Rhode Island likes to point out that the Revolution didn''t start in Boston. In June 1772 — a year and a half before the Tea Party — a group of Providence merchants and sailors rowed out to a grounded British customs schooner off Warwick, shot its commander, removed the crew, and burned the ship to the waterline. Nobody was ever convicted. Warwick has thrown a party about it every year since 1966.
What Actually Happened in 1772
HMS Gaspee was a British revenue schooner aggressively enforcing trade laws in Narragansett Bay — stopping vessels, seizing cargo, and infuriating a colony that ran substantially on smuggling. On June 9, 1772, chasing a packet boat, the Gaspee ran aground on a sandbar off Namquid Point (now Gaspee Point in Warwick).
That night, colonists led by John Brown rowed out from Providence, overpowered the crew, wounded Lieutenant William Dudingston, put the crew ashore, and burned the ship. The Crown convened a royal commission of inquiry with the power to send suspects to England for trial — a threat that helped catalyze the colonial Committees of Correspondence. Despite a large reward, not one Rhode Islander informed. The raid is reasonably called the first act of armed rebellion against British authority in the colonies.
The Festival Today
Gaspee Days runs over several weeks in late May and June, centered on Pawtuxet Village, the historic waterfront neighborhood straddling the Warwick–Cranston line. Signature events typically include:
- Arts and Crafts Festival — a large juried fair in Pawtuxet Park, usually the biggest draw
- Colonial Encampment — reenactors in period camp, with drills, musket demonstrations, and 18th-century crafts. Genuinely good for kids.
- The Gaspee Days Parade — the centerpiece, marching through Pawtuxet Village with fife and drum corps, floats, and militia units
- Symbolic Burning of the Gaspee — a replica schooner set alight on the shore, the most photographed moment of the festival
- Foot races (the Gaspee Days 5K), a battle of the drum corps, and pancake breakfasts
- Fireworks in some years
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Exact dates and the event lineup shift annually — check gaspee.com for the current schedule.
Practical Tips
- Parking is the challenge. Pawtuxet Village streets are narrow and residential, and parade day fills them. Arrive early, park farther out and walk, and respect resident-only signage — Warwick and Cranston both ticket.
- Get there early for parade seating along the route; families stake out spots hours ahead with chairs.
- Bring cash for some craft vendors, though most take cards now.
- It''s stroller-friendly but crowded at peak — the encampment is the easiest part with small kids.
Make a Day of Pawtuxet Village
Pawtuxet is one of the oldest villages in New England and worth the trip outside festival weeks: a small harbor, colonial-era houses, and a walkable cluster of restaurants and pubs. It pairs well with the rest of Warwick — see our Warwick neighborhood guide.
Gaspee Point itself, the site of the grounding, is accessible in Warwick and makes a short, quiet historical detour.
For History Travelers
Gaspee Days fits into a broader Revolutionary Rhode Island circuit alongside the state''s other founding-era claims — including its May 4, 1776 renunciation of allegiance to the Crown, two months before the Declaration. Our RI250 guide maps the anniversary programming, and the Bristol Fourth of July Parade — America''s oldest — is the natural summer follow-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Gaspee Days?
Events run across late May and June each year, with the parade typically in June. Check gaspee.com for the current schedule.
Where is Gaspee Days held?
Pawtuxet Village, on the Warwick–Cranston line, with events centered on Pawtuxet Park and the parade route through the village.
Is Gaspee Days free?
The parade, encampment, and burning are free to watch; some individual events and races have fees.
What was the Gaspee Affair?
The June 1772 burning of the British revenue schooner HMS Gaspee by Rhode Island colonists after it ran aground off Warwick — one of the earliest acts of armed colonial rebellion.
Where should I park for the parade?
Park well outside the village and walk. Pawtuxet''s residential streets are narrow, enforced, and fill early.
Confirm current dates and events at gaspee.com.