July

14: Green Animals Topiary Garden holds its annual children’s party at 4. $10 society members, children 6-12 free; nonmembers $15, nonmembers’ children 6-12 $5; under 6 free. (401) 847-1000, ext. 140.

18: The Japan America Society of Rhode Island and The Black Ships Festival ushers in a 25th annual gala at Belle Mer, Goat Island, Newport. $150. (401) 846-2720; events@newportevents.com; www.blackshipsfestival.com.

23: The Newport Music Festival holds a festival gala at 7 at the Breakers. $100. (401) 849-0700 (box office); 846-1133; www.newportmusic.org; staff@newportmusic.org.

24: Tides at Belle Mer raises money for Tides Family Services, which supervises youths returning home from the training school or being monitored by juvenile probation. The party is at 5:30 at Belle Mer, Goat Island, Newport. $150. (401) 822-1360 or mail@tidesfs.org.

25: The 12th Annual Summer Pops in the City Concert raises scholarships for Johnson & Wales University at the school’s Gaebe Commons at 6. $150. (401) 598-5000 or e-mail to events@jwu.edu. 26: Fiesta Verde 2008 raises money for the Aquidneck Island Land Trust at 7 at Newport Vineyards, Middletown. $200. (401) 849-2799, ext. 19; info@ailt.org; www.aquidnecklandtrust.org.

27: The closing night party for the Newport Music Festival is at 9 at the Breakers. $40. (401) 849-0700 (box office); 846-1133; www.newportmusic.org; staff@newportmusic.org.

29: The annual Best of Rhode Island event is at 6 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. $50. (401) 421-ARTS or (401) 277-8291 or www.ppacri.org.

August

1: The formal 2008 International Polo Ball, which benefits the Newport Polo Education Foundation, is at 7. Location and ticket price to be determined. (401) 847-7090; www.newportinternationalpolo.com.

3: The Newport Public Library benefits from On the REaD Carpet at the library, 300 Spring St., at 5:30. $75. (401) 847-8720, ext. 100.

5: Opening night festivities for the Rhode Island International Film Festival include a pre-screening dinner and cocktail reception at 5, a screening at 7, and a party after the screening in the lobby of the Providence Performing Arts Center. $100; after-party only $40; screening only $20. (401) 861-4445; info@film-festival.org; www.rifilmfest.org.

9: Day One, formerly the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center, holds its ninth annual Under the Stars By the Sea at 6:30 at Narragansett Beach. $125. (401) 421-4100 or www.dayoneri.org.

15: The Alpine Country Club, Cranston, is the setting at 6:30 for the Gail Badessa Memorial Fund for Cultural Experiences, which offers opportunities to developmentally delayed adults and children. $75. (401) 781-4380, ext. 130; mixedmediapromo@cox.net; www.spurwinkri.org/OurMission.asp.

15: The Breakers, 44 Ochre Point Ave., Newport, at 7 is the setting for the Tiffany Ball, a black-tie dinner-dance to benefit the Preservation Society of Newport County. $425. (401) 847-1000, ext. 140.

16: The fifth Bird Ball Gala, which raises money for the Norman Bird Sanctuary, is at 7 at the sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Rd., Middletown. $100; $125 at the door. (401) 846-2577, ext.14.

16: Blithewold holds 2008 Gala … The Celebration of a Century at 5:30 at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum in Bristol. $250. (401) 253-2707 or www.blithewold.org.

21: The American Cancer Society’s A Night of HOPE is at 6:30 at Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. $250. (401) 243-2617; anightofhope@cancer.org; www.cancer.org.

September

12: The 2nd Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards are at 6 at Rough Point on Bellevue Avenue, Newport. The money raised will benefit the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Fund program, which funds local preservation projects. $125. (401) 849-7300; geninfo@newportrestoration.org; or www.newportrestoration.org.

13: Crossroads Rhode Island, which provides services to the homeless, holds its annual fundraiser. (Location and ticket price to be determined.) (401) 277-4330 or www.crossroadsri.org.

20: Orient-Express: Safari to the Heart of Africa is at 6 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. Kent Hospital’s cariology program benefits. $200. (401) 737-7000 ext. 5243; www.SupportKentHospital.org

27: The Star Studded Gala raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the Providence Marriott. $125. (401) 781-9474; awelch-zerba@makeawishri.org; or www.makeawishri.org.

October

6: Reach Out and Read RI benefits from Breakfast for Books at 7:30 a.m. at the Providence Marriott. $50. (401) 331-1967; maria@rorri.org.

16: The R.I. Chapter of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital holds a party at 6:30 at Metro Honda, 1880.

18: The 2008 RISE Fashion Show to benefit Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education, a scholarship and mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents, begins at 5:30 at the Bank of America Skating Center. $125. (401) 421-2010 or www.riseonline.org.

18: Special Olympics benefits from the black-tie Benefest ’09 at 6 at Hyatt regency, goat island, Newport, $250 per couple. (401) 823-7411; www.specialolympicsri.org; tracy@specialolympicsri.org.

20: The Brighter Futures Award banquet, in which proceeds go to Family Service of Rhode Island, is at noon at the R.I. Convention Center. $125. (401) 331-1350, ext. 3319; smallda@familyserviceri.org or www.familyserviceri.org.

22: The Crowne Plaza in Warwick is the setting at 5:30 for the Pink Gala to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. $125. (401) 223-6118; www.rithinkpink.info.

25 The Genesis Center, which offers adult education, job training and childcare programs to immigrants, refugees and low-income individuals, holds its annual Food for Thought Benefit at 5:30 at Roger Williams Park Casino. Ticket price to be determined. (401) 781-6110; www.gencenter.org.

November

1: The 21st Annual Fantasy Ball to raise money for the Tomorrow Fund, which offers financial and emotional support to the families and the children who have cancer, is at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet at 6. (401) 444-8811.

22: The Rhode Island Philharmonic hosts a black-tie gala in a location to be determined. $250. (401) 248-7070; (401) 248-7004; www.riphil.org; lscanlon@riphil.org.

2009

January

February

14: The Black Heritage Society hosts its 30th annual Heritage Ball at 7 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Ticket price to be determined. (401) 751-3490 or riblackheritagesociety@verizon.net.

fzuckerm@projo.com