CRANSTON, RI – As winter slowly gives way to spring, residents of Cranston and neighboring Warwick are already looking ahead to one of the region’s most beloved community traditions: Gaspee Days. This year’s celebration, scheduled for the weekends of June seventh and fourteenth, promises to be particularly special as it marks the sixtieth anniversary of the modern festival and takes place just weeks before the nation celebrates the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of American independence.
Gaspee Days commemorates one of the most daring acts of colonial resistance in American history: the burning of the HMS Gaspee on June ninth, seventeen seventy-two. The British revenue schooner had been aggressively enforcing unpopular trade regulations and harassing colonial merchants in Narragansett Bay when it ran aground near Pawtuxet Village. That night, a group of Rhode Island colonists, led by merchant John Brown and others, rowed out to the stranded vessel, overpowered its crew, and set it ablaze. The incident is often referred to as the "first blow for freedom," predating the Boston Tea Party by more than a year and helping to ignite the revolutionary fervor that would eventually lead to American independence.
The modern Gaspee Days celebration began in nineteen sixty-five, when the Gaspee Days Committee organized the first annual parade and festival to honor this pivotal moment in Rhode Island history. Over the past six decades, the event has grown into a multi-day celebration that attracts thousands of visitors to Pawtuxet Village, the charming colonial-era neighborhood that straddles the Cranston-Warwick border.
This year’s festival will feature all the traditional elements that have made Gaspee Days a cherished community institution. The centerpiece of the celebration is the Gaspee Days Parade, scheduled for Saturday, June fourteenth. The parade is a spectacular sight, combining colonial reenactors in period dress with modern community groups, marching bands, floats, and local organizations. It is the kind of parade that looks and feels like something out of a Hollywood film—a small-town celebration that brings together history and community in equal measure.
The parade route winds through Pawtuxet Village, past Pawtuxet Park, where spectators line the streets to cheer on the participants. Families stake out their spots early, bringing lawn chairs and blankets to secure a good view. Children wave flags, veterans march in formation, and the sense of community pride is palpable. For many Cranston residents, attending the Gaspee Days Parade is an annual tradition, a rite of spring that marks the unofficial start of summer.
But the parade is just one part of a packed schedule of events. The festival kicks off on the weekend of June seventh with a variety of family-friendly activities. The Gaspee Days Five-K Road Race draws runners from across the region, offering a scenic course through the historic village. An arts and crafts festival showcases the work of local artisans, providing an opportunity to browse handmade goods and support small businesses. Live music fills the air, with concerts featuring everything from colonial-era folk songs to contemporary rock and pop.
On Sunday, June fifteenth, history comes alive at the Colonial Encampment in Pawtuxet Park. Reenactors dressed in authentic eighteenth-century clothing demonstrate colonial crafts, cooking techniques, and military drills. Visitors can watch blacksmiths forge iron, see weavers work their looms, and learn about daily life in colonial Rhode Island. For children, the encampment is an interactive history lesson, offering a hands-on experience that brings the past to life in ways that textbooks never could.
As evening falls, the festival culminates with one of its most dramatic moments: the ceremonial burning of a replica of the HMS Gaspee. The reenactment takes place on the water, with colonial-clad participants rowing out to the replica vessel and setting it ablaze, just as their ancestors did more than two centuries ago. Fireworks light up the night sky, and the crowd watches in awe as history is brought vividly to life.
What makes Gaspee Days so special is not just the historical significance of the event it commemorates, but the way it brings the community together. Neighbors reconnect, families create memories, and visitors from near and far experience the warmth and hospitality that define Rhode Island. The festival is a reminder that history is not something that exists only in books and museums—it is alive in the places we live, the stories we tell, and the traditions we pass down from generation to generation.
For Cranston residents, Gaspee Days is a source of pride. Pawtuxet Village, with its tree-lined streets, historic homes, and picturesque waterfront, is one of the city’s crown jewels. The festival showcases the best of what the community has to offer: a deep respect for history, a strong sense of civic engagement, and a commitment to creating experiences that bring people together.
As the Gaspee Days Committee prepares for this year’s celebration, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Parade applications are being accepted, vendors are signing up for the arts and crafts festival, and volunteers are organizing the countless details that go into making the event a success. The committee, which has been organizing Gaspee Days for six decades, is dedicated to preserving the tradition while also ensuring that each year’s festival is fresh and engaging.
For those who have never attended Gaspee Days, this year is the perfect time to experience it for the first time. With the sixtieth anniversary of the modern festival and the upcoming two hundred fiftieth anniversary of American independence, there is no better moment to celebrate the revolutionary spirit that defines Rhode Island. And for those who have attended in years past, this year’s Gaspee Days promises to be another unforgettable celebration of history, community, and the enduring values that make Cranston and Rhode Island such special places to call home.
Mark your calendars for the weekends of June seventh and fourteenth, and join your neighbors in Pawtuxet Village for Gaspee Days two thousand twenty-six. It is a celebration you will not want to miss.