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Sponsored by Bank of America
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May 28th, 2016 Event Info:
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Sunset: 8:11 p.m.
Lighting time: 8:31 p.m.
The fires will remain lit until 12:30 a.m.
Music Program
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Tonight’s lighting is dedicated to our friend and former board member Michael Obel-Omia. Get well soon!
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All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on the below scheduled evenings. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the event continues until half past midnight.
Weather considerations: The forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies and temps in the high eighties. We do not expect cancellations or delays for this lighting. Last updated 5/26/2016
Things to see:
Performances from Gendo Taiko
Gendo Taiko of Brown University and RISD is performing a Taiko drumming piece as part of the opening ceremony from 8:25 – 8:50 p.m. Their performance will continue by boat traveling down the river from the basin from 9:30 – 10:00 p.m. Taiko is a traditional Japanese form of drum performance that has early origins in the driving away of evil spirits. This evening’s performances are given in the spirit of healing.
RI Kung Fu & Lion Dance Club Performance on Washington Street
The RI Kung Fu & Lion Dance Club will be performing on the Washington Street Bridge from 9:00 – 9:30 p.m. The Lion dance is a meaningful and symbolic part of traditional Chinese culture; it represents warding off negative energy, enhancing and fostering positive energy, and bringing about good luck. Utilizing precise techniques and footwork, practitioners carry out the lion’s movements with vigor and spirit that is cultivated through kung fu practice. Accompanying practitioners play percussion instruments, consisting of a drum, cymbals and gong.
Charge up the night with National Grid!
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Visitors make use of a National Grid Courtesy Phone Charging Station. Photo by John Nickerson.” ]
Make sure you can capture the magic of WaterFire all evening long by visiting National Grid charging stations on Washington Street and College Street to recharge your smartphone and other mobile devices during the lighting.
The WaterFire Merchandise Store on Canal Street – Open 5:30 – 11:00 p.m.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”WaterFire Providence volunteers at the The WaterFire Store on Canal Street, photo by Jennifer Gervais.” ]
The WaterFire Store on Canal Street is open for business. Stop in and buy a t-shirt, hoodie, poster, magnet, pendants and much more to help support WaterFire and keep the fires burning. Also make sure to check out the Photos of WaterFire tent on Washington Street. This tent will have matted photo prints, featuring the work of our Volunteer Photographers; WaterFire Providence postcards; large format photo posters; and silk screen prints by local artists.
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza
Washington Street – 6:00 – 10:30 p.m.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza on Washington Street. Photo by Jennifer Bedford.” ]
Located on Washington Street in the heart of the WaterFire installation, the Arts Festival Plaza is a showcase for local artists and craftspeople. From photography and sculpture, paintings and hand-crafted ceramics, to jewelry and specialty textiles, the WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza features a wide range of locally crafted artisan wares to exhibit for sale to WaterFire’s visitors.
Art Vendors for 05/28/2016: Belleau Art Glass, New Moon Ceramics, Stella Marie Soap Company, Lotus Life Designs, Sasha Walsh Designs, Utopian Collection, Anne Made Designs, Floweredsky Designs, The Cheeky Hound, Giraffes and Robots, SepiaLepus Illustrations, IamTra, Bonnie Lee’s Creations, Moonlight Jewelry, Henna by Heather, Riker Art Glass, MOkun, Starlite Designs, Recycled Silverware
Grab a bite to eat! Visit one of our great food vendors:
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College Street
Taste of India
Parkside Rotisserie & Bar
Ron’s Pastry Gourmet
Expo Productions
Canal Walk, near the RISD Campus
Frenchy’s Popcorn
The Nutty Bavarian
Steeple Street
Fat Belly’s Irish Pub and Grille
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Washington Street
Bringeth The Meat BBQ
CilantroMex
Flatbread Company
Kettle Korn Express
UMelt – Lobster Rolls & Doughboys
Various Locations
Del’s Lemonade
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Gerbermuhle: Biergarten Unter den Weiden – Beer Garden Under the Willows
Waterplace Basin 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Gerbermuhle: Biergarten Unter den Weiden in partnership with Trinity Brewhouse and featuring drinks from Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails. The new beer garden with German beer and food focusing on Frankfurt specialties is located just upstream of Waterplace Basin in the heart of the downtown river park, under the willow trees at the foot of the IGT building. Forty five tables, specially made by WaterFire will mount on the river railing overlooking the double row of bonfires for your dining pleasure.
Catch your favorite WaterFire performers:
Fire spinners Liz Knights and Andrew Lindsay from Cirque de Light will dazzle you with their breathtaking performances throughout the night.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”One of Ten31 Production’s gargoyle characters at WaterFire Providence. Photo by John Nickerson.” ]
Visit the living statues in Memorial Park at the World War I monument. Ten31 Productions returns with their interactive living statues and gargoyles in Memorial Park shortly after lighting.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Photo by Thomas Payne.” ]
Origami Master Andrew Anselmo – 7:00 – 10:30 p.m. in Market Square. A delight for young and old alike. See Andrew make paper come alive in Market Square, outside of the RISD auditorium.
“Marvelous” Marvin Novogrodski will be performing as The Public Caresser on the river walk below the Waterplace Towers. The Public Caresser’s mission is to break down people’s inhibitions and let them feel okay making physical contact in public. Stop by, meet Marvin and get a hug or maybe a little more.
Historical Open Houses
Make time to see The Governor Stephen Hopkins House located at 15 Hopkins Street (off Benefit Street) and open for tours between 10:00 a.m. to 10:0 p.m., the last tour begins at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, donations are always welcome.
The Nursing Placement First Aid Station on Washington Street – 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Providing a safe environment for our visitors while they are enjoying WaterFire Providence is a top priority for us. Should you need assistance a first aid station is available at the top of Washington Street behind the Arts Festival Plaza.
Nursing Placement the official first aid provider at WaterFire events will offer first aid care to the public at any time during the event. Additionally, the venue will serve as a meeting place for missing children and parents to reunite. The First Aid RV will be located on Washington Street and can be found on all WaterFire event maps. Nursing Placement will also be taking applications for new team members to help serve the RI population.
About the author
I've worked at WaterFire Providence since 2003. For the first 9 years of my career, I worked in the Production Shop learning all of the details that go into the physical production of the event. In 2012 transitioned to the role of managing WaterFire's social media and web presence. I now head up WaterFire Providence's digital projects including, web, social, databases, and our physical IT infrastructure.
Hi,
I’m the Chair of the Stephen Hopkins House. We’re very grateful to be listed here on your website.
However
could you please make one correction? We are open from 10AM (not 1PM) to 10PM (our last tour starts at 9:30)
Thanks
Kim Clark
Sure, thanks for the update.
I am thinking about volunteering this year////if i do where do they park all the volunteers, or do we pay a lot to park us? or perhaps a pass?
We do our best to provide parking for all of our volunteers on the days of our events. We get about 150-200 spaces at a nearby lot.
Hello, my name is Linh. I didn’t know about this event earlier and I missed it. Can you please let me know that when it will happen again?
You can look at our event: https://waterfire.org/schedule