Newport Folk Fest is back with as star-studded a lineup as ever. While some folk fans have been attending the festival for years and have the entire experience down to a science, there are also lucky newcomers experiencing the magic of a music festival at Newport’s Fort Adams State Park for the first time.
The Daily News has compiled some information about event timing, parking, services for patrons with disabilities, emergency medical information and more for this year’s festival patrons.
Here’s one major tip: purchase a parking pass online in advance, or else bring at least $30 for the cash-only parking fee. Otherwise, you might find yourself giving up your place in line to find the closest ATM to Fort Adams – which, should the need arise, is in the Seasons Corner Market on Thames Street and Ash Mart on Carroll Avenue.
What time does the Newport Folk Festival start, and when does everything open?
Parking: 8am
Parking shuttles: 9am
Box office: 9am
Gates: 10am
Food, crafts and merchandise: 10am
music: 11am
Beer and wine gardens: Noon
All of the times are subject to change, and the festival sends time change notifications via its email list.
Security checks all bags at the gate, and there is no re-entry to Folk Fest
If you leave after being admitted there is no re-entry, so pack accordingly for a full day. The Fort Adams Visitors Center located inside the gates has permanent bathrooms and an ATM.
The festival website advises ticketholders to be prepared for heightened security:
- All attendees will be searched upon entering the festival grounds.
- Bags and purses must be below a certain size, and security will examine all bags and their contents. Any items on the prohibited items list such items will be confiscated and discarded during the search.
Children under 10 enter Newport Folk Fest for free
Two children are allowed per ticketed adult, required to enter through the dedicated child/family gate. Proof of age will be requested, so bring a photocopy of a birth certificate or a passport for each child.
Newport Folk Festival Items allows:
- Sunscreen
- Empty refillable water bottles to use at refillable water stations
- Soft-sided coolers
- Bags under 20” x 20” x 10”
- Blankets 6’x 8′ or smaller
- Strollers
- Chairs under 34” high in areas far from the stage and designated shade areas – no recliners, no footrests, shade covers in the down position only.
- Chairs under 30″ high anywhere outside of the no-chair zones. no recliners, no footrests, shade covers in the down position only.
- Small baby beach cabanas in designated shade areas
- Canes and similar mobility assistance devices like trekking sticks
- Personal umbrellas, which must be closed during performances
- Point-and-shoot cameras are permitted (no detachable lenses), but cannot be used to reproduce the event and must not interfere with other fans’ enjoyment of the event.
- Over the counter medications
- Prescription medication with a valid photo ID that matches the name printed on your prescription. The medical tent can assist individuals who need to refrigerate any medication such as insulin.
Items Newport Folk Festival prohibits:
- Bags larger than 20” x 20” x 10”
- Glass containers
- Hard coolers
- Beach umbrellas
- beach balls
- Un-sealed beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
- Illegal substances
- firearms
- Tools including knives, box cutters and Leatherman multitools
- Pepper spray, mace, or any item that could be used as a weapon
- Polish flags
- Professional audio, photography and video equipment (no detachable lenses)
- Selfiesticks
- Laser pointers
- Chairs over 34″ high, recliners and chairs with footrests
- pets
- Plastic bags and plastic straws
- Pop-up tents
- Any use of drones
Newport Folk Festival health and safety information
- Emergency information and storm or other weather-related announcements will be disseminated via stage announcements and staff events, as well as on the radio on WMVY 96.5.
- The Newport Folk Festival happens rain or shine, and the weather can range from 50 degrees along with wind and rain to over 90 degrees with high humidity.
- Festival organizers recommend being prepared with sunscreen, sunglasses and rain gear, and staying hydrated by filling up your reusable water bottle at one of our complimentary refillable water stations.
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- There is a First Aid Care Station staffed 8 am–8 pm by Rhode Island DMAT located outside of the Folk Festival’s east gate.
ADA-compliant parking and seating zones for patrons with disabilities
- There is an ADA-compliant area at the Fort Stage reserved exclusively for patrons with disabilities, located in a roped off area to the side of the soundboard. This area is accessible by a paved road from the event entrance. Each disabled patron is allowed one guest to accompany, who should bring their own chair.
- The Quad and Harbor Stages each have an area reserved for disabled patrons on a first-come, first-served basis as well.
- Parking for patrons with disabilities is in a designated lot at Fort Adams State Park. The standard parking fee applies.
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- Vehicles seeking access to this lot must show their handicapped license plate, placard, or other state-issued identification when entering the park, and the holder of the placard or identification must be a passenger in the vehicle.
- There will be a shuttle bus with a wheelchair lift to bring patrons from the ADA parking lot to the event entrance, running from 9 am until the end of the day.
- The Newport Folk Festival allows harnessed or leashed ADA-recognized service animals trained specifically to assist a person with disabilities at all events. This does not include animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support.
Different seating areas at Fort Adams State Park have different rules
- General Admission tickets provide access to viewing at all stages.
- The Fort Stage viewing area is uncovered and includes a no-chair zone, as well as general admission lawn seating areas. There is a dedicated dancing and standing area in front of the Fort Stage.
- Chairs are not provided for general admission seating areas at the Fort Stage, but people can bring blankets or low-backed lawn chairs under 30″ high.
- Limited seating in front of the Quad and Harbor Stages is covered.
- Seating is first-come first-served throughout the day in these areas.
- Spot-saving with blankets, chairs or other personal items is not allowed.
- Smoking is prohibited under all tents and inside buildings. Smoking is permitted outside, but organizers request smokers find an isolated area and dispose of butts properly.