About the Rhode Island Folk Festival

The RHODE ISLAND FOLK FESTIVAL is a FREE music festival featuring some of the finest folk, acoustic and Americana singer-songwriter acts in the Rhode Island area. The event takes place at the waterfront Rose Larisa Park in the town of Riverside in East Providence, Rhode Island - across from the National Historic Site Crescent Park Looff Carousel. 

In 2014, Hear In Rhode Island produced the first FREE Folk Festival at Roger Williams National Memorial Park in Downtown Providence. From 2014-2019, we called this special event the Providence Folk Festival.  However, now that we have moved the festival location to East Providence, it made everyone happier to call it the Rhode Island Folk Festival.  

The festival will feature three stages of acoustic-themed music. The BAND SHELL STAGE featuring mostly bands of musicians, the SONGBIRD STAGE on the other end of the park, featuring mostly soloists and the EMERGING SONGWRITERS STAGE at the Gazebo between the two stages for a juried open mic. The festival is a great opportunity to get a good dose of the RI sound as well as some classic performances.

Food and art vendors will be set up along the path among the three stages so that your senses will be delighted everywhere you go at the event!  We hope you can make it this year!!