Outdoors in RI: It’s Nat’l Wine & Cheese Day, Yoga at Sakonnet, Gov’s Bay Day, Farmers Market, Senior Games

Photo, top: Gov. McKee office

Programs Outdoors at Sakonnet Vineyard

TODAY! Celebrate National Wine & Cheese Day with Sweet & Salty Farm on Friday, July 25th

Celebrate Sakonnet’s 50th anniversary as New England’s oldest vineyard this National Wine & Cheese Day – TODAY -Thursday, July 25th with Little Compton’s Sweet & Salty Farm.

From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., guests can enjoy a guided wine and cheese tasting featuring three Sakonnet Vineyard wines (2 oz. each) paired with three cheeses from Sweet & Salty Farm. The cost is $30.00 per person.  

Sakonnet also recently expanded its hours of operation and is now open Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am to 7pm. 

“‹Sakonnet Vineyard – 162 W. Main Road – Little Compton, RI

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UnWINED Yoga Series Returns to Sakonnet Vineyard

Saturday sessions available throughout the summer

Sakonnet Vineyard’s popular UnWINED yoga series returns for the 2025 season with instructor Danielle Cerrone.  Danielle will lead an all-level Baptiste-inspired vinyasa yoga session against a backdrop of the beautiful vineyard on July 26, September 6 and September 27. Afterward, participants can enjoy a glass of wine and unwind with fellow yogis.

Danielle is a Registered Yoga Alliance RYT-200 Yoga Teacher through Believe You Can Yoga Teacher Training in Bristol, RI. Danielle has been practicing yoga since 2021. She is a physical therapist and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Springfield College in 2020. She currently works as a full-time physical therapist at University Orthopedics, Inc. in East Providence, RI at Kettle Point.

Sakonnet Vineyard – 162 West Main Road – Little Compton, RI

“‹”‹Saturdays: July 26, September 6 & September 27 – 10am to 11am

Cost:“‹”‹$25.00 per person, includes a one-hour yoga class and a glass of wine; or $100.00 for a five class package.

Register:“‹Register here to save your spot.

About Sakonnet Vineyard:

Founded in 1975 and celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, 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.

The growing conditions of Southeastern New England yield wines with bright acidity, elegant structure, and vibrant fruit character–hallmarks of Sakonnet’s style. Through sustainable farming, patient cellar practices, and a deep respect for the land, the Sakonnet team crafts wines that reflect both place and purpose. Guided by core values of agriculture, preservation, and community, the vineyard remains a leader in the evolving identity of East Coast wine.

Voted “Best Vineyard” in Boston Magazine’s New England Travel Awards and the Editors’ Choice for Best Vineyard in Rhode Island in Yankee Magazine, Sakonnet is a favorite day-trip destination. Guests can sip wines in the tasting room, enjoy light fare from the café, and stroll the vineyard’s expansive grounds. A full calendar of seasonal events, including live music, a weekly farmers’ market, fitness classes, and more, makes Sakonnet a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Select Sakonnet wines are also available at restaurants and retailers throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, and South Carolina. For details and seasonal hours, visit www.sakonnetwine.com.

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Governor’s Bay Day

On Wednesday of this week, Gov. McKee signed a proclamation declaring Sunday, July 27th as the 36th annual Governor’s Bay Day. “There’s nothing like summer in Rhode Island and I think we’re all ready to enjoy our beautiful waters, sandy beaches, and abundant fisheries. This Bay Day, I invite Rhode Islanders to head to the beach, drop a fishing line in Narragansett Bay, and experience all of the natural resources the Ocean State has to offer.” – Governor Dan McKee

On that day, there will be free parking at all Rhode Island state beaches and no saltwater fishing license is needed for recreational fishing during the weekend. As noted on the RI website, “Summer is a magical time in Rhode Island.”¯ Our beautiful waters and abundant fisheries, sandy beaches, and historic parks are a big reason why. Celebrated in Rhode Island since 1989, the first Governor’s Bay Day was held in the wake of the World Prodigy oil spill. It began as an effort to showcase the beauty and value of Narragansett Bay and to highlight the ongoing threats it faces. Today, Bay Day continues to honor this original intent.”

RIPTA will also be providing free round-trip fare on the South County Express Beach Bus. Service from Central Falls, Cranston, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket to Salty Brine, Roger Wheeler, and Scarborough State Beaches.

Parking will be free at all state beaches, which are:

• Charlestown Breachway, Charlestown
• East Beach, Charlestown
• East Matunuck State Beach, South Kingstown
• Misquamicut State Beach, Westerly
• Roger W. Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett
• Salty Brine State Beach, Narragansett
• Scarborough North State Beach, Narragansett
• Scarborough South State Beach, Narragansett

Governor’s Bay Day encourages families to enjoy Rhode Island’s outdoor public spaces and engage in an active lifestyle while also highlighting the economic value of our natural resources. It also encourages us to protect our natural places by keeping Rhody litter free. Rhode Island’s natural and public assets – including eight saltwater beaches, 8,200 acres of parkland, 1,000 campsites, 400 miles of hiking and biking trails, 200 fishing spots, and 25 parks and nature preserves – are magnets, attracting more than 9 million Rhode Islanders and tourists a year. They’re also an engine that adds an estimated $315 million to the economy, generating nearly $40 million in state and local taxes and supporting nearly 4,000 jobs a year.

Saltwater fishing also is an important driver for the state’s economy. Rhode Island’s marine recreational fishing industry contributes $420 million to the economy and supports over 4,000 jobs. Although the free fishing days provide an opportunity for everyone to fish without a license, they also serve as a reminder that saltwater licenses are required on every day except on Bay Day, and that the license program provides vital support for Rhode Island’s recreational fishing interests. The cost of a yearly RI license is $7 for Rhode Island residents, and $10 for non-residents.

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Summer Farmers Market

July 27, 9 am-1 pm

Phantom Farms is bringing together local farmers, artisans, and makers for a summer-long market filled with fresh produce from local farms, handcrafted goods, handmade treats, and more.

Whether you’re looking for farm-fresh ingredients, unique local products, or just a great way to spend a Sunday morning, this is the place to be! Phantom Farms – 2920 Diamond Hill Road – Cumberland

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Precautionary Closure of Prudence Island Shellfishing Area

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will preemptively close 700 acres of shellfishing grounds off Prudence Island from July 26 to sunrise August 2. The closure, due to the risk of  sewage discharge from an expected large gathering of boats, covers waters south and west from Providence Point to the northwest extension of Warner Avenue on Prudence Island.

Although most boaters follow RI’s “No Discharge” law, a high concentration of vessels  in areas like Potter’s Cove raises the risk of sewage release. With many boats and watercraft concentrated in such a small area for hours, federal and state guidance requires that the shellfish harvest area be closed to protect public health. The precautionary closure provides a sufficient volume of water and time for the dilution of discharged sewage before the area is reopened to shellfishing. While Narragansett Bay has 14 pump-out boats and 51 public pump-out facilities located across Narragansett Bay and RI coastal waters, few operate near the north shore of Prudence Island. Last year, over 650,000 gallons of sewage were safely pumped out instead of entering coastal waters. Visit DEM’s website for a map of RI’s marine pumpout facilities.

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Rhode Island Senior Games

Coming up all around Rhode Island – check our article and come on out to play, participate, volunteer – or cheer!

https://rinewstoday.com/2025-rhode-island-senior-games-upcoming-events-play-cheer/