Outdoors in RI: Farmers Markets, Wellness Fun, Music Festivals, a “Wild” Week, and a Blessings

The weather looks unusually cooperative: sunny near 82 Friday, sunny near 81 Saturday and mostly sunny around 80 Sunday, with only a slight late-day shower chance. So, out and about you go! Here’s just a sample of events all around the state. And – some outdoor info you’ll want to know.

More than 50 Connecticut homes entered by black bears this year

Connecticut has recorded more than 50 bear entries into homes in nearly two dozen communities during 2026. Bears have now been reported in every Connecticut city and town.

State wildlife officials say bears are increasingly associating houses with trash, birdseed and pet food; one repeat-offender bear in Winchester was euthanized.

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Sharks!

Nearly 30 dead sharks wash ashore in New Jersey – and on a Rhode Island beach

Approximately 30 dogfish sharks, most three to five feet long, were found along a 10-block section of Sea Isle City. One marine scientist suspects they were caught and discarded by commercial fishermen, possibly after a net was emptied or lost; an official cause has not been established.

Massachusetts expands emergency white-shark fishing restrictions

Massachusetts has extended restrictions to Nantucket that prohibit certain large hooks and long metal leaders associated with deliberate white-shark fishing from shore. Violations can bring fines exceeding $400. The purpose is to prevent anglers from drawing great whites near swimming beaches and to protect the sharks from injury.

In Rhode Island an “all out of the water” call was made after a shark was seen off Narragansett Beach!

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Hope Street Farmers’ Market

Sakonnet Vineyard and Little Compton Wellness Center

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Ocean State Bluegrass Festival — Frerichs Farm, Warren, Friday–Sunday

Three days of bands, workshops, informal jamming, food and optional camping. Ticketed; children 14 and younger are free.

Seventh annual Ocean State Bluegrass Festival, Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Frerichs Farm, 43 Kinnicutt Avenue, Warren, RI.

The event is sponsored by the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance (RIBA) with generous support from The Carter Fund and the John J. and Eleanor Q. Wrenn Memorial Fund, both at the Rhode Island Foundation.

Festival information

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4th Annual Craft and Vendor Fair

August 15, 9am-3pm

At the 4th Annual Craft & Vendor Fair at Phantom Farms, you’ll spend the day shopping, exploring, and supporting talented local makers, artisans, and small businesses while enjoying the beautiful farm atmosphere.

With over 40 vendors, there is something for everyone. This event has become a favorite summer tradition for our community. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift, decorating your home, or simply looking for a fun day out, you’ll find plenty to discover. Bring your friends and family and spend the day supporting local businesses while enjoying everything Phantom Farms has to offer!

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Providence Flea

Sunday, August 16 – Providence Flea — 195 District Park, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Free outdoor market with vintage sellers, artists, makers, baked goods, food trucks and live music.

For more information – HERE – Market information

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FireBall: Turning the Tide – Waterfire

Wednesday, September 16 | 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI

An unforgettable evening celebrating the individuals and organizations shaping a brighter future for our community.

Your support creates waves of impact that strengthen and sustain WaterFire’s mission.

This year’s theme, Turning the Tide, celebrates renewal, evolution, and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for WaterFire Providence. – more info HERE!

What to Wear: Creative Black Tie Optional, Inspired by the Tide.

What to Expect:
6:00 – 7:00 PM: VIP Cocktail Reception
7:00 – 10:00 PM: Seated Dinner, Impact Awards, Fund-A-Mission, Dancing

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RIDOH Confirms a Case of Rare Tick-Borne Viral Infection (Powassan)

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is reporting a confirmed case of the tick-borne Powassan virus disease (Powassan) detected in a Rhode Island resident. This resident is a male in his 70s who lives in Newport County. He began experiencing symptoms of Powassan in late July.

“We all need to be thinking about tick prevention measures when outdoors,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “Repel and reduce your exposure to ticks, check your body for ticks, and be sure to remove ticks if you find one on yourself, a family member, or a pet. Ticks are tiny. You may not be able to feel them or spot them right away. The sooner you find and remove them, the better your chances are at preventing the serious health issues caused by illnesses like Powassan and Lyme Disease.”

This is Rhode Island’s second case of Powassan in 2026 and the tenth case overall since it was first reported in Rhode Island in 2016. Powassan is a tick-borne disease that is found mostly in the Northeast and the Great Lakes region of the U.S. and in eastern Canada. Over 397 cases of Powassan have been reported in the United States in the past 10 years (2016-2025). Powassan cases are rare, but the reported number of cases has increased in recent years. In 2025, there were 76 cases reported nationwide, which represented the most Powassan cases ever in a year. In 2025, there were 27 cases of Powassan reported in New England: 12 cases in Massachusetts, six cases in Maine, five cases in Connecticut, and four cases in New Hampshire.

Initial symptoms of Powassan include fever, headache, vomiting, and generalized weakness. The disease usually progresses to meningoencephalitis, which may include meningeal signs, altered mental status, seizures, aphasia (difficulty understanding or speaking), paresis (muscular weakness or paralysis), movement disorders, or cranial nerve palsies. People with severe Powassan disease often need to be hospitalized. There is no vaccine or treatment for Powassan, so preventing exposure to ticks is the best strategy to avoid this disease.

Rhode Islanders should take steps to prevent tick-borne diseases, including Powassan and Lyme Disease, when spending time outdoors. In mid-March RIDOH will launch its annual tick safety campaign with prevention messages featured on television, radio, and social media. The Tick Free Rhode Island campaign highlights the three keys to tick safety: repel, check, and remove.

Repel – Keep ticks off you, your children, and pets by:

• Avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaves. If you are going to be in a wooded area, walk in the center of the trail to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaves at the edges of the trail.

• Wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts when outside.

• Tucking your pants into your socks so ticks do not crawl under your clothes.

• Using an EPA-approved bug spray with the active ingredient DEET (20-30% strength) on your skin or clothes. Check the product label to find the concentration of DEET in a product. (Do not use bug spray with DEET on infants under two months of age. Repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Children should be careful not to rub their eyes after bug spray has been applied on their skin. Wash children’s’ hands with soap and water to remove any bug spray when they return indoors.)
• Wearing light-colored clothing so you can see ticks more easily.

Check – Check yourself, your children, and pets, for ticks by:

• Taking a shower as soon as you come inside if you have been in grassy or wooded areas.

• Doing a full-body tick check using a mirror; parents should check their kids for ticks and pay special attention to the area in and around the ears, in the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and in their hair.
• Checking your pets for ticks as well because they can bring ticks into the home.

Remove – Remove ticks from your body, as well as from children and pets, if you find them.

• Use a set of tweezers to remove the tick.

• Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up.
• If you don’t have tweezers, use your fingers with a tissue or rubber gloves.

For more information on Powassan, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne diseases, visit health.ri.gov/ticks.  

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