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Outdoors in RI: Festivals, Fests, Fun Fill this Long Weekend
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Sakonnet Vineyard Hosts Fall Trivia Night on Friday, October 9th
Enjoy wine, food, and friendly competition hosted by Gary Farias
What:Sakonnet Vineyard, an iconic Rhode Island landmark and New England’s oldest vineyard, invites locals and visitors to put their knowledge to the test during an upcoming Trivia Night on Friday, October 9th .
The evening will be hosted by musical artist Gary Farias and promises fun, friendly competition and a relaxed atmosphere. Attendees can enjoy wine tastings in the tasting room accompanied with seasonal offerings from the café.
Sakonnet Vineyard – 162 West Main Road – Little Compton, RI
Friday, October 9, 2026
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The trivia event is free; reservations are not required. Wine and food will be available for purchase.
About Sakonnet Vineyard:
Founded in 1975, Sakonnet Vineyard is New England’s oldest vineyard and a pioneer of the Southeastern New England AVA. Set on 169 scenic acres in Little Compton, Rhode Island, with more than 20 acres under vine, Sakonnet produces award-winning wines shaped by the region’s coastal climate.
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Scituate Arts Festival
The 60th Scituate Art Festival takes place October 10–12, 2026, on the Village Green in North Scituate, rain or shine. Visitors can browse original fine art, handmade crafts and antiques, enjoy live music, and visit a food court supporting local nonprofit organizations. There’s also a raffle featuring items donated by exhibitors. scituateartfestival.org
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, October 10 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 11 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Monday, October 12 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. |
Festival information · Directions and parking
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Federal Hill Columbus Day Festival
The 41st Annual Galbani Columbus Weekend Festival returns to Federal Hill in Providence, October 9–12, with more than 80 food, art and retail vendors, live entertainment on three stages, cooking demonstrations, games and amusement rides.
And guess who’s coming! S-A-N-T-A!
Restaurants will offer expanded seating and festival specials. Atwells Avenue will be closed to vehicles from Dean Street to Sutton Street throughout the four-day celebration. Federal Hill, Providence
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 9 | 5 p.m.–midnight |
| Saturday, October 10 | 11 a.m.–midnight |
| Sunday, October 11 | 11 a.m.–midnight |
| Monday, October 12 | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. |
The Columbus Day Parade begins Sunday, October 11, at 11 a.m., traveling along Atwells Avenue from Harris Avenue to Bradford Street, with floats, music, dancing, classic cars and local organizations.
Festival information and entertainment schedule
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Autumnfest returns to Woonsocket October 9–12, bringing four days of fall festivities to World War II Veterans Memorial Park
A Northern Rhode Island tradition since 1979, the festival features live music and entertainment, food vendors, artisans, amusement rides and family activities. Northern RI’s Largest Festival
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 9 | 6–10 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 10 | 10 a.m.–10 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 11 | 10 a.m.–10 p.m. |
| Monday, October 12 | After the parade–6 p.m. |
Fireworks are scheduled for Saturday at 9:15 p.m., and the signature Autumnfest Parade begins Monday, October 12, at 9 a.m. Fanelli Amusements
Festival information and entertainment details
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Citizens and Roger Williams Park Zoo Announce Return of Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
The Great Pun-Kin Trail runs Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, 2026, with more than 5,000 illuminated pumpkins and four Citizens Customer VIP Nights
Citizens and Roger Williams Park Zoo announced that the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular: The Great Pun-Kin Trail, presented by Citizens, will return to Roger Williams Park Zoo from Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, 2026. The event will feature more than 5,000 professionally carved and illuminated jack-o’-lanterns along a themed trail. 2026 marks the 25th year of partnership between Citizens and Roger Williams Park Zoo to bring the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular to the Rhode Island community.
This year’s theme centers on puns, with carvings, characters, pop culture references and scenes designed for visitors of all ages. Citizens customers can receive early entry during four Citizens Customer VIP Nights, offering access to the trail 30 minutes before the general public for a more convenient, less crowded experience, on Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29.
Highlights and What’s New
- The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular runs Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, 2026, at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island.
- The Great Pun-Kin Trail will feature more than 5,000 professionally carved and illuminated jack-o’-lanterns.
- Citizens Customer VIP Nights are scheduled for Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29, with customer entry 30 minutes before the general public. To access the trail early, customers should buy a 6:00 PM ticket for one of those four dates and show their Citizens card or other proof of customer status at the gate.
- Tickets are available online through Roger Williams Park Zoo.
“Each year, the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular transforms Roger Williams Park Zoo into a destination that brings together people from across Rhode Island,” said Keith Kelly, Rhode Island State President at Citizens. “Citizens remains committed to supporting cherished traditions like this that create memorable experiences for families and reflect the strong, vibrant communities.”
Citizens will also host on-site activations and giveaways during the event. Additional family programming and themed evenings are planned throughout the season. Tickets are available online at www.rwpzoo.org/jols/. In 2025 Citizens colleagues volunteered more than 75,000 hours across Rhode Island to help build stronger communities and support the organizations making a difference in lives across the Ocean State.
“For 25 years, Citizens has been an exceptional partner to Roger Williams Park Zoo and a champion of the growth and success of our beloved Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular,” says Tempie Thompson, Roger Williams Park Zoo’s Chief Development Officer. As two Rhode Island institutions deeply rooted in the community, we share a commitment to bringing people together and creating experiences that inspire, delight, and last a lifetime. We are deeply grateful for Citizens’ enduring corporate partnership and the positive impact they continue to have on our Zoo and on the generations of families who experience the magic of the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular!
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $233.8 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail, private banking, wealth management and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,100 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. Consumer Banking includes Citizens Private Bank and Private Wealth, which integrate banking services and wealth management solutions to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as investors, entrepreneurs and businesses. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at Citizens Bank or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.
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Miscellaneous Events:
Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off — Warren
Frerichs Farm hosts the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh-Off on Saturday, October 10, at 43 Kinnicutt Avenue. The event is listed for 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with free admission and $5 cash parking per vehicle. A good opportunity to see some truly enormous pumpkins! Details. Frerichs Farm
Confreda’s Fall Fest — Hope
Pumpkin picking and a corn maze offer a classic fall outing at 2150 Scituate Avenue. Open Saturday, Sunday and Columbus Day Monday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., with the last tickets sold at 4:45 p.m. Details and tickets. Confreda’s Fall Fest
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular — Providence
Roger Williams Park Zoo’s outdoor pumpkin trail returns with “The Great Pun-Kin Trail,” featuring clever carvings and seasonal displays. Open this weekend, with evening admission starting at 6 p.m. Timed tickets must be purchased online in advance. Details and tickets. Roger Williams Park Zoo
Westerly–Pawcatuck Columbus Day Parade
The 75th annual parade, themed “Cheers to 75 Years,” begins Sunday, October 11, at 1 p.m., starting at 23 Ward Avenue in Westerly. Rain date: Monday, October 12, at 1 p.m. Details.
Autumn Afternoon Tea & Luncheon
October 11, 2 pm – Make a cozy fall tradition with your friends at Mapleville Farm’s Autumn afternoon Tea & Luncheon. Celebrate sweater weather while seated in the decorated greenhouse, soaking up the autumnal vibes while feasting on a gorgeous luncheon which features all of the classic autumnal tastes!
Mapleville Farm – 544 Victory Highway – Mapleville
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Rhode Island Fall Festival
Bat beat: URI wildlife researcher Patrick Bailey answers questions about fall’s favorite winged mammal
Rhode Island’s new State Wildlife Action Plan lists all local bats as species of concern
Patrick Bailey, a Ph.D. candidate in the Comparative Ecophysiology of Animals Lab at the University of Rhode Island, is drawn to the animals that populate our landscape each fall. He’s studied some of the quintessentially ‘scary’ Halloween animals, including wolves — though not the were- variety — as well as the bats of southern New England.
Rhode Island’s newly approved State Wildlife Action Plan classifies local bat species such as the silver-haired bat — which favors oak and pine for habitat — of greatest concern. And while Bailey is not glad to see them on the list, he’s glad to see attention being paid to their vulnerability, having worked with bats earlier in his academic career. Bailey says working with bats helped him develop a wildlife skillset and gave him a deep appreciation for the misunderstood mammal.
“I’ve definitely had an appreciation for the ‘misfit’ mammals over the years,” he says. Today, he primarily works with gray wolves in coastal ecosystems.
Bailey fielded questions about New England bats, some of the challenges they face and how we can help them.
How is the local bat population faring in New England?
Bats in New England are facing a variety of threats, which have definitely impacted populations over the last few decades. As with most at-risk species, habitat loss continues to pose a huge problem for them. In Rhode Island, this occurs as a result of residential and commercial development that degrades forested habitats. Bats are also losing many of their maternal roost sites, which have historically included old barns, trees, snags (dead trees), etc. Over the past two decades, bats in New England, and across the country have faced an unprecedented ecological threat from White Nose Syndrome, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which has resulted in the deaths of millions of bats. In some sites, mortality estimates have ranged from 90 to 100%, which is astounding. The fungus was first detected in a cave in New York in 2006 and has since spread throughout the U.S. Rhode Island confirmed its first case of White Nose Syndrome in 2016 at some of the few locations that bats hibernate within the state. Cave-roosting bats appear to be more at risk from the fungus. These are rare in Rhode Island, so most cave roosters migrate out of the state during winter.
Patrick Bailey, a Ph.D. candidate at URI, studies how mammals respond to environmental change. (URI Photos / CEAL Lab)
Among the bats you’ve worked with, which is your favorite?
Although each of the bat species found in New England are super interesting, I am partial to the hoary bat (Aeorestes cinereus). Hoary bats are one of the larger bat species in North America and they rock a pretty impressive brown/gray coat with frosted white tips. Interestingly, hoary bats possess an echolocation call that is just outside of the range of human hearing (human hearing ranges from 20-20,000 Hz; hoary calls are 20,000-30,000 Hz). Each bat species possesses a unique echolocation call that they use to efficiently hunt flying insects; we can record these signals and use them to determine which bat species are present in a given area.
What are some benefits that bats provide in our local ecosystem?
Bats are extremely important for ecosystems around the world, for things like pollination and seed dispersal. In Rhode Island, each of our eight species of native bats are insectivores, and can consume thousands of insects every night. Not only does this help to keep insect populations down — including mosquitos, which can spread disease to humans — but they also are particularly helpful for local farmers. Decreased insects result in higher crop yields and allows farmers to use less pesticides, which helps to further protect local ecosystems.
What should we be aware of for disease risk from bats?
Like any mammals, disease transmission between bats and humans is a possibility. There are several possible diseases that bats can transmit — the most notorious of which being rabies. Rabies is an extremely dangerous virus that attacks the central nervous system, resulting in almost certain death if left untreated. I cannot overstate the danger of rabies, nor the importance to seek treatment if potential exposure has occurred (contact the Rhode Island Department of Health rabies hotline at 401-222-2577, staffed 24/7). However, I want to alleviate some of the fears regarding rabies in bats. The last reported case of human rabies in Rhode Island occurred in 1940 and over the entirety of the U.S. for the last 50 years, there are less than ten reported human rabies cases per year. The reason why people are encouraged to receive rabies vaccinations if bats are found in their living spaces is primarily due to the shape and size of bat teeth. Most bat species in Rhode Island possess extremely tiny teeth and claws that can penetrate skin but leave little evidence behind, so rabies vaccines are prescribed out of prevention. As with other wild animals, you should never handle bats, particularly without any kind of protective equipment.
The new Rhode Island wildlife plan lists all of our local bats here as species of greatest conservation concern. What can people do to help?
Rhode Island’s new State Wildlife Action Plan lists all local bats as species of concern, including the hoary bat. (Photo / J.N. Stuart)
Each of the eight species of bats found in Rhode Island are currently listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Concern due to the risks mentioned previously. In truth, one of the best ways to help bats is to leave them alone and let them do their bat magic in peace. The spread of White Nose Syndrome in the U.S. was likely unintentionally caused by cave explorers that unknowingly transported fungal spores from Europe or Asia. Therefore, although caves are not common in Rhode Island, avoiding them or known bat hibernacula during winter is vital to avoid spreading the virus further. Bats have unfortunately received a lot of negative attention over the years, so they have not received as much research attention as other charismatic mammals. Helping to dispel negative rumors of bats can hopefully allow us to paint them in a much better light.
Photo, top: Rhode Island’s new State Wildlife Action Plan lists all local bats as species of concern, including the hoary bat. (Photo / J.N. Stuart)
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