Winter is over, summer is around the corner (so don't forget the sunscreen) and Block Island is where you want to be. There is so much to swim, surf, sail, fish, hike, bike, eat, and shop on the island. If that sounds busy you can also spend lots of island time relaxing as well. There are plenty of quiet spots where you can sit, read, put your toes in the warm sand and watch the world go by. Here’s just a little bit of the fun in store for early summer on The Block.
Book, Bake & Bloom Sale – May 25th
Kick off Memorial Day weekend with the Book, Bake & Bloom (BBB) Sale hosted by the Block Island Free Library on May 25th from 9AM to 1PM.
Don’t expect your typical library event – folks call this annual sale “a crazy day”. Yup, that’s because it’s a party filled with locals, visitors and lots of desserts! In addition to finding bargain books and plants, check out all the decadent cakes, pies, cupcakes and cookies for sale.
Even if you can’t make the event be sure to check out the Block Island Free Library - it’s open year-round and offers tons of activities from chess, knitting and mahjong to book discussions, story times and yoga. The BBB sale is a great way to support the library and all that it does for the Block Island community.
Block Island Historical Society Open House and Porch Party – May 25th
Discover everything about Block Island at the Block Island Historical Society Museum’s “Welcome to the 2019 Season” party.
The event will be held on the front porch of the historic Woonsocket House, home of the Historical Society’s museum and gift shop. Get the inside scoop on where to go and what to do on Block Island as staff and the society Board of Directors will be on hand to answer questions about the island and the museum.
Exhibits will be open, light refreshments will be available, and the event runs from 5 PM to 7 PM on May 25th. It is the perfect complement to the morning BBB sale. Everyone is welcome and best of all its free.
BIMI Chowda' Fest – May 26th
Sample some of the best chowder, or chowda as some like to call it, in the annual Block Island Maritime Institute’s (BIMI) Chowda fest competition from 3 PM to 5 PM.
From tomato-based New York style to milky white New England style to briny clear broth Rhode Island style – you’ll get a taste of some of the most amazing chowders made by pros and amateurs.
At the end of the day one person will be crowned the “Winner of the Block Island Chowda Fest”. And you can say you tried the best!
Tickets are $25 for families, $15 for adults, and proceeds benefit the BIMI and its fun and educational programs for kids and families.
Glass Float Project – June 1st Kick Off
For the last seven years local artist Eben Horton has hidden glass orbs all across Block Island for everyone to find. It’s a great way to discover the island and hunt for a treasure.
This year, the Glass Float Project’s eighth year, 550 floats will be placed throughout the island’s beaches and trails. Some hints provided by the Block Island Tourism Council:
“Floats will be hidden on the beaches above the high tide mark (but never in the dunes, or up the side of bluffs) and on the Greenway Trails (within one foot of either side of the trail). Maps of the island can be found at the Welcome Center across from the ferry docks.”
Also, most of the floats will be clear glass floats except for 19 of them that will be colored (and one special float will be made of gold leaf!).
If you find a float, it’s yours to keep! The Block Island Tourism Council only asks that you keep it to one float per seeker via the honor system and that you register any float you find with them. Each of the glass orbs are handcrafted and numbered.
Hunting kicks off June 1st and runs throughout the entire year or until all the floats are found.
Discovering Block Island
It’s only just the beginning – Block Island is packed with events this summer. Check back with us at the start of every month this summer with the list of must-dos and must-sees. Happy summer!
And if you want to learn even more about one the best travel destinations in America, Block Island, check out our Discovering Block Island blog series.
