Newport No Longer Hosting Black Ships Festival

(Newport, RI) -- Newport is changing the name of a long-running festival. The city manager's office released a statement on Tuesday indicating the Newport-Shimoda Sister City Celebration is being held next week, and is not affiliated with the Black Ships Festival, which is being held in Bristol. Newport had hosted the Black Ships Festival for more than three decades, which commemorates Rhode Island native Matthew Perry's arrival in Tokyo Bay and opening of diplomatic relations with the Japanese. But, apparently, there was a falling out with the Japan-America Society, which owns the naming rights and had filed a lawsuit.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content