RI Fall Fairs, Festivals & Events- 2026

Updated October 6, 2026.

There’s something about fall in Rhode Island that just works.

The summer crowds thin out, the air turns crisp, the leaves start changing and suddenly the calendar is packed with harvest fairs, seafood festivals, food events, pumpkin displays and old-fashioned fall celebrations.

From long-running Rhode Island traditions to newer food festivals, vineyard art fairs and waterfront events, here are some of the fall fairs, festivals and events worth putting on your calendar in 2026.

October 1–4

Fall starts early around here.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

Dates: October 1–November 1, 2026
Time: 6–10:30 PM
Location: Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence

More than 5,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns take over the zoo for one of Rhode Island’s signature fall events.

The 2026 theme is “The Great Pun-Kin Trail”, with carved pumpkins built around wordplay, pop culture and plenty of unapologetically corny dad jokes.

The regular Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is family-friendly through October 31. On November 1, the zoo hosts Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular: Last Call, a special adults-only event for guests ages 21 and older.

Tickets are timed and must be purchased online in advance.

Event details and tickets →

Norman Bird Sanctuary Harvest Fair

Dates: October 3–4, 2026
Time: 10 AM–5 PM
Location: Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown

One of Rhode Island’s classic fall traditions returned for its 52nd year with pony rides, pumpkin painting, children’s games, live music, food trucks, craft vendors, field games and the famous mud pit.

This is old-school New England fall-fair territory, and more than 10,000 people typically attend over the course of the weekend.

Harvest Fair details →

October 9–12

Sweater weather has plans.

Autumnfest

Dates: October 9–12, 2026
Location: WWII Veterans Memorial Park, Woonsocket

Northern Rhode Island goes big for Columbus Day weekend.

Autumnfest has been a Rhode Island tradition since 1979 and combines amusement rides, food, live music, vendors, family activities, fireworks and the annual Autumnfest Parade.

The festival runs Friday evening through Monday, with the parade taking place Monday morning.

Autumnfest schedule and details →

Broadway Street Fair

Date: October 10, 2026
Time: Noon–6 PM
Location: Broadway, Newport

The Broadway Street Fair closes the street from Equality Park to Washington Square for six hours of local music, artists, food, shopping and community events.

More than 15,000 people attended in 2025, and the ninth annual fair returns in 2026 with the same simple formula: close the street and turn one of Newport’s most interesting neighborhoods into a party.

Street Fair information →

Renaissance Wine Festival

Date: October 10, 2026
Time: 5:45–8:15 PM
Location: La Cucina Galbani Cooking Demonstration Stage Tent, 312 Atwells Ave., Providence
Admission: $35 per person; discounted group rate available
Age: 21+

If your idea of fall involves a wine glass rather than a hayride, this one belongs on the calendar.

The Renaissance Wine Festival brings together as many as 65 wines from around the world for an evening tasting on Federal Hill, accompanied by Galbani cheeses.

The event takes place during the Federal Hill Columbus Weekend festivities, so it’s easy to pair the ticketed wine tasting with the surrounding street festival atmosphere.

Wine Festival details and tickets →

Scituate Art Festival

Dates: October 10–12, 2026
Location: Village Green, North Scituate

The Scituate Art Festival celebrates its 60th year in 2026.

Columbus Day weekend transforms the village green into a sprawling outdoor marketplace filled with original fine art, handmade crafts, antiques, food and live entertainment.

The festival runs 10 AM–5 PM Saturday and Sunday and 10 AM–4 PM Monday, rain or shine.

Festival information →

October 14–18

Come hungry. Stay awhile.

Taste of Rhode Island

Date: October 14, 2026
Location: Crowne Plaza Pavilion, Warwick

This one is all about eating.

Taste of Rhode Island brings restaurants, bakeries, breweries, wineries, distilleries and specialty food businesses from around the state together for one night of sampling.

Admission includes tastings, live entertainment and the Taste of Rhode Island Food & Drink Awards.

Event details and tickets →

Track 15 Harvest Fest

Dates: October 16–18, 2026
Location: Track 15, Providence

Track 15’s three-day Harvest Fest takes over the outdoor plaza with seasonal beer and cocktails, live music, local artisan markets, pumpkin painting, kids’ crafts, Halloween activities and fall food from the food hall’s restaurants and bars.

Saturday night also lines up with WaterFire in Providence, making this an especially busy fall weekend downtown.

Track 15 event information →

Wakefield 11th Annual Octoberfest

Date: October 17, 2026
Time: Noon–11 PM
Location: 323 Main St., Downtown Wakefield

Wakefield’s Octoberfest returns for its 11th year with a full day of live music, German music and dance, seasonal beer, food, beer games and family entertainment in the heart of downtown.

The Main Stage lineup runs throughout the afternoon and evening, while a second stage adds dancers, characters and other family-friendly entertainment.

Biergarten admission is $15 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted free. Street events and general festival wandering are free, and parking is available on surrounding streets, in public lots and at Saugatucket Park.

Octoberfest details and tickets →

Glocester Scarecrow Festival

Date: October 17, 2026
Time: 10 AM–5 PM
Location: Chepachet Village

Scarecrows take over Chepachet for one of the more charming small-town fall events on the calendar.

The festival includes scarecrow displays throughout the village, more than 40 local vendors, food trucks, live music, children’s activities, pony rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin painting and performances by the Southern New England Witch Dancers.

The event is rain or shine, with scarecrows remaining on display along Main Street after festival day.

Scarecrow Festival details →

Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival

Dates: October 17–18, 2026
Time: 11 AM–6 PM
Location: Bowen’s Wharf, Newport
Admission: Free

If there were ever a Rhode Island festival built around the words “Harvest of the Sea,” this would be it.

The 35th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival fills Newport’s waterfront with lobster rolls, chowder, stuffies, oysters, fried calamari, fish tacos and other local seafood, plus drinks and continuous live music.

Seafood Festival details →

Fall Fest & Pumpkin Stroll at Wilcox Park

Date: October 17, 2026
Time: 4–6 PM
Location: Wilcox Park, Westerly

Westerly Library & Wilcox Park hosts its fifth annual Fall Fest & Pumpkin Stroll with an afternoon of seasonal activities in one of Rhode Island’s prettiest public parks.

Fall Fest & Pumpkin Stroll details →

Warren Walkabout

Dates: October 18 & 25, 2026
Time: Noon–5 PM
Location: Downtown Warren
Admission: Free

The Warren Walkabout is less a traditional festival than an excuse to explore one of Rhode Island’s best small downtowns.

Main Street, Water Street and the surrounding neighborhood come alive with live music, local artists, independent shops, food, demonstrations, pop-ups and activities.

There’s no prescribed route and that’s part of the appeal. Pick a street, start walking and see what you find.

Warren Walkabout details →

Fall Farm Weekends

Will travel for cider donuts.

Phantom Farms Fall Fest

Dates: Saturdays & Sundays through October 25, 2026
Time: 10 AM–3 PM
Location: Phantom Farms, Cumberland

Phantom Farms hosts Fall Fest weekends throughout October, giving northern Rhode Island another recurring option for a classic fall outing.

Phantom Farms calendar →

Fall Fest at Clark Farms

Through: November 1, 2026
Location: Clark Farms, Matunuck

Clark Farms goes all-in on fall.

The farm’s 2026 corn maze celebrates 250 Years of Farming in Rhode Island, and weekend Fall Fest adds hayrides, zip lines, cider donuts, food, live music and other attractions.

The farm park also includes a petting zoo, corn pit, straw maze, giant slide, pedal go-karts and more, making this one particularly good for families with younger kids.

Clark Farms Fall Fest details →

October 24–25

Art, farms & peak fall weekends.

Jaswell’s Farm Fall Festival

Date: October 24, 2026
Time: 11 AM–3 PM
Location: Jaswell’s Farm, Smithfield
Rain Date: October 25

One of Rhode Island’s oldest family farms celebrates the season with its annual Fall Festival.

The day includes kids’ crafts, touch-a-truck and tractor activities, face painting, music and farm-fresh food and drinks.

Jaswell’s is also in full fall mode throughout October with its market, bakery, cider mill, apple picking and pumpkin picking, depending on weather and crop availability.

Jaswell’s Farm information →

Fall Art Fair at Gooseneck Vineyards

Dates: October 24–25, 2026
Time: 10 AM–4 PM
Location: Gooseneck Vineyards, North Kingstown

Wine and art make a pretty good fall pairing.

The second annual Fall Art Fair at Gooseneck Vineyards brings more than 40 juried and festival artists to the vineyard for a weekend of original art, wine tastings, food trucks, artisan displays, music and autumn scenery.

The event is produced by the Wickford Art Association and takes place among the vines at Gooseneck’s North Kingstown property.

Wickford Art Association information →

Sunday, October 25

Witches, wine & wandering.

Witches of Wickford Paddle

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: Noon–2 PM
Location: Wickford Harbor
Rain Date: October 31

This may be the most Rhode Island-looking Halloween event of the bunch.

Costumed witches, warlocks and other characters take to Wickford Harbor aboard kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and pedal kayaks for the annual Witches of Wickford Paddle.

Spectators can watch from the Wickford Town Dock, while paddlers compete in costume categories including Best Witch, Best Warlock, Best Dressed Pet and Most Creative.

Registration is $25 per paddler, with proceeds supporting the North Kingstown Food Pantry.

Registration and event details →

Newport Vineyards Harvest Festival

Date: October 25, 2026
Time: Noon–5 PM
Location: Newport Vineyards, Middletown

Grape stomping in October? Absolutely.

Newport Vineyards’ annual Harvest Festival combines wine, cider and beer with live music, seasonal food, grape stomping, axe throwing, a costume contest and a stein-hoisting competition.

Harvest Festival details and tickets →

Warren Walkabout

Date: October 25, 2026
Time: Noon–5 PM
Location: Downtown Warren
Admission: Free

The second Warren Walkabout Sunday gives you another chance to explore the town’s shops, restaurants, galleries, live music and pop-ups.

Warren Walkabout details →

So Much Fall, So Little Time

The calendar fills up fast.

One of the best things about fall in Rhode Island is how different these events are from one another.

You can spend one weekend wandering an old-fashioned harvest fair, the next eating seafood on a Newport wharf, and another watching a flotilla of witches paddle through Wickford Harbor.

And we know this isn’t everything.

Did we miss a Rhode Island fall fair, festival or event that belongs on the list? Let us know and we’ll add it!