Jump into May

by Elizabeth Morse Read

Everyone’s eager for the return of trademark events & traditional activities throughout the region! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day in the great outdoors amidst all the flowers, café seating, and music! We’re heading into a spectacular Summer on the South Coast – so, get out there and join in the fun!

Family activities

Check out the free creative arts and cultural events – lectures, music, fabric arts, history, lunchtime concerts, and more – scheduled for May 6-15 from Fall River to Wareham as part of the (southcoastspringarts.org/2022)!

Go on a day trip to the Bronx Zoo on May 14, sponsored by the Roger Williams Park Zoo (rwpzoo.org)!

Take the kids on train rides through Edaville Park in Carver! Visit Thomas Land, Cran Central, and Dino Land (edaville.com)!

Explore the past at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (nps. gov/nebe).

Don’t miss the Asian Lantern Spectacular through July at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence – larger-than-life illuminated lanterns of animals and mythical creatures (rwpzoo. org/lanterns)!

Let your family wander through the free May Day Market at the Waterfire Arts Center in Providence on May 21-22 – arts, crafts, and all things home and garden (finefurnishingsshows.com). Head for the Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Providence’s Roger Williams Park on weekends and school vacation days to watch the planetarium shows (providence.gov/ museum)!

Don’t miss WWE Wrestlemania on May 5 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence (dunkindonutscenter.com). Let the little ones enjoy a ballet performance of “Mother Goose” on May 7-8 at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, performed by the Island Moving Company (islandmovingco.org)! Check out the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol (asri.org).

One-of-a-kind events

Don’t miss “The Azorean Spirit: The Art of Domingos Rebelo,” the first-ever American exhibition of the works of one of the great modernist painters of the 20th century, at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford through September 22 (whalingmuseum.org).

Register now for the 29th Annual Buzzards Bay Swim on June 18 (savebuzzardsbay.org/discover/events)! If you enjoy the annual Holiday Stroll in downtown New Bedford, then don’t miss the Shop Small Crawl on May 21 (downtownnb.org)!

Take a free tour of 30+ artist and artisan studios during Tour the Fall River Open Studios May 13-14 (vivafallriver.com)!

Attend a Mother’s Day Tea on May 8 at the whaling-era Rotch-Jones-Duff Mansion and Gardens in New Bedford (rjdmuseum.org).

Don’t miss the annual Kentucky Derby Watch Party on May 7 at Linden Place in Bristol (lindenplace.org). Head for the Four Corners Art Center in Tiverton for art workshops: “The Infinity Room: A Presentation & Playful Art Workshop” on May 6 and “Beach Walkers: Kinetic Sculpture Workshop” on May 20 (FourCornersArts.org).

Listen to the free panel and community discussion about Paul Cuffe and Frederick Douglass, "A Reckoning of Activism," the first installment of the Paul Cuffe Discussion Series, on May 8 at Gallery X in New Bedford, hosted by Gallery X and Spinner Publications. The event will also stream live on Spinner Publication's Facebook page. To pre-register, go to eventbrite. com/e/cuffe-douglass-a-reckoning-ofactivism-tickets-311412070887.

Take Mom on a Mother’s Day Mimosa Tour on May 8 with the Providence River Boat Tour Company (providenceriverboat.com)!

Flowers galore

Take a stroll through daffodils and other perennials during “Gateway to Spring” at Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol (blithewold.org).

Register early for the Secret Garden Tours of Newport’s historic properties on June 24-26 (secretgardentours.org)

Pack a picnic and stroll through the daffodils and tulips at the whimsical Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth (newportmansions.org)!

Register now for the Sakonnet Gardens open garden tour on June 5, sponsored by the Little Compton Garden Club (littlecomptongardenclub.org).

Food, festivals, and farms!

Don’t miss the annual Taste of South Coast on Pier 3 in New Bedford on May 22 with live music and free parking (tasteofsouthcoast.com)!

Take the family to the 2nd Annual We HeART Fall River Festival on May 15 at Government Center, a free celebration of art, culture, and community – and, around the corner, don’t miss opening day of the Fall River Farmers and Artisan Market on Old Second Street (vivafallriver.com)!

Make your reservations early for the “Shore to Please” farm-to-table dinner on May 14 at Stone Bridge Farm in Acushnet (stonebridgefarmevents.com)!

Mark your calendar for Food Truck Fridays at the Carousel at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence (rwpzoo)!

Take the family to Open Farm Day on May 21 at Round the Bend Farm in Dartmouth (roundthebendfarm.org). Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5 in Providence, sponsored by Rhode Island Latino Arts (rilatinoarts.org)!

Make your reservations early for “Brunch on the Bay” with live music at Pier 52 in Fall River every Sunday May 29 through September (pier52ferry.com). Cheers! Head for the “Red, White & Brew” beer-tasting festival on May 20 at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park Zoo (bpzoo.org)!

Plan ahead for the annual Newport at Bowen’s Wharf on May 21-22 (bowenswharf.com/events). Learn more about the 2022 Asparagus Fest on May 1 at Four Town Farm in Seekonk (fourtownfarm.com). Don’t miss the Cherry Blossom Friendship Festival in Fairhaven on May 1, the opening of the Huttleston Marketplace May 21, or the Memorial Day Parade on May 30 (fairhaventours.com). Eat fresh, eat local! Fill your baskets with local produce, dairy products and artisanal foods! To find a farm, vineyard or farmers market near you, visit semaponline.org, farmfreshri. org, or coastalfoodshed.org. To find food and wine events, go to farmcoast. com, coastalwinetrail.com, or ediblesouthshore.com.

Sounds of the South Coast

Head for the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River to hear the Zombies May 1, Jonathan Edwards May 6, A Tale of Two May 14, Low Cut Connie May 19, John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band May 21 (narrowscenter.com).

Don’t miss Tori Amos perform on May 16 at The VETS in Providence (thevetsri.com)!

Enjoy the free Sunday concerts at the District Center for the Arts in Taunton! Don’t miss Whole Lotta Heart May 6, Won’t Back Down May 7, Dancing Dream May 9, Duppy Conqueror May 21, Through the Doors May 27 (districtartcenter.com).

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to hear Jeans ‘n’ Classics May 21-22, Bette, Babs & Beyond May 28-29 (memorialhall.com).

Don’t miss Iron Maidens on May 13 or Quiet Riot on May 28 performing at the Greasy Luck Brew Pub in downtown New Bedford (vaultnb.com)!

Buy your tickets now to hear Livingstone Taylor perform on July 9 at the Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery, sponsored by the Westport River Watershed Alliance (westportwatershed.org).

Tickets are on sale now for this summer’s Westport Rivers Sunset Music Series (westportrivers.com)! Don’t miss Slipknot on May 21 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence (dunkindonutscenter.com).

Catch Chris Young at Bold Point Park in East Providence on May 27 (riwaterfrontevents.com)! Check out the line-up at the Zeiterion in New Bedford! Don’t miss Emisunshine May 5, Young @ Heart Chorus May 6, NBSO’s “Prohibition” May 14, “South Pacific” May 22 (zeiterion.org).

Find out who’s on stage at the Spire Center for the Arts of Greater Plymouth! Don’t miss Gray Sargeant May 4, Amanda Carr May 6, Johnny Hoy & Bluefish May 7, Ellis Paul May 13, Tusk May 14, Kim Richey May 26, Joanne Shaw Taylor May 27, Cathedral May 28 (spirecenter.org).

Celebrate South Coast Spring Arts 2022 at the Marion Art Center May 6-15, including a Latin Percussion Concert May 6 and a Jazz Jam on May 14 (marionartcenter.org).

Classical acts

Attend a benefit concert for Ukraine on May 1! Enjoy the classical piano marathon, “Cliburn-Bound,” at Emmanuel Church in Newport, sponsored by Newport Classical (newportclassical.org).

Head for McVinney Auditorium in Providence to hear the season finale of the Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra on May 22 (mcvinneyauditorium.com)!

Newport Classical presents Bridgett Kibbey and Alexi Kenney at Emmanuel Church on May 13 (newportclassical. org/events).

Don’t miss the Pilgrim Festival Chorus’ performance of “A Woman’s Voice” on May 7-8 at St. Bonaventure’s in Plymouth (pilgrimfestivalchorus.org).

Don’t miss “Divine Fire” at St. Peter’s Church in South Dartmouth on May 1, performed by the South Coast Chamber Music Series (nbsymphony.org).

Enjoy a Concerts at the Point performance of the Neave Trio on May 15 at the United Congregational Church in Little Compton (concertsatthepoint.org)!

Attend a Concert in the Garden on May 17 at the whaling-era Rotch-Jones-Duff Mansion and Gardens in New Bedford (rjdmuseum.org).

Don’t miss the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on May 7 at The VETS (thevetsri.com)!

Listen to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “Prohibition” on May 14 at the Zeiterion in New Bedford (nbsymphony.org).

The shows must go on

Discover the Barker Playhouse on Benefit Street in Providence, the oldest continuously-running little theatre in America! Don’t miss “It Shoulda Been You” May 13-15, 20-22 (playersri.org).

Find out what’s playing at the Little Theatre of Fall River! Don’t miss “My Way: Sinatra Tributes” May 5-9, 12-15 (littletheatre.net).

Head for Trinity Rep in Providence to see “Sueno” through May 8 and “Fairview” May 19 to June 19 (trinityrep.com).

Check out the Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, one of the oldest barn summer stock theatres in America! Don’t miss “Sisters of Swing: The Andrews Sisters Musical'' through May 7, “She Loves Me” May 27 to June 4 (pbtheatre.org).

Enjoy “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812” performed by The Wilbury Group in Providence May 19-June19 (thewilburygroup.org).

Don’t miss “South Pacific” May 22 at the Zeiterion in New Bedford (zeiterion.org).

Plan ahead to see a performance of “My Fair Lady” May 11-15 and Blue Man Group May 20-22 at the Providence Performing Arts Center (ppacri.org)!

Head for Your Theatre in New Bedford to see “The Shape of Things” May 13-15, 20-22 (yourtheatre.org).

On the roads again

Register now for Fairhaven’s annual Father’s Day 10K and 5K Road Race on June 19 (fairhaventours.com).

Cheer on the Cinco de Mayo 5K in Wareham on May 1, or the Honor Thy Mother 5K in Lakeville on May 14 (southshorerace.com)!

Get Healthy! “Walk With a Doc” on Saturdays at Buttonwood Park Zoo, part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative (nbewell.com).

Sign up for the Providence Marathon (and after-party!) on May 1 (providencemarathon.com).

Register now for the 2022 Harvest Triathlon on June 11 in Wareham (maxperformanceonline.com)!

“Discover Buzzards Bay" offers an online portal with information about 100+ public places to walk, bird-watch, kayak/ canoe, fish, snowshoe or cross-country ski (savebuzzardsbay.org/discover). You can find other outdoor recreation spots along the South Coast at thetrustees.org, exploreri.org, massaudubon.org, riwalks. org, asri.org, riparks.com, or stateparks. com/rhode_island.