Everybody in town will be there
So come on, hey, we're goin' down there
Hey little girl with the long blond hair
Come win your daddy one of them stuffed bears
Baby down at the county fair
Bruce Springsteen on The Essential Bruce Springsteen, 2003
The big event through the weekend is the Washington County Fair, the de facto state fair of Rhode Island, but there are many other activities to tempt you away from the beach. Take a deep breath before starting in on this list!
- The Washington County Fair runs Wednesday through Sunday, August 17-21. For complete information visit the website. All of the food vendors are non-profit organizations at this fair and I must put in a plug for your local fire associations: get a turkey leg from Cross' Mills Fire and top that off with a Doughboy for dessert from Charlestown-Richmond Fire. (Disclosure: Tom is a volunteer with Charlestown-Richmond.) See photos of the new fire vehicle bought with your Doughboy purchases!
- On Wednesday, August 17, the Kettle Pond Visitor Center (50 Bend Road) will host a lecture on The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill One Year Later, with Dr. Bob Kenney. This update on the impacts of the 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico on sea turtles, dolphins, and other marine mammals was the number one request of last summer’s Wildlife Wednesdays audience.
- Quonnie, the Musical will be shown at the Quonochontaug Grange (5664 Post Road, Charlestown) on Friday and Sunday at 5 pm. Proceeds from this all-children performance will benefit the Quonochontaug Historical Society.
- On Friday night the Cross' Mills Library continues their free summer concert series with the Amari String Ensemble giving you elegant classical music, starting at 7 pm.
- Loading up the Friday schedule, a free movie will be shown outdoors in Ninigret Park. How to Train Your Dragon will be shown starting at 8:00 pm so bring your kids, blankets and lawn chairs for an enjoyable time. Camping is available but you must book ahead.
- If you're short of coin but have some troublesome teeth, get them looked at on Saturday at Free Dentistry Day provided by the wonderful people at Arrowhead Dental Associates (4995 South County Trail).
- If you have some extra coin and want to help a great cause, come to the Charlestown Land Trust Auction at Arnold's Barn on Grays Point Road (East Arnolda) at 5 pm on Saturday. You'll have a chance to bid on a host of great items.
- Also on Saturday the Department of Environmental Management will host the fifth and final event of the 2011 Rhode Island Great Outdoors Pursuit at Burlingame State Campground in Charlestown. In addition to watching the teams compete an extensive list of activities and exhibitors is scheduled for the day, including appearances by MaxMan, the Recycling Superhero, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ocean research vessel. There will be a campfire in the evening with s’mores, sing-a-longs, and story telling. DEM will also host a family movie night that will include a showing of “Celebrating over 100 Years of Rhode Island State Parks” and a PG-rated feature film. The movies will be shown outdoors on a 10-foot big screen.
- Those visiting town will appreciate hearing that we have these Farmers' Markets scheduled: Friday from 9 am until noon at the Cross' Mills Public Library, hosted by the Charlestown Land Trust, and Saturday from 9 am until 1 pm at the Cross Mills Farmers' Market property across from the fire station under construction.