Springfest means summer is here

WESTERLY — The weekend-long SpringFest kicks off Friday at Misquamicut State Beach, marking the unofficial beginning of the beach season in Westerly.

This weekend will mark the 13th year for the Misquamicut Business Association-sponsored event, which typically attracts thousands of people to Westerly's shoreline each May for an extravaganza of food, fun, craft sales and music.

The Food Truck Rodeo, with more than a dozen food vendors, will feature fair fare favorites like clam cakes, chowder, sausage and peppers, steak sandwiches, gyros, fried dough, gelato, burgers and fries, tacos, candy apples, cotton candy, kettle corn, seafood and the elixir of Rhode Island summers, Del's Lemonade.

Rockwell Amusements, the traveling amusement company, will be back with such popular rides as the Super Slide, Bumper Cars, Tilt-a-Whirl and Fun House, kiddie rides like Dizzy Dragons, Merry Go Round, Speedway and Circus Train and games of skill like Skee Ball, Pop the Balloon, Whac-a-Mole and Frog Bog.

Rockwell's Ferris wheel, with its panoramic views of Block Island, will again return to its towering centerpiece in the state beach parking lot. Circling around the thrill-seekers and  amusements will be more than 50 crafters and commercial vendors hawking their wares, and stands where youngsters can get stamped with henna tattoos, buy princess dresses, toy helicopters, hair wraps, and have their faces painted while adults can enjoy craft displays, and shop for candles, honey, handbags, T-shirts, jewelry, bamboo clothes and housewares.

Friday night will feature the music of Big Lux, Completely Destroyed, the Samantha Rae Band and No Shoes Nation, who will rock the mainstage from 5 p.m. to closing. On Saturday night, Kiss tribute band Strutter will headline. On Sunday, the Professor Harp Band will perform.

Also on the entertainment agenda is a mime, martial arts demonstrations, a pro-wrestling event and a roving bubble fairy/juggler.

The annual Classic Car Show, in honor of Big John Hodis, will be held in the main lot on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., hosted by The Doc and 102.3 The Wolf. There is no entry fee for the car show, and trophies, prizes and giveaways will be in abundance. All classic and specialty cars are welcome, according to organizers, and all drivers and their passengers will be given free tickets to the festival.

The popular "Beer and Wine Tent" will also be part of the outdoor weekend celebration.

Tickets are $12 per day. Ride tickets are separate from admission tickets and can be bought onsite the days of the event. Rides take 3, 4 or 5 tickets each at $1.50 per ticket, 25 tickets will be sold for $25, 40 tickets for $35. "Unlimited Ride" wristbands on Sunday are $35 per person, 12 to 5 p.m.   

For more information, visit Misquamicut Beach on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or visit www.misquamicutfestival.org.