NEWPORT, R.I. — Newport Polo is pleased to announce a partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center for the 9th annual Beach Polo exhibition.
The exhibition will be held at 1 p.m. on February 22 – 23, weather permitting, as a highlight of the 32nd annual Newport Winter Festival.
The exciting two-day polo exhibition will take place during low tide on Sachuest Beach (locally known as 2nd Beach), 315 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown, RI. Beach parking and admission are free.
Spectators are asked to bring donations of non-perishable dry-goods, toiletries, or household items for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. MLK Center volunteers will collect donated goods at the Beach Pavilion located in the main parking lot. Follow this link for a list of the MLK Center’s current needs.
For Beach Polo weather updates, please call (401) 846-0200 x2.
“Newport Polo has maintained a focus on benefiting the community since its beginning in 1992,” explains Newport Polo Founder & President, Dan Keating. “We are happy to include a food drive as part of Beach Polo for the first time to provide critical support to the MLK Center’s year-round hunger services.”
Beach Polo is a low-impact, eco-friendly exhibition, and a much-anticipated highlight on the closing weekend of the Newport Winter Festival. Over 1,000 spectators are expected to line the sandy playing area each day, within the intertidal area of the beach. The players are from the Newport Polo Club and other regional contenders, playing on finely tuned thoroughbred polo horses. Horses are accustomed to sandy footing in their natural habitats all over the world, including the US desert southwest. The polo ponies are highly fit and exercised in arena polo, played on similar footing materials.
All beach rules are in effect. Attendees are reminded that alcohol is not permitted and to stay out of the dunes which are protected. Well behaved leashed dogs are welcome. See current conditions on the beach cam. Free parking is available at Sachuest Beach. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early where they can meet the players and horses before the match and enjoy the beautiful ocean views.
This is the 32nd annual Newport Winter Festival, running from February 14th to the 23rd. Over 150 events taking place throughout Newport County will be featured in ‘New England’s Largest Winter Extravaganza,’ combining food, festivities, music, and fun for all ages. The complete schedule of events and other Winter Fest specials can be found online at https://www.newportwinterfestival.com/.
About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center:
Founded in 1922 and renamed after Dr. King in 1968, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center is a multi-service provider for at-risk and underserved individuals, families and children in Newport County, Rhode Island. An independent non-profit organization, the mission of the MLK Community Center is to nourish, educate, and support Newport County residents to improve their economic and social well-being. 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd, Newport RI 02840; Phone: (401) 846-4828; Fax: (401)848-7360; www.MLKCCenter.org.
About Newport Polo:
Newport Polo is the home of America’s first polo club, founded in 1876, a charter member of the United States Polo Association, host of the Newport International Polo Series summer exhibition matches, and a model US polo club with member services for grass & arena polo and polo instruction year-round.
About Newport, Rhode Island:
For more than 375 years, Newport has been welcoming visitors from near and far to its charming New England coastal harbor, earning its reputation as America’s First Resort. A renowned international destination, Newport is ripe with art, culture, history and scenic beauty, with miles of unspoiled beaches, distinctive shops, renowned restaurants, diverse accommodations, and world-class sporting and cultural events.