/oyster-festival/); a limited quantity available at the door.
- Wristbands required to access the festival tents during the ticketed sessions.
- Friday Opening Night Party: $60, includes a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and an alcoholic beverage (a dozen oysters or several chowder samples).
- Saturday and Sunday: $40, includes six oyster/chowder tokens.
- Additional tokens sold on site for $2 each, redeemable for oysters from six local growers or samples of fresh chowder.
- A full bar and other food from local restaurants available for purchase.
- Saturday and Sunday café-style seating throughout the wharf and outdoor bar service do not require a ticket.
- Beneficiaries: Ocean State Aquaculture Association and the Oliver Hazard Perry, Rhode Island's official flagship.
- Jamestown Newport Ferry offers special express service from Jamestown to Bowen's Wharf: https://www.conanicutmarina.com/express-events/newport-oyster-chowder-festival
- Café-style seating throughout the wharf.
- Jamestown Newport Ferry offers special express service between Jamestown and Bowen’s Wharf.
Everything the announcement says
Every detail, as the festival announced it.
The Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival returns to Bowen’s Wharf this weekend in downtown Newport as the first large-scale event in the area after over a year of cancellations due to the pandemic. Rain or shine, it begins Friday, May 21 at 6pm and runs through Sunday, May 23 at 6pm, bringing together local oyster growers, select restaurant vendors, signature beverage sponsors and live music to kick off the season in the City by the Sea.
After a gap year in 2020, the event has celebrated the Rhode Island aquaculture seafood industry; it has become an important community event for Newport, the environment and the local economy.
Bart Dunbar, President of Bowen’s Wharf Company: 'We started the festival in 2016 to focus on Rhode Island’s growers, with their diverse varieties and excellent quality. Now we’ve added clam chowder to the mix, another New England staple, and it’s more important than ever to showcase these restaurants and oyster farmers and their products which are harvested right here in our backyards and to emphasize an integral part of the economy that aquaculture plays.'
Tickets have been sold online in advance and a limited quantity will be available at the door; wristbands are required to access the festival tents in several 'sessions' throughout the weekend.
Friday, May 21st, 6-9pm: Opening Night Party, cost of admission $60, includes a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and alcoholic beverage.
Saturday, May 22nd: cost of admission $40, includes six oyster/chowder tokens. SESSION 1 – 11am-1pm | SESSION 2 – 1:30pm-3:30pm | SESSION 3 – 4pm-6pm.
Sunday, May 23rd: cost of admission $40, includes six oyster/chowder tokens. SESSION 1 – 11am-1pm | SESSION 2 – 1:30pm-3:30pm | SESSION 3 – 4pm-6pm.
The event benefits both the Ocean State Aquaculture Association and Rhode Island’s official flagship, Oliver Hazard Perry. The weekend kicks off with a single Friday evening session offering three hours to enjoy a dozen oysters (or several chowder samples) and an alcoholic beverage included in the ticket price. A full bar and other food provided by local restaurants will also be available for purchase. Saturday and Sunday continue with café-style seating throughout the wharf and outdoor bar service, which does not require a ticket.
Tokens will be sold on site for $2 each, redeemable for additional oysters from six different local growers or samples of fresh chowder. Participating chowder vendors and select restaurants such as Diego’s, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Speakeasy Bar & Grill, Blue Rocks Catering and Newport Chowder Company serve their most celebrated recipes and dishes, including non-seafood items. Treats from Sweet B’s Donuts, Mooseman’s Kettle Corn and Sprinkles Ice Cream.
Local growers on-site: Salt Pond Oyster Co., Matunuck Oyster Farm, Watch Hill Oysters, Behan Family Farms, East Beach Oyster Co., Walrus & Carpenter Oysters.
Beverages: specialty cocktails from brands like Don Julio, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Bulleit, Belvedere and Ardbeg whiskey; wines from Cloudy Bay and Whispering Angel; Moët & Chandon bubbly, with Moët Minis and Chandon’s AluMinis™ in Rosé and Garden Spritz; Guinness and Rhode Island’s own Whalers beers. Chevrolet is another sponsor this year, with a Corvette and Tahoe on display along America’s Cup Avenue.
Live music all weekend: Fri May 21, 6pm–9pm Jake Kulak & The Lowdown (Blues & Classic Rock). Sat May 22: 11am–1pm Timeless (Classic Rock & Oldies); 1pm–3pm The Teledynes (Surf Rock); 3pm–6pm CBD (Soulful R&B, Rock w/ a touch of Country). Sunday: 11am–1pm Mel & The Unruly Roots (Folk Rock); 1pm–3pm The Z Boys (Surf Rock); 3pm–5pm The Copacetics (Reggae & Ska).
The Jamestown Newport Ferry offers special express service to Bowen’s Wharf from Jamestown and back: https://www.conanicutmarina.com/express-events/newport-oyster-chowder-festival
The return after the cancelled 2020 edition, described as the first large-scale event in the area after more than a year of cancellations. Ticketed in timed sessions (11am-1pm, 1:30-3:30pm, 4-6pm Saturday and Sunday; Friday 6-9pm). Proceeds benefited the Ocean State Aquaculture Association and the Rhode Island flagship Oliver Hazard Perry. Music: Friday Jake Kulak & The Lowdown; Saturday Timeless, The Teledynes, CBD; Sunday Mel & The Unruly Roots, The Z Boys, The Copacetics. Drinks partners included Don Julio, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Bulleit, Belvedere, Ardbeg, Cloudy Bay, Whispering Angel, Moet & Chandon, Guinness and Whalers; Chevrolet showed a Corvette and a Tahoe on America's Cup Avenue; the Jamestown Newport Ferry ran express service from Jamestown. Outdoor bar and cafe seating needed no ticket.
Festival information may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. Always check with the organizer before travelling.
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Location
Bowen's Wharf, Bowen's Wharf, Bowens Wharf, Newport, RI 02840, Rhode Island, United States
Confirm the venue and access information with the organizer before travelling.
Open in Google MapsPrices and tickets
- Friday Opening Night Party admission (includes a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and alcoholic beverage)
- $60
- Saturday or Sunday session admission (includes six oyster/chowder tokens)
- $40
- Each extra token, sold on site
- $2
What's included
- Friday: a dozen oyster/chowder tokens and an alcoholic beverage (three hours to enjoy a dozen oysters or several chowder samples)
- Saturday and Sunday: six oyster/chowder tokens
- Tokens are redeemable for oysters from six local growers or samples of fresh chowder
How to get tickets
- Tickets have been sold online in advance (bowenswharf.com/product/oyster-festival/).
- A limited quantity will be available at the door.
- Wristbands are required to access the festival tents in several sessions throughout the weekend.
- Extra tokens are sold on site for $2 each.
- Saturday and Sunday café-style seating and outdoor bar service do not require a ticket.