Once again, the fireworks are in full glory across many counties in Rhode Island. Pick a town below that works best for your location! July is such a beautiful, uplifting month with so many inside and outside activities to enjoy. Change is inevitable and though we have some established events, there are some new twists and, of course, we always love a new restaurant to try!
July Events
July 4 – Bristol 4th of July Parade
July 4 – 21 Newport Classical Music Festival
July 14-21 Tennis Hall of Fame Open
July 13-14 Newport Kite Festival
July 20 – Newport Beer Run
July 25-28 – Newport Folk Festival
Firework Schedule
Check out the links below for fireworks and local Fourth of July Event Schedules (For those who love them and for those that need to keep pets inside)
Block Island – July 1st
Providence – July 2nd
Bristol – July 3rd
Narragansett – July 3rd
Newport – July 4th
Jamestown – July 7th
Tennis
Infosys Hall of Fame Open – July 14-21
“Just after Wimbledon each year, top ATP World Tour pros head to Newport to compete in the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, the first stop of the summer swing for pro tennis in the United States. Contested on the historic grass tennis courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which have hosted legends of the sport since 1880, the tournament is the only event played on grass courts outside of Europe, and it offers the only opportunity to see professional men’s tennis in the northeast prior to the US Open.” – infosyshalloffameopen.com
While this may be the last Hall of Fame tournament on the books for now, President of the ITHOF, Patrick McEnroe, has plans to expand the event to include both men’s and women’s matches as well as a date change to draw a better field of players. If you are local and received a copy of Newport Neighbors magazine you can read the full article about his plans to transform the ITHOF in the coming years.
Tickets are still available for purchase online.
Tours
Did you know that the Preservation Society of Newport County offers special tours that go beyond the main living spaces at their famed collection of house museums like “Beneath the Breakers” and the “Servants Life Tour” at the Elms?
The newest addition is the The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour that will be offered daily at 3:30 p.m. For the first time in The Breakers’ 129-year history, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilt family members will be open for public tours. This limited, guide-led tour will take you through private bedrooms, bathrooms, and recreational spaces used by the Vanderbilt family and household staff for over a century.
While you can always tour the houses with the self-led audio option, you can also sign up for a more personalized experience with a personal tour with your very own guide narrating compelling stories as meander through a mansion. They also offer upgraded experience which include a “mansion all to yourself with a private tour” or, for the ultimate experience, they offer a “VIP Access Tour” that gives exclusive admission to areas that are not open to the general public. They even have a proposal package for those looking for an unforgettable experience!
Tacos
Newport’s Lower Thames is soon to be the home to a new Mexican restaurant; Caliente Mexican Grill will be replacing the 12 Meter Café that only had a short stint in the old Gary’s space. Caliente Mexican Grill is a fast casual restaurant that was created in 2005 with the goal of serving the freshest made to order burritos and tacos. Caliente Mexican Grill will be the fourth Mexican restaurant in town – all which have a different vide and price point. Looking for some fresh guacamole and chips, here are your local options:
Taxes
Across the island we have different tax structures and the taxes you pay are determined by an algorithm. Property tax is based on derived value. The assessed tax value of the property is calculated using local real estate data and is usually a percentage of a property’s fair market value determined by multiplying the property’s market value or appraisal value by an assessment ratio established by the local taxing authority and the local mill rate, which is simply a tax rate that is used to assess the property tax within a jurisdiction.
The mill rate represents the amount of property tax that you pay on real estate. It is measured in mills, equivalent to a 10th of a percent. For example, a mill rate of 12 means that your property tax is equal to 1.2% of your property’s assessed value. To calculate your property tax, multiply your property’s mill rate by the assessed property value and divide it by 1,000.
Newport offers a 2-tier residential tax program. This program is designed to offer tax relief to owners of single-family homes that use the property as their primary residence (7 Months or more a year) and qualifying owners of multifamily properties of 3 units or less.
In order to qualify:
• Owners of single-family homes must be a Resident of Newport and domicile at the subject property for more than seven (7) months of the year.
• Residential properties of three units or less may also qualify provided that all units are rented to tenants as their principal residence pursuant to a lease of one year or longer.
During assessment years new mill rates are typically released in late June.
