Keeping You Up To Date with Charlestown News and Events

Atlantis Rising International Sand Sculpture Competition
When: May 30 – June 1
Where: Ninigret Park
Cost: $15 for adults and children over 10, $7 for children 10 and under
This event is rain or shine, no pets allowed.

Charlestown’s Earth Care Farm Featured in ecoRI Article
“You see all the steam coming off the compost, all that vapor,” he said, pointing through the screens of his covered porch in Charlestown to the large pile of organic materials in view, “that’s a product of the microorganisms … they eat that food and break it down to become the best part of our soil.”

Join CLT For An Early Morning Bird-Watching Paddle On Ninigret Pond
When: Friday, June 13th at 7 a.m.
Where: Ninigret Pond (address provided upon registration)
Registration: Registration is required (read post for link to register)
Led by Conservation Biologist Paul Miller, this guided paddle offers a chance to observe bird species up close while learning about the role of conservation in protecting coastal habitats.

158 Dwelling Units Proposed In Ross Hill Road Development
When: Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail, Charlestown
What: Pre-application meeting with the Charlestown Planning Commission for this development proposal
A portion of this parcel is currently a sand-and-gravel operation with the rest forest and wetlands.

Financial Town Referendum Monday, June 2
What: Financial Town Referendum
When: Monday, June 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail
Monday, June 2, is the annual Financial Referendum on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. The June 2 vote is on the municipal portion of the 2025/26 budget; the Chariho portion was approved earlier. Read the post for more detailed explanation.

2025 Memorial Day Parades And Observances
Parade on Old Post Road on Sunday
When: Sunday, May 25 at 1 p.m.
Where: Starts at the South Kingstown line and ends at Charlestown Liquor Store
Parade in Carolina on Monday
When: Monday, May 26 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Starts at the Richmond-Carolina Fire Station and ends at St. Mary’s Church in Charlestown

Charlestown Beach Road Moves Closer To A Long-term Solution
The RI Coastal Resources Management Council has denied the Town Council’s request to resurface Charlestown Beach Road along the coastal barrier with asphalt millings. After many years of fighting for different kinds of pavement for this section of the road, some members of the Town Council have finally relented to follow the advice the town has been consistently given by coastal geologists since at least 2013.
Should Charlestown Stop Collecting Development Impact Fees?
When: Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: A public hearing to discuss this question and the Zoning Ordinance amendments proposed, which, if adopted, would revoke the town’s Capital Facilities Impact Fees Ordinance.
Presentation On Charlestown Breachway
When: Tuesday, May 20 from 6 to 7pm
Where: At the Charlestown Breachway, 812-774 Charlestown Beach Road, Charlestown (In case of rain the presentation will be at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center at 50 Bend Rd, Charlestown)
What: An update on the status of the repairs at the Charlestown Breachway
Register: Register by May 19
Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of RI Photo Competition
The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island announce their 25th Annual Amateur Photo Competition to highlight the beauty of the five refuges that comprise the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Amateur photographers are encouraged to enter their existing refuge color photos or to take new ones. Photos and a $10 entry fee per photo must be received by September 3, 2025.