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Outdoors in RI: Extended Beach Season, Harvest Festival TODAY, Raptor Weekend, Mosquito Watch

September 5, 2025/RINewsToday


Beach season extended – but with caution!

All RI state beach facilities, including pavilion restrooms and concessions, will close for the season after Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1. Lifeguards and staff will no longer be on duty, and winterization of facilities will begin Tuesday, Sept. 2.

All eight state beaches are expected to have lifeguards on duty throughout the holiday weekend. However, due to staffing reductions, DEM may reduce swimming areas at certain locations. Lifeguards will be on duty at non-surf swimming areas at Lincoln Woods, Pulaski, and Goddard Memorial State Parks, but will not be present at Fort Adams State Park and the Burlingame State Park Picnic Area. Lifeguards are an added layer of safety, but individual responsibility is essential. Remember that safety starts with you:

  • Swim only in designated swimming areas with lifeguard coverage
  • Know your swimming limits
  • Stay aware of water conditions 
  • Parents and adults should always supervise children near water 
  • See more safety tips at www.riparks.ri.gov/beachsafety

After Labor Day, beach gates and parking lots remain open unless extreme weather requires closures. Non-food concessions at Misquamicut State Beach will remain open daily, weather permitting, for a few weeks after the holiday. Portajohns will be available at most state beaches as conditions allow.

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Harvest Festival

Outdoor market with crafts and people browsing on a sunny day.

Spend an unforgettable – and FREE – evening at Diamond Hill Vineyards on September 5th from 4 PM to 8 PM! Address is 3145 Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland.

Indulge in delicious offerings from fantastic food truck George’s Grill & enjoy artisan vendors while listening to live music by the talented David Cross from 5 PM to 7 PM. The winery will be open for tastings, making this the perfect opportunity to unwind, savor great food, and soak in the beautiful atmosphere. Bring your friends and family for a night of flavors and fun!

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Raptor Weekend!

A hawk swoops down towards a man holding a glove, with onlookers in the background.

Photo: Audubon Center

RAPTOR WEEKEND at the Audubon Center
September 6 & 7, 2025; 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

PURCHASE TICKETS →

BIRDS & BREWS
Brewery Night Kick-Off Event for Raptor Weekend
Friday, September 5, 2025; 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium

Learn More & Purchase Tickets →

Avian hunters with long sharp talons, hooked beaks, and highly developed eyesight and hearing are headed to Bristol. They’re raptors, the superior hunters of the avian world.

Owls, hawks, and falcons will be featured in live presentations, educational programs, and activities for bird enthusiasts of all ages. Audubon Raptor Weekend presents a unique opportunity for visitors to get up-close with many species and learn about their adaptations and habitats in this engaging, family-friendly weekend event.

In addition to owl and hawk presentations by Audubon experts, wildlife rehabilitators from across the Northeast will bring their expertise with birds of prey to the event – see the presenter lineup below!

For more information:  https://asri.org/raptor-weekend/event-info.html

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West Nile Virus Detected in East Providence

Rhode Island mosquito report highlights West Nile virus risk with safety precautions.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) have confirmed an additional detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the state. The virus was found in a mosquito sample collected by DEM in East Providence on August 25 and tested by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories. The other samples collected statewide showed no signs of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV), or additional WNV. Check RIDOH’s arboviral surveillance data webpage for updated weekly test results.

Rhode Island’s risk level for WNV remains high statewide. WNV is the main mosquito-borne disease in the US. While most people with WNV don’t get sick, about one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. For more information about WNV, visit www.health.ri.gov/wnv.

To learn ways to prevent mosquito bites and the diseases carried by mosquitoes, please visit health.ri.gov/mosquito. For mosquito control info, visit dem.ri.gov/mosquito.

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