Narragansett Beer Brings New Tastes and Events To Autumnfest Celebration

For the first time in the festival’s 30 plus years, Woonsocket's Autumnfest celebration will include participation by Rhode Island's own Narragansett Beer. The company, based in Providence, will sponsor new contests, celebrity pourers and more in the Beer Tent throughout the Columbus Day weekend celebration. 

"We're just ecstatic, because it's such a huge cultural event in Woonsocket," said Jim Crooks, vice president of marketing for Narragansett Beer. The beer, which was first brewed in the southern half of the state in 1888, has made a resurgence since 2005, is being consumed with increasing frequency at trendy bars and events across Providence and beyond.

Although the Autumnfest Beer Tent is normally hosted by Budweiser, organizers from the Rotary Club decided to split the sponsorship this year and inject some new life into the celebration.

"It was definitely a mutual thing," Crooks said of the collaboration which began in talks more than six months ago. The tent normally goes through around 200 kegs over the weekend, and Crooks is excited that thousands of guests will have a chance to try the beer.

In addition to sampling its award-winning Narragansett Lager, Light, and Fest on tap, visitors at Autumnfest will enjoy a number of special appearances and events throughout the weekend, including a live performance by Narragansett-sponsored band Steve Smith & The Nakeds on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 6 to 10 p.m.

The rhythm & blues band has been entertaining Rhode Islanders for more than 35 years, with their distinct blend of "rhythm, brass and fun." In addition to touring with Bruce Springsteen's saxophonist, Clarence Clemons for a series of critically acclaimed performances, they have been featured on MTV's video countdown program "The Basement Tapes," and more recently, on the Fox TV season 6 Family Guy DVD box set.

Smith from the band will serve as a celebrity beer pourer on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Monday, Troy Brown, former New England Patriot, three-time Super Bowl Champion and part-owner Narragansett Beer, will take the job, serving up 'Gansetts from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

One of Narragansett's most original contributions over the weekend, however, will be Woonsocket's first "Miss Hi Neighbor" contest. The informal New England-centric pageant is a cross between a beauty contest and a trivia night, with the first round to begin this Saturday at , from 8 to 10 p.m.

"Hi Neighbor is the old Narragansett slogan, going back to the 50s," explained Crooks. Finalists will compete in the Beer Tent Sunday Oct. 9 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The tent will also have appearances throughout the weekend by the ‘Gansett Girls, and company mascots including TallBoy, and Clammy the Clam. Narragansett, Crooks reminds Woonsocket, is "the official beer of the clam."

The company hopes to participate in future celebrations and Crooks sees Narragansett becoming a staple in the city. "We hope to weave ourselves into the Woonsocket fabric," he said.