Newport Folk Festival 2017: What You Need To Know: Dates, Times, Events, Security

NEWPORT, RI — The Newport Folk Festival is July 28, 29 and 30 at Fort Adams State Park. Tickets are sold out. There is a ticket exchange, so fans have a chance to pick up a ticket from someone who can't use one. Rhiannon Giddens, The Avett Brothers and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band are among the artists scheduled to perform. The music starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until sundown. Here's everything you need to know to plan ahead.

Important Times

• The Box Office opens at 9 a.m.
• Gates open at 10 a.m.
• Parking open at 8 a.m.
• Shuttles start at 9:30 a.m.
• Food & Crafts start at 10 a.m.
• Music starts at 11 a.m.

Check out the full Folk Festival lineup here. Plan your day and what stage you want to be at with the full festival schedule in the gallery to the right.

If you were lucky enough to score some tickets, here’s everything you need to know. This information, and a whole lot more, can be found on the Newport Folk Festival's website.

New This Year

NEW ENTRANCE SECURITY: Re-entry wristbands will no longer be issued prior to gates open. Once inside, if you wish to leave and re-enter the festival, you will need to stop at the re-entry tent and get a wristband. Continuous wanding and bag search will be in place at all festival gates throughout the day.

NEW BIKE VALET PARKING AREA: To improve traffic flow during entrance and exit hours bike parking has been moved to a new location. Follow the Spindrift signs into Fort Adams to the new bike lot. It will be on your left as you enter the Lower Parking Lot. Tune-ups and valet parking will be available thanks to our friends at Spindrift and Bike Newport.

Getting to The Fort

Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI is located at 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport, 02840. It is about 1.5 hours from Boston and 3.5 hours from New York City. Get directions to the Fort from your location. The festival is rain or shine. There are four stages of music, food & crafts, two beer & wine gardens and exhibitions.

By Bicycle: Getting to the folk fest via bicycle? Spindrift and Bike Newport are providing “Park & Bike” lots. Follow the Spindrift signs to the new bike parking area in the Lower Lot at Fort Adams. Bikes are not allowed inside the grounds. Cyclists are reminded to bring bike lights for the ride home. Learn more here: www.bikenewportri.org.

By Water: Water shuttles and ferries operate between Downtown Newport, Jamestown and Providence (India Point). More information can be found here.
The Jamestown Newport Ferry runs continuous service to Fort Adams with departures from One East Ferry Wharf in Jamestown and Perotti Park in Newport. More information and tickets can be found here.
The SeaStreak ferry is adding a Fort Adams stop at 10:40 a.m. (for the ferry leaving Providence at 9:30 a.m.) and at 7:30 p.m. (for the 8 p.m. return from Newport). Times are approximate. To board the 7:30 p.m. boat at Fort Adams, riders must purchase advance tickets for the 8 p.m. Newport to Providence service. Regular service to Newport runs from India Point in Providence to the Seastreak Ferry Terminal at 39 America's Cup Avenue in Newport. More information can be found here.

By Bus: Skedaddle operates user-generated transportation directly from your neighborhood to Newport. All Skedaddle routes drop off and pick up directly from the festival, saving time and making your trip easier. Below are some routes already started from Boston and NYC!Explore routes from Boston >Explore routes from NYC >Don't see your city listed? Start your own Skedaddle route.

By Car: There is limited on-site car parking available at Fort Adams State. Motorcycle parking is also available on-site for $10.
Parking for vehicles with ADA placards or license plates is available in the Lower Lot.

What’s Allowed?

• An individual blanket (Maximum size 6'x8')
• Only one small hand held cooler (no larger than 16″ x 12″). All coolers will be searched
• Strollers that are reasonably sized and do not obstruct the view of others
• Low-backed chairs (under 30″) to ensure good viewing for your neighbors. These are only allowed outside no chair zones.
• Small shade structures such as chairs with roofs and baby beach cabanas are allowed in designated shade areas only as space allows. No pop up tents.
• Cameras are permitted but cannot be used to reproduce the event and must not interfere with other fans’ enjoyment of the festival (NO AUDIO CAPTURING IS ALLOWED)

What’s Not Allowed?

• No glass containers.
• No large coolers.
• No alcohol.
• No illegal substances.
• No beverages in plastic bottles or cans unless factory-sealed.
• No pets.
• No flagpoles.
• No camping.
• No weapons or tools.
• No laser pointers.
• No noise makers.
• Harassment of any kind. All festival-goers are welcome regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, age, body size, disability, appearance, religion, citizenship, or pregnancy.
• No commercial audio visual equipment.
• Beach umbrellas or beach balls (because they could end up in the bay and hurt the wildlife).
• No pop up tents.
• No selfie sticks.
• No drones.

More helpful links:

Fort Adams
State Park’s Official Website
For general questions, email newportfolkfest@gmail.com or call the Newport Folk Festival office at (401) 848-5055.