Looking for some tips on what to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few recommendations from Ocean State Media’s Mareva Lindo and James Baumgartner.
Spotlight: Folk at the Farm at Frerichs Farm in Warren, Oct. 5, 1-5 p.m.
Folk at the Farm is an annual afternoon of folk music, local food, drink and art, and it’s all free. This year marks the event’s fifth anniversary. Mareva Lindo chatted with two of the people behind the event: Elwood Donnelly and his son, Uriah Donnelly.
In case you’re not familiar, Elwood, his wife, Aubrey Atwater, and their family are collectively a bit of a Rhode Island institution. Aubrey and Elwood are great folk musicians themselves, and they’ve been putting on free, community-oriented arts and culture events in the East Bay for many years. Folk at the Farm is just one of them. Uriah is no longer officially involved in the festival, but it was he and Elwood who founded it five years ago.
What prompted them to start this particular event? “All the things we do for the community just is to build, continue building community – bring artists, musicians and people together, and to share their stories and their art and their music,” Elwood said.
Uriah says it’s hard to put into words what motivated them to start Folk at the Farm, or the other community events they put on. “It’s sort of like, why do you climb a mountain, you know? Because it’s there,” Uriah explained. “But we do it because we love it, and we love to be a part of it. I think for me, it’s a way to become a part of something – by creating things that people come to do.”
Performers this year include the Eastern Medicine Singers, Red and the Paper Flowers, and, as always, the Atwater Donnelly Trio and The Whelks. And if you like The Whelks, this is a show you don’t want to miss – it’s their final performance.
Folk at the Farm takes place Sunday, Oct. 5, 1-5 p.m. at Frerichs Farm in Warren, and it’s free. Click here for more information.
Other events to check out:
Nine Central Film Festival at the JPT Film & Event Center, Oct. 3-4
The festival, now in its seventh year, features local filmmakers at all levels of experience, from comedies to documentaries, music videos and more. Each night features a different lineup of about 10-15 short films.
More details about the Nine Central Film Festival here.
Oktoberfest at Narragansett Brewing, Oct. 3-5
It’s Narragansett Brewery’s annual, three-day Oktoberfest this weekend. The brewery was founded in 1890 by German immigrants, so where better to celebrate? In addition to German-style food and beer, there will also be traditional dance performances, stein-hoisting contests, music from the Bavarian Bros and TubaFrau, and more.
Learn more about Oktoberfest at Narragansett Brewery here.
‘Paint Me a Road Out of Here’ Screening + Discussion at RISD Museum, Oct. 5, 2-4:30 p.m.
The film is about the 50-year journey of a painting by Faith Ringgold that was in the Rikers Island women’s detention facility in New York. The painting is called “For the Women’s House,” an eight-foot-square canvas with depictions of women doing all sorts of various jobs – scientists, firefighters, politicians, all based on the aspirations of incarcerated women interviewed by the Ringgold.
The screening is in the Metcalf Auditorium on Sunday at 2 p.m., followed by a discussion about how formerly incarcerated people are using art to heal, empower and inspire change. Find out more here.
Got an event you think we should highlight? Send your tips to Mareva Lindo at mlindo@oceanstatemedia.org.
