Exciting weekend preview of happenings inside Rhode Island???s historic Blackstone River Valley
Suggested Events for the Weekend
April 30-May 1, 2016
EXPLORING THE MIGHTY BLACKSTONE, EXPERIENCING OUR HERITAGE, ENJOYING LIVE MUSIC!
Over the April 30-May 1 weekend residents and visitors alike have many wonderful happenings to consider throughout Rhode Island???s Blackstone River Valley, America???s new National Historical Park.
The mid-springtime weekend is ideal to catch great music concerts at many noted venues. Plus, it???s a time to delve into how the Blackstone River Valley made America, as the actual birthplace of our nation???s proud industrial legacy, now boasting revitalized waterways, open spaces and wildlife.
Tour the Blackstone by riverboat!
One of the more popular activities is exploring the heritage, landscape and natural resources of the Blackstone River, known as ???America???s hardest working river??? for being the first industrialized waterway, and the most polluted. However, the mighty Blackstone has come a long way over the last four decades, now designated as one of only a dozen American Heritage Rivers, boasting sustainable wildlife.
For its 23rd season the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council announces the 2016 river tour schedule for the Blackstone Valley Explorer, the only 40 passenger river tour boat offering interpretive history and nature tours to the public.
The new river tour season, starts Sunday, May 1 and runs through October.??
Sundays, May 1 ??? June 26, the riverboat will operate from Central Falls Landing, at the corner of Broad Street & Madeira Avenue, Central Falls, RI tours depart hours on Sundays at 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm. Other Sunday public tours will be announced soon for the rest of the season.
Join us as the 40-passenger tour boat brings you along for an intriguing and relaxing 45 minute long nature cruise down the Blackstone River. Come see the beauty of our nation???s hardest working river and learn its ecology and rich history. You will hear stories of the people from the entire Blackstone Valley, and may even get a chance to see the swan, heron, hawks, and turtles that live along this renewed waterway.
Over the last 23 years, the??Blackstone Valley Explorer??riverboat has brought hundreds of thousands of people on board, both young and old, to see the Blackstone River from a fresh perspective???to learn and discover a place that was once forgotten.
Tickets for the weekly Sunday hourly public tours are: $12/adults, $10/children under age 12, $10/senior citizens over age 62
Also, for schools, groups, organizations and others interested, the Explorer riverboat is available for charter tours. Call or visit the website for specifics on these special tours.
More details on the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat tours are online now at
or call 401-724-2200.
Music in the Valley!
Saturday afternoon, April 30, at 2 pm, attend a special family concert, featuring Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inductee Bill Harley, performing on stage at Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, RI.
According to the theatre: ???Bill Harley??uses song and story to paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. His work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill tours nationwide as an author, performing artist and keynote speaker.???
Tickets for the concert are Children – $6.00; adults $12.00; family max $36.00. Tickets are available by calling 401-725-9272 or at
Also, Saturday night, April 30, at 7 pm, noted musician Mary Ann Rossoni plays at the Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, as part of the Stone Soup Coffee House Concert Series.
Ms. Rossoni carves edgy, soul-deep images with her lyrics, powerful vocals, and punchy acoustic guitar, weaving a web of extraordinary stories about ordinary people. Opening act.??Rick Demers?????music is a cross between simple blues and a roots sound. He has a way of putting his feelings and thoughts into words that are affecting and entertaining.
Tickets are $18/person and available by calling Stone Soup at 401-248-4692 or online at
And, Friday 7 Saturday nights, April 29-30, at 8 pm, Chan???s Eggrolls and Jazz, 267 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI, presents a two evening concert featuring Toronto, Canada based singer/songwriter/guitarist Anthony Gomes.
Noted in his biography, Anthony Gomes has been creating virtuosic, burning blues since his recorded debut in 1998. 12 releases and numerous awards and ecstatic accolades later, the aptly-named, riff-laden Electric Field Holler crackles with his bare wires passion.
The heavy hitting ???Turn It Up!??? has Gomes rightly boasting ??????got Mississippi lightning in my soul, I was raised on the thunder of rock ???n??? roll???going to play the music till the day I die, just like B.B. King and Buddy Guy,??? his voice and guitar roaring. ???Back Door Scratchin?????? uses clever tom cat imagery ???You found someone new, don???t want me no more. You put me out, baby, can???t get past your door??? I???m back door scratching???, howling all night. I???m back door scratching??? till the morning light.??? The mighty chugging ???Whiskey Train??? has Gomes growling ???It???s going to take a whole lot of whiskey to drink away the pain. I got to get half-way down the label, or go insane,??? his guitar smoking like a 20-ton locomotive.
For tickets to these show call Chan???s at 401-765-1900 or go to
Experience how America was made here!??
Blackstone River Valley is more than just its heritage for being the actual birthplace of our country???s Industrial Revolution begun here over two centuries ago, when Samuel Slater started manufacturing textiles at his how famed Slater Mill Historic Site.
In fact, that legacy of making things has been the basis for the region in becoming our nation???s 402nd national Historical Park, and serves as a unique foundation for becoming a fast growing visitor destination. Today, Blackstone River Valley is known for being a tourism destination based on its vibrant arts and entertainment communities, revitalized urban and mill districts, and returning the natural resources and open spaces into sustainable places and spaces supporting wildlife and recreation.
According to the State of Rhode Island Tourism Division, Travel and tourism is one of Rhode Island’s most valued industries, ultimately generating more than $3.88 billion for the state’s economy. Tourism is Rhode Island’s fourth-largest industry, supporting 66,616 jobs and $5.9 billion in spending based on 2013 statistics.
Throughout the week of May 1-7, the US Travel Association celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week, highlighting the impact of domestic and world travel to our national economic development.
In Southern New England, see your Blackstone River Valley discovering all there is through an array of history, ethnic cultures, nature, recreation, sports, leisure, dining, shopping, localities and more!
The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council welcomes residents and visitors alike to discover the region and its many sites right now online at
http://www.tourblackstone.com/site/discover-the-valley/
or call 401-724-2200 to plan your visit to an important part of America???s past, present and future!