Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
If you’re like me and can’t get enough seafood, no matter how many oysters you knock back, add the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival to your bucketlist ASAP! Located on Bowen’s Wharf in the heart of downtown Newport, Rhode Island, this festival for seafood lovers features oysters and seafood from Rhode Island’s 40+ oyster growers. Plus, there’s all kinds of delicious food from local restaurants and food trucks. Chowder, empanadas, lobster rolls, cocktails, calamari, nachos, quesadillas, and so much more, all with a delicious, locally sourced seafood twist!
Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Address: Bowen’s Wharf
Date: May 18th & 19th, 2024
Rain or Shine
Cost: Free Admission
Events & Offerings: Live music, food, food trucks, dancing, restaurant samplings
When & How to Enjoy the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
Every year in mid-May, Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, is transformed into a festive collection of dozens of food vendors. Admission is free, most food stalls take cards, and everything is as fresh as can be. Bring cash for the bars if you plan to drink, and come hungry!
Above: Oysters from 22 Bowen’s
What to Eat, See & Do
Every dish imaginable was represented at the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival. Fish tacos, chowder, seafood soups, grilled cheese with lobster, even salads topped with seafood, and cups brimming with cocktail shrimp meant there was something for everyone. I particularly loved trying all of the different oysters from around the state. There was such variety, and it was like traveling Rhode Island without leaving Newport. I learned so much about oysters, where they come from, that they’re an extraordinarily sustainable and nutritious food, and how to select and shuck the best ones. It was great!
There were also plenty of cash bars and even a DIY margarita stand, which had a very long line that moved swiftly all day. Live music from local bands and desserts like freshly made mini donuts, kettle corn, and fresh lemonade rounded out the day.
Why I Loved the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
My favorites were the jumbo cocktail shrimp from Seakist Oysters, the lobster-baked scallops from Ocean State Shellfish Cooperative (they also made Robin’s favorite, the crab cake pictured with the lobster-baked oysters), and the oysters from Aquidneck Island Oyster Company. A local restaurant, 22 Bowen’s, sold really fresh and flavorful oysters. Prices ranged from $2.5 to $4 per oyster, and things like lobster rolls, quesadillas, and other sandwiches ran around $20 each.
Above: Lobster Baked Oysters and Crabcake from Ocean State Shellfish Cooperative
One of the best parts of the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival was knowing that we weren’t just enjoying great food but also supporting local Rhode Island businesses and sustainable seafood harvesting practices. The festival celebrates the state’s terroir and commitment to protecting the ocean. Everything we tried was absolutely fantastic.
Final Thoughts
This was so much fun! In past years, we were traveling and unable to attend, but we finally made it this year for the 8th annual festival, and we definitely plan to be back. It was so much fun to eat great food, enjoy music, and meet fellow food writers, all while enjoying the fresh ocean air in a beautiful place. This festival felt like taking a road trip around Rhode Island, and I can’t wait to attend again next year!
Explore my adventures in Newport and the United States. Discover more amazing festivals here.
