Everything You Need to Know to Go to Newport Folk Festival 2025
Lineup highlights, how to get there, what to wear, and how to eat like a local
If you’ve seen Timothée Chalamet’s surprisingly convincing turn as a young Bob Dylan in 2024’s A Complete Unknown, then you’re already familiar with the Newport Folk Festival. Featured twice as a scrappy yet deeply significant event filled with passionate fans and fostered by the legendary Pete Seeger (dutifully played by Ed Norton), the film’s depiction is pretty spot on in terms of the festival’s energy and influence. It is indeed where Dylan famously went electric and, even if it did piss a lot of people off, ever since that fateful night, Newport’s been a site of musical reinvention and cross-genre inclusion. The question in 1965 was, “Is ‘Maggie’s Farm’ folk music?” The spirit of the answer remains. Is “Fight the Power” folk music? I’d argue for “Yes,” and the festival curators must agree—Public Enemy is on the 2025 lineup.
This July 25–27, Newport Folk Festival returns to Fort Adams for its 66th year. The small state park on the edge of Narragansett Bay is where Joni Mitchell debuted, and where generations of artists have delivered career-defining sets. Founded in 1959 by George Wein, the Newport Folk Festival quickly became a landmark for American music and civil rights activism. It’s long been a space where tradition meets transformation, celebrating folk’s roots while making room for what’s next. From the waterfront lawns and under the historic ramparts of Fort Adams—built as an army post in 1824—one can hear quiet Americana songwriters, spunky indie-pop acts, rousing country-blues guitar, and much more all while breathing salt air.
Heading to Newport is like making a pilgrimage. It’s layered with history and contradictions: an island of Gilded Age mansions and sea-worn sailors; an old military fort that holds a tradition of folk protest music. There’s nothing like it.
How do I get tickets and who’s playing?
Newport has never been a huge, sprawling festival. That’s partly due to the limited capacity of Fort Adams, and partly due to its cultivated intimate atmosphere. This means that the lineup is relatively small and carefully curated—and also that tickets go extremely fast. The 2025 iteration sold out within 60 seconds back in February before a single performer was announced. True Newport fans know not to wait for a fancy festival poster or a list of hotly tipped headliners, and it’s not a bad tactic. If for any reason you’re not pleased with the lineup, you can return your tickets and some happy soul will be plucked off of the waitlist (which is your best bet for attending this year). Tickets are capped at 10,000 per day—for those who snagged passes, they went for $116 for one day, $224 for two, and $286 for the full weekend.
Newport is stacked, as per usual, with a mix of big names and up-and-comers. Friday features garage rock royalty Yeah Yeah Yeahs, country-pop trailblazer Maren Morris, yacht rock legend Kenny Loggins, and more. Saturday boasts rap revolutionaries Public Enemy, blue-collar country sensation Luke Combs, folk mystic Iron & Wine, and, yes, more. And Sunday rounds the fest out with, among others, Wilco frontman and alt-country lyricist Jeff Tweedy, soul revivalist Michael Kiwanuka, and Americana psych-rock jammers Mt. Joy.
Newport traditionally rolls out the lineup gradually, and revels in surprise performances—there will be more artists announced before the main event (check their Instagram for updates), and possible unannounced appearances at the fest. I’ve got bets on Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman playing “Right Back to It” together. And there’s always the big final Sunday jam (this year called “Songs for the People”) when artists from throughout the weekend’s lineup come together on the main Fort Stage. In 2022, Brandi Carlile sang with Joni Mitchell; last year, Hozier played with Joan Baez. It’s always worth it to stay and see what happens.
What’s the vibe like?
Several factors contribute to the Newport Folk being perhaps the chillest, friendliest festival around. For one, it has a historic reputation and dieheard go-every-single-year fans who don’t want to ruin a good thing. Also, no alcohol is allowed outside the beer tents, which open at noon and aren’t ideal for music-viewing anyway, meaning people are not there getting wasted. As a result, it’s a relatively calm, kid-friendly, generation-spanning experience. And because it’s not incredibly easy to get to Fort Adams (see below), you have to really want to go.
Also, it’s not a crazed rat race to get to the front of the main Fort Stage—if you want a good spot to post up at, you simply get there early. The lawn will fill up with blankets and chairs, but there’s always room to dance. This all makes for a community-oriented atmosphere. People are respectful and it’s not uncommon to make a new friend, share sunscreen, or get pulled into a sing-along. Everyone’s in it together, under the sun, by the bay, for the music. A seafaring audience even gathers by boat in the bay to enjoy the festival on the water.
There are three primary stages—including the smaller Harbor Stage to the left of the Fort Stage, and the Quad Stage on the other side of the fort wall—but organizers sometimes add another small stage or two in unexpected locales. There are accessible seating options as well.
Where should I stay?
If you’re balling out and making this part of a longer vacation, rent a house. Downtown Newport is most convenient for reaching the festival, but, to be honest, Newport is expensive and if you haven’t booked your stay yet it’s already slim pickings—affordable short-term house rentals can be tough to come by, even in nearby Jamestown. As for hotels, Club Wyndham Inn on Long Wharf, Admiral Farragut Inn, Rodeway Inn Middletown, and Rhea’s Inn by the Sea had rooms left last we checked. There’s no camping in Fort Adams, but it would help keep costs down to camp out at Meadowlark or in Portsmouth, about a 30-minute drive away. Your best move is to cast a wide net, lock in early, and stay flexible. There are certainly more budget-friendly hotels in Providence: for about $200-$250 a night, there are rooms at the downtown Hilton, The Dean, the Omni, and the Christopher Dodge House bed and breakfast. I’ve heard it’s not too annoying to commute to the festival from there if you’re okay with an early start. More on that below.
How do I get to the festival?
If you’re driving, be sure to get a parking pass, but know that, if you’re coming from outside of Newport, traffic gets super backed up on Claiborne Pell Bridge. And even if you’re not, getting out of the lot post-fest can be a pain. You can take a taxi or rideshare to Fort Adams, though without a parking pass you’ll be left at the Fort entrance—a significant, though not unpleasant, trek to the festival gates. The best way to get to the festival is, wait for it, by ferry.
If you’re staying in Newport, you can catch the Harbor Shuttle ferry from Perotti Park which brings you directly to the pier by the festival gates. Parking in downtown Newport is not easy, so catch a ride, bike, or walk to the terminal. Get a coffee at The Nitro Bar or Drift Cafe before getting in line, or sit down for a bite at Belle’s on the pier. Boats run continuously from Perotti to Fort Adams throughout the day, and this is really the best, most pleasant way to get there. And when you return—music usually ends around 7:30 p.m., and the last ferries are typically at 8 p.m.—it is a true delight to watch the Fort recede into the bay with a salt breeze in your hair.
For those in or around Jamestown, the Jamestown-Newport Ferry departs every 40 minutes on festival days, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then hourly until 8 p.m. If you’re going this route, you’ll want to park in town or just call a cab. Also, stock up on coffee, snacks, and sandwiches from the East Ferry Deli before boarding.
Staying in Providence? The Seastreak departs from the Providence Ferry Terminal and lands at Perotti Park, where you’ll transfer to the Harbor Shuttle. There’s a free shuttle bus that can get you to the Seastreak terminal from various points in Providence. And if you miss the last boat back (usually around 10:15 p.m.), RIPTA buses run nightly between Newport and Providence.
It’s also possible to go carless—getting to and around Rhode Island by train is pretty easy, and if you’re staying on the island, Bike Newport encourages festivalgoers to cycle to Fort Adams.
What should I bring with me?
Take a good look at the list of prohibited items. They do not allow, for instance, alcohol or unsealed bottles—if you’re bringing your own soft beverages, make sure they’re unopened and not made of glass. Empty refillable bottles are allowed, and there are plenty of water stations around the grounds so you can stay hydrated.
A classic Newport move? Bring a blanket so you can set up in front of the Fort Stage for the day. Some folks bring tents, but they’re encouraged to keep those further back so as not to obstruct the view. Alternatively, you can roll in light with just the essentials (water bottle, sunscreen, hat), and commit to wandering the grounds, stage-hopping, and maybe getting your butt a little dusty in the process. If you’re attending with a crew, go the blanket route so you have a home base.
What should I wear?
Newport in July can get just as hot as any place on the east coast, and while there are some shady spots in Fort Adams, you’re going to mostly be out in the sun all day. Though the Harbor and Quad stages are covered, you won’t always manage to get a spot under the tent. And unless you’re planning to post up on a blanket in front of the Fort Stage for the whole festival, you’ll be walking around between stages quite a bit. First and foremost, I highly recommend a good hat—be it baseball, bucket, straw, or adventure, you’ll want something to keep you cool and protect your face from the sun. (If you forget, there’s almost always someone selling hats in the vendor section.) You’ll want a solid pair of shoes, too. This isn’t Coachella—hippie dad-core is more than acceptable, it’s encouraged. Of course, get a fit off, but think flowy, comfy, practical, Baez vibes. Also, Fort Adams Park is located on a promontory that juts into Narragansett Bay, meaning it can get breezy, especially into the evening. You’ll need some kind of outer layer—hoodie, linen shirt, shawl, windbreaker—particularly if you’re taking the ferry.
What should I eat?
Various food vendors can be found all around the grounds. The options differ from year to year, but a few can be counted on. Matunuck Oyster Bar is usually there slinging oysters and lobster rolls—although due to a recent fire, their presence this year is uncertain. La Costa Lobster & Tacos will be there, though, for your seafood kick. There’s also Binge BBQ for sandwiches, Jaju’s pierogies, gyros from Timi’s Greek & Middle Eastern, and the Fort Adams concessions stand, which is always serving up burgers, dogs, and fries. And if there isn’t at least one Del’s Lemonade stand somewhere, I’ll eat my own adventure hat. There are a few food and drink options that are extremely Rhode Island if you’re looking for some local flavor: coffee milk, clam cakes, clear clam chowder, stuffies (stuffed quahogs), and, again, Del’s (skip the straw).
Another option: Bring a picnic! This may be the move, especially if you’re going with a group and grabbing some grass. Just remember not to pack knives or glass.
If you have time to explore beyond the grounds, there are a ton of notable restaurants in the area. White Horse Tavern, in colonial Newport since 1673, is the oldest operating restaurant in the country and allegedly haunted. You can try those famous clam cakes at Flo’s Clam Shack over by Easton’s Pond. Get a chowder and some stuffies, too—the line may stretch down the dock-style walkway, but it’s worth it. Other Newport classics include Midtown Oyster Bar, Brick Alley Pub, Perro Salado, The Black Pearl, and the pricey but scenic Castle Hill Inn for cocktails on The Lawn Terrace at golden hour.
What else should I do while I’m in town?
Newport is famous for its Gilded Age mansions, overlooking Easton Bay. Part of the 1974 Great Gatsby was filmed at the Rosecliff Mansion, as was HBO’s The Gilded Age. Eleven of the storied Newport Mansions are open as museums, and they are worth seeing. Most well-known is The Breakers, which was once the Vanderbilt family’s summer “cottage.” The Cliff Walk is a nice way to take in the natural views and the old opulence of that part of the island all at once.
Also, East Coasters love to argue over where the best beaches are. They’re in Rhode Island. In Newport, Second Beach and Easton’s are perennial favorites. Secret Beach is a lesser-known gem if you're up for the trek. Head off the island and you’ll find Jamestown’s Mackerel Cove, Narragansett Town Beach, and countless magical little spots tucked along the coast. You can’t go wrong.