A group of local residents are tired of complaining that there is nothing to do in Newport during winter weekends! They’ve been meeting since last spring to dream up and plan “Winter Saturdays in Newport. Every Saturday except Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from December 3 to February 25, Newport will be the place to be!
Saturdays During the Day – You’ll find special sales, hot chocolate and fun activities going on in the shops and restaurants in downtown Newport. Watch the community calendar at www.discovernewportvt.com and the Facebook page at “Newport, Vermont” for details.
Saturday Nights from 6 – 9 pm – You’ll find live bands, a cash bar, local food and kids’ movies at the Gateway Center on the waterfront.
Family-Friendly Afternoons from 3 – 6 pm – December 17th and February 11th will be oriented toward family activities with music, ornament and card-making, cookie baking and decorating, and gingerbread house making!
Winter Saturdays are sponsored by Newport City Downtown Development (NCDD), the non-profit that is supporting downtown businesses and the City of Newport in bringing a sense of vibrancy and excitement to downtown Newport. Sarah Chadburn, President of the Board of NCDD and lead organizer of the volunteer effort to create Winter Saturdays in Newport, said “a group of us got tired of going somewhere else to find something to do. We’ve been meeting at The Warehouse once a month to share ideas, and this is what grew out of it.”
Chadburn said that the purpose is to offer low-cost opportunities for young adults, couples, folks with kids, and older adults who are a little stir crazy to get together in a relaxed atmosphere. “The bands we have chosen are great to listen and dance to, but we’re trying to create an atmosphere that will make it possible to just be together and enjoy one another’s company,” she said.
“The Downtown Businesses got excited about working with us to make this happen,” added NCDD Director Rick Ufford-Chase. “Little by little, step by step, we’re all working together to make Newport a great place for both locals and visitors to come hang out.”
Here’s the line-up for bands:
- December 3 (after the events at Pomerleau Park and the Derby/Newport “Light up the Night Parade”) – 6-9 pm – Markus Daniels Band
- December 10 – 6-9 pm – DJ playing 80’s and 90’s hits
- December 17 – 3-6 pm – Live holiday music with ornament, gingerbread house and holiday cookie making for all ages
- January 7 – 6-9 pm – Sibling Reverie
- January 14 – 6-9 pm – Mike Goudreau Band
- January 21 – 6-9 pm – Lil Deb and Big Wind
- January 28 – 6-9 pm – Blue Fox Trio
- February 4 – 6-9 pm – 3TA
- February 11 – 3-6 pm – “Name that Tune Kids Version” with Valentine’s cards and cookie making for all ages
- February 18 – 6-9 pm – Sibling Reverie with 3TA
- February 25 – 6-9 pm – Winter Festival Party
Tickets are $10 per adult at the door and include local food (kids 12 and under are free). Season’s passes to all 11 events are only $75.