FORT ADAMS STATE PARK

Fort Adams State Park sits at the entrance to Newport Harbor, offering a dramatic waterfront setting where history and music converge. The venue commands panoramic views across Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, with a sprawling 225-foot shoreline and 6.5-acre parade field. Home to two of America's most storied music festivals—the Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival—Fort Adams has hosted legendary performances since 1981 and 1985 respectively. The park combines recreational facilities with historic grounds, making it a unique venue where attendees can explore a 19th-century fort while enjoying world-class music performances.

Capacity reaches up to 10,000 attendees with lawn seating and VIP sections available. Gates open at 10:00 AM with music beginning at 11:00 AM. The venue features both general admission lawn areas and elevated VIP sections. Fort Adams Visitors Center provides permanent bathrooms, ATM, and complimentary water stations. Events operate "rain or shine."

Fort Adams was constructed between 1824 and 1857 as part of the Third System of American coastal defenses, designed by Brigadier General Simon Bernard who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. The fort served as President Eisenhower's "Summer White House." Impresario George Wein revived the Newport Jazz Festival at the venue in 1981, followed by the Newport Folk Festival's return in 1985.