A Holiday Celebration at WaterFire
Event Details
WaterFire’s Holiday Celebration– Part of GoProvidence’s Three Nights of Lights Event Series
Supported by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Music Program
Join us for a Holiday Celebration at WaterFire! A partial lighting happening in Memorial Park on Saturday, December 7 a part of Providence’s Three Nights of Lights event series presented by the City of Providence, and the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitor’s Bureau in partnership with The AvenueConcept, FirstWorks, and WaterFire Providence. The fires in the RISD and Memorial Park area will be lit at 5:30 p.m. and will burn until 9:00 p.m.
“Three Nights of Lights brings families and friends together to celebrate the holiday season in the Creative Capital. WaterFire is such an essential part of both our artistic community and Rhode Island tradition. We’re excited to have them partner with us to set Providence aglow,” says Kristen Adamo, President and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The event will feature a Holiday Winter Market in Market Square open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring 15 local artists and makers. Market Square artist vendors include Parched, Paul & Sandy’s Honey Shack, Roses N Dragons Designs, Adopt Crochet Cuties, Pourever Creations, Sparkles & Glow by Yvonne, Joseph Mushipi Visual Art, CandlesByJudith, Odettas, Skoshie & Friends, Into the Woods, Cutie Curls RI, El’s Paints, Graphics, & More, and Mike Cohea Visuals.
The WaterFire Marketplace will be in Market Square and open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Stop by to support WaterFire with a donation or give the gift of art this holiday season by purchasing locally designed apparel, jewelry, and glassware. There will also be mini WaterFire merchandise stations located in front of the RISD Auditorium and on College Street.
Santa’s Village will also be in Market Square, and the big man in red will arrive by boat at 6:00 p.m. at the Memorial Park dock and walk over to Santa’s Village in Market Square where he will be doing a meet and greet until 9:00 p.m. Guests are welcome to take photos with Santa all night long. Meet and greet with Santa is free, but donations are encouraged.
A Holiday Celebration Gift Drive at WaterFire Supporting Adoption Rhode Island
Throughout the event, gift donation boxes will be placed to benefit Adoption Rhode Island’s Holiday Drive. Donations will help children of all ages who will spend this holiday season in foster care, teens, and older youth who are getting ready to age out of foster care, young people who have been in foster care and now have their first apartment, and young parents who were in foster care who are working hard to provide a safe, loving home for their young children. Any toy, apparel, household items, and gift cards are welcome. The goal this holiday season is to fulfill more than 400 wish lists. Gifts and gift cards can also be dropped off at the WaterFire Arts Center during our open hours, Wednesday-Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm and late on Thursdays until 9 pm through December 15th, or during one of our upcoming Holiday Markets including the PVD Artisans Market Holiday Premiere on November 16 & 17, Good Trade Makers Market on November 23 & 24, Fine Furnishings Holiday Market on December 7 & 8, and PVD Artisans Holiday Show on December 14 & 15.
The FIRED UP 50/50 Raffle will take place throughout the event and allow attendees to win cash prizes just in time for the holiday season while supporting a community event. Tickets can be purchased in front of the RISD Auditorium, in Market Square, and on College Street. A winner will be announced at the end of the night.
An appearance by the Nutcracker and Mouse King from Ballet RI will take place at the World War I Memorial in Memorial Park beginning at 5:45 p.m. The Nutcracker will arrive by boat and arrive at the Memorial Park dock. He will be led by torches through the park where he will face off with the Mouse King. Following the performance, the Nutcracker and Mouse King will have a meet and greet in Market Square.
Stanley Tree Service is donating a 15ft tree for the Holiday Market in Market Square and smaller trees for around the event. The donated trees will be adorned with ornaments and decorations made by local schools including Veteran’s Memorial Elementary School in Central Falls and East Providence High School. After the lighting, trees, and decorations will be donated to local RI families.
College Street will be aglow with food vendors from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Vendors include Kettle Korn Express, Axelrods Fry Shack, Hot Potato RI, and Thrive Cakery. White Dog Distilling will be serving up holiday cocktails as well as beverages that will keep you warm including hot chocolate.
The College Street Acoustic Stage returns for the holidays featuring Ben Shaw, a Rhode Island based singer and songwriter whose unique voice stretches over a wide range of music. Ben will be taking the stage beginning at 5:30 p.m.
From 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Level99 will be on College Street sharing information about activities families can do during the holiday season.
The Starry, Starry Night installation returns to Memorial Park near the Crawford Street Bridge; add your light to the night by wishing on a star or dedicate a luminaria candle lantern.
From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A Silent Soapbox will have their “Holiday Fairy” performer moving about the event and interacting with the crowd. Andrew Anselmo, Origami Master will be in front of Market Square from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cirque de Light will be performing at 6:00 p.m. on the bow of a WaterFire boat, at 7:00 p.m. in front of the World War I Memorial, and 8:00 p.m. on the bow of a WaterFire boat.
The Three Nights of Lights in Providence will take place on Thursday, December 5, Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7. This annual three-day festival includes fun for the whole family, with citywide events incorporating the theme of light. For more information about this festival visit the Providence Warwick Visitor Convention Bureau website https://www.goprovidence.com/three-nights-of-lights/.
A WaterFire Christmas is Coming featuring “We Need A WaterFire Christmas” by The WaterFire Holiday Carolers
As a special gift to all WaterFire fans and supporters this year a group of our amazing WaterFire Volunteers have recorded this WaterFire-themed holiday song to ring in the holiday season. Thank you to Jim Alves, Ron Archambault, Barb Gaviani, Bob Hopkins, Mary Jordan, Jess Knox, Greg Krysko, Mark Madwed, Christine Maino, John Mongelli, Ken Panciera, Bill Ricci, Erik Schmith, Ihor Slabicky, Marita Stapleton, Christine Suriner, Elyssa Sykes Bidwell, and Peter Van Erp.
Organizer
