Council approves Newport Folk and Jazz festival permits after organizers outline traffic planning

The City Council approved special-event licenses for the Newport Festival Foundation to hold the Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park July 25–27, 2025, and the Newport Jazz Festival Aug. 1–3, 2025. Both permits passed on voice votes.

Councilors pressed festival organizers about traffic and shuttling plans for residents of the city's southern neighborhoods. "Last year...we were concerned about traffic patterns into the fort for both the folk and jazz festivals," said Councillor David Carlin, who emphasized the effect on Ocean Drive, Harrison Avenue and other southern streets.

Jennifer Reaver, speaking for the Newport Festival Foundation, said the foundation has begun "a multi‑departmental meeting, involving the police, fire, many members of the city, many members of the state," and that the group convenes quarterly to plan the festivals. "We're looking at a bunch of different things," Reaver said, including additional ferry routes and an ancillary parking-and-shuttle plan if Fort Adams reaches capacity. Reaver estimated the folk festival brings about 10,000 daily attendees and noted that the Jazz Festival in recent years has generated higher car traffic.

Reaver said operational constraints — family attendees bringing gear, long hours starting in early morning, and the expense of extended shuttle service — make a full shuttle-only model difficult, but the foundation is planning shuttles, ferry options and free shuttles when parking fills.

Carlin said he would vote for the permits but urged a stronger plan before similar approvals next year: "I would like to see a plan before the council gives permission for the permits, not hear about it as we go along toward the events." Other councilors thanked the Newport Police Department and local bike-promotion efforts for prior coordination and voted to approve both licenses.