Entertain with Goods from RI Outdoor Vendor Markets

Find everything from lettuce to hand-dyed linens at makers and farmers events

Set a table awash in Ocean State style

Photography and styling by Kayla Aucoin, courtesy of AUCOIN

Use small bowls to fill spaces and keep foods within everyone’s reach

Photography and styling by Kayla Aucoin, courtesy of AUCOIN

Keep things portable by serving cold drinks and bottles; elevate with citrus slices

Photography and styling by Kayla Aucoin, courtesy of AUCOIN

Posted Friday, June 30, 2023 12:00 pm

Save the Date

Summer Solstice Makers Market at Wildwood Nursery

Saturday, June 24 from 4pm-8pm, rain date June 25

659 Frenchtown Road, East Greenwich

Picnic Responsibly

Rhode Island State Parks have a

carry-in, carry-out policy, which means there are no trash cans for general use, so when the fun is done, bring it all out with you to be discarded properly.

By Kayla Aucoin

One of the best things about a Rhode Island summer is that there are so many beautiful settings, from a picnic dinner at the beach to inside your own home with the windows wide open. Even better, provisions from local sellers ensure your table – or blanket – is outfitted with the freshest and most unique finds around. Here are some ideas for making memorable experiences, with goods from a line-up of artisans and growers who are regular fixtures at outdoor community markets.

Freshest Foods

Across the state, outdoor markets offer a welcoming, communal atmosphere and turn a shopping errand into a jaunt. It’s here you’ll find vendors like South Kingstown farmers Chris and Kristina Ryan selling produce like leafy greens and hearty root vegetables, grown sans chemicals, at venues like Fishermen’s Memorial Farmers Market in Narragansett, Goddard Park Farmers Market in Warwick, and South Kingstown Farmers Market in Kingston. The couple’s Tuckertown Lettuce Mix is crunchy, colorful, and perfect with avocado hummus, bruschetta, and salsas from Meadow Brook Inn, a popular spot in Charlestown also selling from-scratch prepared foods at places like Mount Hope Farm Farmers Market in Bristol. Find the RI Summertime Farmers Market Guide 2023 at FarmFreshRI.org

Tea Time

Put a summertime spin on a tea party with Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea. The brand started when three neighbors in an apartment on the East Side of Providence decided to turn a family recipe into their livelihood. The “astonishingly delicious” iced tea is made in state and carried by grocery stores and cafes throughout Little Rhody. Find bright flavors like lemon, lime, cranberry, and peach, perfect for keeping things cool.

Local Accents

Natural chargers, wood candle holders, and candles create a neutral base for vibrant and texture-rich foods and accessories to become the tablescape focal point. A hand-dyed Turkish towel serves a table runner that can be used as a towel if need be; coordinating linen napkins add style without fuss – all custom made by Hue Dyed and Made You Boss. Patio-perfect dinnerware (read: unbreakable) and accents from Wildwood Nursery and Garden Center’s Home & Garden Shop complete the scene.