King Park
King Park is a waterfront city park on Wellington Avenue off lower Thames Street in Newport, overlooking Newport Harbor, where Newport Classical holds relaxed, informal concerts in the open-air gazebo. There is no on-site parking: the city's lot is permit-only from May to mid October, and the festival suggests allowing at least 30 minutes to find street parking. Seating is general admission on the grass, so bring a blanket or chairs and wear flat shoes.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Outdoor: open-air gazebo concerts on the grass
- Official site
- newportri.gov
- Next festival here
- Newport Classical Music Festival, Jul 1 to 18, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- The city's King Park lot is permit-only from May 1 to October 15, so it is not an option for concert-goers.
- Newport Classical says to allow at least 30 minutes for street parking, and July 4th parking is strictly enforced.
- The ground is grass, so flat shoes and your own chairs or blanket make the difference.
- The city's free Sunday concerts run 3pm to 6pm with no rain dates.
Festivals here
Venue basics: No on-site parking; allow 30 minutes · Open-air gazebo concerts · Bring your own blanket or chairs.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a relaxed outdoor concert on the harbor with your own chairs.
- You need a fully wheelchair accessible park with accessible picnic tables.
Think twice if
- You need to park on site: there is no concert parking and the city lot is permit-only in summer.
- You want covered or reserved seating: the gazebo concerts are open air and general admission.
- You are planning to camp: we don't yet have confirmed information about camping here.
Getting there and parking
King Park is on Wellington Avenue off lower Thames Street, on the waterfront overlooking Newport Harbor. Concerts take place at the gazebo, an open-air pavilion.
The city's King Park parking lot on Wellington Avenue, south of the Little League fields, is permit-only from May 1 to October 15: cars need a King Park Parking Permit at $50 a season, or must be attached to a boat trailer with a trailer permit.
Festival-specific · Newport Classical Music FestivalThere is no on-site parking for concerts. Allow at least 30 minutes to find street parking, carpool or use rideshare; July 4th is an extremely busy time in Newport and residential and non-residential parking is strictly enforced.
Accessibility
Festival-specific · Newport Classical Music FestivalThe park is fully wheelchair accessible with accessible picnic tables. The ground is grass, so flat shoes are recommended.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (newportri.gov).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at King Park. The venue's own pages are the place to check: newportri.gov.
Food, water and what you can bring
Festival-specific · Newport Classical Music FestivalSeating is general admission in the open air, so bring your own blanket or chairs.
Quick answers
Is there parking at King Park in Newport?
No, not for concerts. The city's King Park lot is permit-only from May 1 to October 15, and Newport Classical suggests allowing at least 30 minutes to find street parking, carpooling or using rideshare.
Is King Park wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Newport Classical describes the park as fully wheelchair accessible with accessible picnic tables; the ground is grass, so flat shoes are recommended.
Do I need to bring a chair to a King Park concert?
Yes. Seating is general admission in the open air, so bring your own blanket or chairs.
Can I camp at King Park?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at King Park. The city's pages at newportri.gov are the place to check.
What is at King Park besides the gazebo?
A beach, a playground, a dinghy dock, a Little League baseball field and the 1928 statue marking Rochambeau's landing.
Are there free concerts at King Park?
Yes. The city's NIMFest series runs on Sundays from 3pm to 6pm in July and August, free and open to the public, with no rain dates.
A little history
The park is where General Rochambeau landed with 6,000 French soldiers during the Revolutionary War; a statue marking the landing was erected in 1928 by the Newport Historical Society. Today it has a beach, a playground, a dinghy dock and a Little League baseball field.
Newport Classical stages relaxed, informal concerts in the gazebo, and the city hosts the free NIMFest series there on Sundays from 3pm to 6pm through July and August, with no rain dates.