Newport Jazz Festival 2018: What You Need To Know: Dates, Times

NEWPORT, RI — The Newport Jazz Festival is Aug. 3, 4, and 5 at Fort Adams State Park. Plus, there's an opening night cocktail party Friday at the Newport Casino (International Tennis Hall of Fame) followed by a concert at the Casino with Pat Methany and Lean On Me (José James Celebrates Bill Withers).

Click here for the complete lineup. Artists include Charles Lloyd, George Clinton, Andra Day, Jon Batiste, and many more.

Tickets are still available for all performances and for the cocktail party. Here's everything you need to know to plan ahead.

Coming & Going

Once you're leave the festival grounds, you can't return, due to security issues. The Visitors Center is located inside the grounds, and bathrooms and ATMs are available.

Important Times

• The Box Office opens at 9 a.m.
• Gates open at 10 a.m.
• Parking open at 8 a.m.
• Shuttles start at 9 a.m.
• Water taxis start at 8 a.m.
• Food & Crafts start at 10 a.m.
• Music starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until sundown.

The Apps

To put the schedule and artists on your mobile phone, click here for the Apple app or here for the Android app.

Information From The Festival Website

Getting to The Fort

Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI is located at 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport, 02840. It is about 1.5 hours from Boston and 3.5 hours from New York City. Get directions to the Fort from your location. The festival is rain or shine. There are four stages of music, food & crafts, two beer & wine gardens and exhibitions.
By Bicycle: Contact Bike Newport for information at www.bikenewportri.org.
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By Water: Water shuttles and ferries operate between Downtown Newport, Jamestown and Providence (India Point). The schedules can be impacted by weather. Otherwise, it's a 15 minute trip and reservations are not required. More information can be found here.
The Jamestown Newport Ferry runs continuous service to Fort Adams with departures from One East Ferry Wharf in Jamestown and Perotti Park in Newport. More information and tickets can be found here.
The SeaStreak ferry regular service to Newport runs from India Point in Providence to the Seastreak Ferry Terminal at 39 America's Cup Avenue in Newport. More information can be found here.
By Car: There is limited on-site car parking available at Fort Adams State. Motorcycle parking is also available on-site for $10.
Parking for vehicles with ADA placards or license plates is available in the designated lot.

What's Allowed?

• An individual blanket (Maximum size 6'x8')
• Only one small hand held cooler (no larger than 16″ x 12″). All coolers will be searched
• Strollers that are reasonably sized and do not obstruct the view of others
• Low-backed chairs (under 30″) to ensure good viewing for your neighbors. These are only allowed outside no chair zones.
• Small shade structures such as chairs with roofs and baby beach cabanas are allowed in designated shade areas only as space allows. No pop up tents.
• Cameras are permitted but cannot be used to reproduce the event and must not interfere with other fans' enjoyment of the festival (NO AUDIO CAPTURING IS ALLOWED)

What's Not Allowed?

• No glass containers.
• No large coolers.
• No alcohol.
• No illegal substances.
• No beverages in plastic bottles or cans unless factory-sealed.
• No pets.
• No flagpoles.
• No camping.
• No weapons or tools.
• No laser pointers.
• No noise makers.
• Harassment of any kind. All festival-goers are welcome regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, age, body size, disability, appearance, religion, citizenship, or pregnancy.
• No commercial audio visual equipment.
• Beach umbrellas or beach balls (because they could end up in the bay and hurt the wildlife).
• No pop up tents.
• No selfie sticks.
• No drones.

Seating

The Fort Stage viewing area is uncovered and includes no chair zones, general admission lawn seating areas, an ADA area and a small reserved seating section. To access the reserved section, you must purchase a separate ticket for the reserved area. Patrons may bring blankets or low-backed lawn chairs (max 30") for lawn seating areas. No tents, chair roofs, umbrellas or shade structures are allowed in lawn seating areas. The Quad, Harbor & Museum Stages are covered. Seating is first-come, first-served in these locations.

No-Chair Zone & Chair Height
There will be a standing/dancing zone in front of the Fort Stage, house left. Low backed chairs (30" or less) and blankets are allowed outside of the no chair zone (house right) and in most other areas of the park. Although we do not clear out the standing/dancing area in between sets, we do make sure that this area remains a standing-only zone while artists are performing. The audience is welcome to sit down in this area in between performances, but we do not permit anyone to put out blankets, chairs, or other personal items as a means of spot-saving. Chair height will be checked in the chair zones at the Fort Stage. Chairs or structures over 30" will be moved to the back of the house.

ADA Accessibility
ADA SEATING: An area on the lawn at the Fort Stage is reserved for disabled patrons. This section is located in a roped off area to the side of the sound board. This area is accessible by a paved road from the festival entrance. Because space is limited, each disabled patron is allowed one guest to accompany. Seating is not provided in this area so guests should bring lawn chairs. The Quad & Harbor Stages each have areas with seats that are reserved for disabled patrons on a first-come first-served basis.
Parking for patrons with disabilities is located in a designated lot at Fort Adams State Park. The regular parking fee must be paid. When entering the Festival site, vehicles with patrons needing access to this lot must show their handicapped license plate or placard, or other state-issued identification. The holder of the placard or identification MUST BE a passenger in the vehicle. There will be a shuttle bus fitted with a wheelchair accessible lift to bring patrons from parking lot to the Festival entrance, running from 9am until the end of the day. Violation of any ADA placard or license carries a fine of up to $500. Service charges apply to all tickets purchased online and by phone.

Photo Caption: Charles Lloyd/ Courtesy McClair PR