BURRILLVILLE/NORTH SMITHFIELD – With restaurants returned to full capacity, masks mandates lifted and summer upon us, life is slowly getting back to normal in northern Rhode Island, a reality demonstrated by the large number of events, gatherings, fundraising drives, concerts and more taking place this weekend.
While NRI NOW mentioned some of these events in Monday’s “Five things to know,” for North Smithfield and Burrillville earlier this week, with so much going on this weekend, and more added to the list, we thought a chronological recap might help.
Pull those shorts out of storage, or put on the lipstick you haven’t worn since last March – assuming you’re now vaccinated, of course – because below is our roundup of things taking place in the area this weekend.
1. The North Smithfield Heritage Association’s Open House for Heritage Hall and Memorial Town Hall begins tonight, Friday, June 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. The two-day, two-building open house continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will also include the unveiling of new merchandise for purchase. Guests are invited to stop by for a tour of the renovated, historic buildings.
2. Friday at 6 p.m., The Island in North Smithfield will host a night of blues with Johnny Edwards & Greg Hodde. There is a $15 gate fee for the outdoor show, put on by Greyfox Productions.
3. Johnny’s Victory Diner at 2731 Victory Highway in Burrillville will host music by Nate Cozzolino Friday from 6-9 p.m. outside, weather permitting.
4. Gates at Rustic Tri-View Drive In open at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. Sunday, with the first films starting at 8:30 p.m. Showing this weekend are Raya the Last Dragon followed by Cruella on Screen 1; Top Gun followed by Quiet Place Part II on Screen 2; and Annabelle followed by the newly-released Conjuring: Devil Made Me Do It on Screen 3. The cost is $27 per vehicle and tickets can be purchased online at https://www.yourneighborhoodtheatre.com/
5. Uncle Ronnie’s Red Tavern resumes live music Fridays tonight with easy listening band Keturah’s Dream playing from 7:30 to 11 p.m. On Saturday, the restaurant/bar hosts music bingo starting at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, it’s Wise Guys Trivia starting at 7 p.m.
6. The town-wide yard sale in North Smithfield will be held Saturday, June 5 with single or multi-family yard sales taking place at the following locations:
3 Birch Hill Avenue
14 Birch Hill Avenue
763 Black Plain Road
34 Florence Street
10 Forest Hill Drive
21 Golden Boulevard
49 Hillview Avenue
79 Homestead Avenue
23 Leonard Drive
47 Maple Avenue
41 Main Street
213 Mattity Road
6 Meadow Lane
278 Mendon Road
100 North Main Street
227 North Main Street
49 Old Greenville Road
11 Pond House Road
17 Roselawn Avenue
12 Sunnycrest Avenue
1 Tupperware Drive, Unit 113
219 Victory Highway
1520 Victory Highway
29 Wilks Avenue
15 Williams Street
14 Willerval Avenue
135 Woonsocket Hill Road
177 Woonsocket Hill Road
1314 Woonsocket Hill Road
7. The Burrillville Historical & Preservation Society will also host a large yard sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to be held rain or shine inside and outside the Bridgeton School at 16 Laurel Hill Ave. in Pascoag. Guests are also welcome to browse through the BH & PS archives, and members will be taking orders for “Burrillville Revisited” a new photographic history of the town.
8. Steere Farm Elementary School will hold a food drive on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Non-perishable items will be collected to help feed Burrillville students in need through the summer.
9. Still need a vaccine? The Town of Smithfield and Fidelity Investments will host the state’s first-ever public drive-through vaccination clinic on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Fidelity Investments parking garage located at 100 Salem St., in Smithfield.
Attendees can get either a first or second dose of Pfizer vaccine, and anyone age 12 or older can get vaccinated. Anyone who has already received a first dose of Pfizer vaccine must be sure it has been at least 21 days since their first dose. This clinic is open to Rhode Islanders and people who live in other states or may be visiting. Appointments are recommended, but they are not required.
To schedule an appointment, visit https://www.vaccinateri.org/app…/en/client/registration… or call 401-222-8022.
10. The monthly Coffee with Jess, a chance to meet and talk with local Sen. Jessica de la Cruz, will take place at Dunkin Donuts in Pascoag at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Locals are invited to stop in and ask a question, or just say “hello.”
11. The Burrillville Farmer’s Market reopens for the summer on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and will serve up local food, art and music at the Stillwater Mill Center in Harrisville every week until 12:30 p.m. through September 25.
12. The North Smithfield High School Class of 2021 will hold a parade through town on Saturday, June 5 starting at 9:45 a.m., in keeping with a tradition started due to pandemic-related restrictions last year. The procession will leave from the former Halliwell Elementary School and turn right on Great Road, traveling to the Beef Barn before turning right onto Greenville Road. The seniors will then travel left onto Grange Road, left onto Providence Pike and left into North Smithfield Elementary School. The parade route will then return to Providence Pike and will follow the loop around the parking lot at the middle school before ending at the high school.
Residents are invited to show their support for the senior class with posters and balloons, or just wave to the group as they pass.
13. Hills Tavern in Chepachet hosts Amber Rose & the Renegades with a free show starting at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the venue hosts Blues Jam with Aaron Norcross starting at 2 p.m.
14. The Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative and Lops Brewing will host Arts in the Alley on Sunday, June 6 from noon to 4 p.m., featuring music on the patio by The Beardogz‘s Spencer Soucy & Mikey Hutchinson, food by W’s Mobile Wood Fired Pizza Oven and many artist/crafts vendors.
15. Rock/country band Back Rhodes will play at The Island on Sunday, June 6 starting at 2 p.m., with a free three hour show by the water.
Did we miss anything? Send information on your special event, live entertainment, fundraiser or other news for the community to [email protected]. And for those headed out, don’t forget to tell them: you saw it on NRI NOW.