This weekend in Westerly, RI

Help care for Bates Park by collecting litter, tending to trails, and pitching in on park improvements. Gather at the container marked with the BFF logo near Animal Control, then head out with the group. Participants can move at a comfortable pace and are welcome to wrap up early if needed. Tools and gloves will be provided, and bringing personal gear is fine. Be sure to bring water.

Explore miniature painting with guidance from a painting pro at a free, hands-on session focused on gaming figures. Whether starting out or refining existing skills, participants learn practical techniques and tips, with miniatures, paints, and tools provided. All supplies are covered, so a creative mindset is all that is needed.

This event features a music-filled day benefiting the Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter.

Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery hosts a stand-up showcase from Next Stop Comedy, featuring a fresh roster of comedians at every show. The lineup rotates, with performers who have appeared on television and on popular podcasts. Each installment brings a new mix of acts to the cidery and winery.

Preacher Dogs bring a psychedelic rock journey to Sneekers Cafe, radiating love, peace, and uplifting high energy. The set celebrates classics from the 60s and 70s, featuring songs by The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Cream, The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, John Lennon, Steppenwolf, Cheap Trick, and more.

Vettes at the Beach takes place at Ocean Beach Park and features a full day of food and music, raffle prizes, trophies, and takeaways that include a dash plaque, T-shirt, and goodie bag. Admission is &20, while spectators are free. The club with the strongest participation will receive a $1,000 donation directed to the charity it chooses. Presented in memory of Jan D. Christiansen. For details, contact Markcjan@yahoo.com or 860-705-3473.

Celebrate beluga whales at an all-ages gathering that connects the Arctic, where these whales live, with experiences close to home. Explore activity stations, try engaging projects, and discover everyday and larger steps that support community resilience. The program highlights ongoing research and conservation work in Cook Inlet, Alaska, showing how these Arctic whales can motivate action for a healthier planet. Admission is covered by regular Aquarium entry.

Explore New London’s connection to the sea on a walking tour that traces the people, ships, businesses, and pivotal moments that shaped this historic waterfront city. The route moves through downtown and along the shoreline, highlighting stories that span from Indigenous travel on local waterways and the Revolutionary War to privateers, whaling captains, naval figures, submarines, and the longstanding role of the United States Coast Guard. Along the way, hear about heroic rescues, notable vessels, periods of wartime service, and the men and women whose lives were influenced by the Thames River and the city itself. Suited for history fans, maritime enthusiasts, and the simply curious, this experience offers a respectful salute to a maritime legacy that continues today.

Explore, play, and discuss conflict simulations spanning all periods and styles. Cover and concealment take center stage, and tense moments are on the menu as the action unfolds in The Cellar, paired with plenty of conversation around strategy and tactics.

Stonington Pride partners with Bank Square Books for a welcoming Dungeons & Dragons campaign that celebrates creativity and inclusion. Hosted at Bank Square Books, the table is limited to seven players with a dedicated Dungeon Master, so registration is required due to limited capacity. Participants must be at least 12 years old, and both newcomers and seasoned adventurers are welcome. The bookstore is wheelchair accessible.

A spoken word open mic on second Sundays where poets can share original pieces, novelists can read excerpts in progress, and readers can present works by favorite authors, poets, or songwriters. Participants may share their own writing or read the words of those they admire.

Presented by The UNITED and Martin House Books, this event features number one New York Times bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult discussing her newest book, Hollow Bones, with bestselling author and Ocean House Author Series host Deborah Goodrich Royce at the UNITED Black Box Auditorium. The novel carries a notable Rhode Island thread through its protagonist, Molly Fitzgerald, who leads the state’s Department for Emergency Preparedness, and it explores the stories we craft to protect ourselves, the bonds between mothers and daughters, and how love endures when life is upended. Attendees receive access to Hollow Bones two days ahead of its official release. A single ticket option is available, General Admission with book, priced at $42. Every ticket includes a signed copy of Hollow Bones and a professional photo opportunity with Jodi. Extra copies of the new novel, a selection from Jodi’s backlist, and Deborah’s books will be available for purchase. Please note that books will not be personalized and no additional items will be signed. Picoult is the author of thirty novels, including By Any Other Name, Mad Honey, Wish You Were Here, The Book of Two Ways, A Spark of Light, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, along with two young adult collaborations with her daughter. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband. Deborah Goodrich Royce is a bestselling novelist whose recent titles include Best Boy and Reef Road. Her career began in acting and later shifted to story development in film, and she has helped restore cultural landmarks such as the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, the United Theatre, and Martin House Books.