We are proud to announce the 2022 WaterFire season which currently includes seven (7) full lightings and six (6) partial lightings. The Gordon School supported a pre-season lighting in Waterplace Park on April 9th. From April to December, supporters can expect to see the return of the #Art4Impact series which aims to highlight community milestones and themes like Arts and Science, Community Heroes, and Arts and Health. Community favorite events like the WaterFire Holiday Celebration, the 10th Annual WaterFire Salute to Veterans, and the celebration of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities in Rhode Island will return in 2022 and bring our friends and neighbors together to learn from and celebrate each other.
“WaterFire was first set alight to turn around the fortunes of Providence. Against all expectations, we hoped to make Providence a national destination. We wanted to celebrate our community for its rich history, its leadership in ideas and innovation, and its tapestry of preserved buildings. Now 25 years later, people have made the City a destination and they love all that they find here. WaterFire is an opportunity to come and enjoy a historic city reborn, to see an urban center in new light, and to celebrate the balance of the old and the new mixed with the romance of firelight. It has all been made possible by the love, help, and donations of thousands of enthusiastic friends and supporters who have helped us realize their dreams.”
Barnaby Evans, WaterFire Providence’s creator, coCEO, and executive artistic director
2022 WaterFire Lighting Schedule
Saturday, April 9
Supported by the Gordon School
Basin lighting – Sunset (7:20 pm) – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, April 27
WaterFire Season Kick-Off Press Conference &
Strike the Match Fundraiser
Basin Lighting – 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday, May 13
Partial lighting, 12 stationary braziers in front of Memorial Park
Sunset (7:56 pm) – 10:00 pm
Saturday, June 4
Full Lighting
Sunset (8:16 pm) – Midnight
Friday, June 10
Partial Lighting, Waterplace Park
Sunset (8:20 pm) – 10:00 pm
Saturday, June 25
Full Lighting
Sunset (8:25 pm) – Midnight
Saturday, July 30
RI Defeats Hep C
Full Lighting
Sunset (8:06 pm) – Midnight
Saturday, August 13
Celebrating Rhode Island’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Communities
Full Lighting
Sunset (7:48 pm) – Midnight
Saturday, August 27
Clear Currents Community Paddling Night
Full Lighting
Sunset (7:27 pm) – Midnight
Saturday, September 3
Labor Day Weekend
Partial Lighting, Waterplace Park
Sunset (7:16 pm) – 10:00 pm
Saturday, September 24
Celebrating Educational Excellence in RI with RI Department of Education
Full Lighting
Sunset (6:39 pm) – Midnight
Saturday, November 5
WaterFire Salute to Veterans
Full Lighting
Sunset (5:35 pm) – 10:00 pm
Saturday, December 3
WaterFire’s Holiday Celebration
Partial Lighting, Waterplace Park
Sunset (4:15 pm) – 9:00 pm
WaterFire’s Celebrate program is back for the upcoming lighting season! Visitors will have the opportunity to create a signature once-in-a-lifetime event, from romantic proposals to whimsical birthday celebrations, amongst the art installation in Downtown Providence. Learn more by heading over to our Celebrate at WaterFire page or email us directly at [email protected].
WaterFire Providence thanks our generous supporters for helping to make this season possible. Details of the season schedule will be posted on our 2022 Season Schedule page as they develop. Additional lightings may be added to the schedule as funding becomes available.
“WaterFire offers companies a unique and one-of-a-kind engagement opportunity anywhere by creating unforgettable customer experiences that very often exceed sponsors’ marketing objectives,” says Ed Cabral, manager of sponsorships and corporate relations. Contact [email protected] for more information regarding opportunities in 2022 and 2023.
WaterFire Providence 2022 Season Supporters
WaterFire Providence would like to thank our 2022 WaterFire Season Supporters for their ongoing support: State of Rhode Island, Governor Daniel J. McKee; Rhode Island Commerce; The City of Providence, Mayor Jorge Elorza; The Providence City Council; The Rhode Island General Assembly; Providence Tourism Council; Papitto Opportunity Connection; Mutual of America; Rhode Island School of Design; The Gordon School; Brown University; Celebrity Cruises; Bank of America; Amica Insurance; Fidelity Investments; Textron Charitable Trust; YPO Gold New England; Bank Newport; IGT; Cox Business; Abbvie; New England Bridge Conference; Rhode Island State Council of the Arts; Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau; Skyline at Waterplace; JP Morgan Chase; Grow @Annenberg; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Berkshire Bank; Lifespan; RI Day of Portugal; Walgreens, University Gastrointestinal; Stanley Tree Service, Inc; Cox Media; Rhode Island Monthly; WPRI 12 & FOX Providence & The Rhode Show; Cumulus Media; iHeartMedia, Inc.; The Providence Journal; and HomeLight.
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.
Thank you for always providing a beautiful, lively amazing WaterFire experience. It is and will always be Wonderful and worth the drive from New York City to be apart of the Rhode Island Cultural experience.
Thank you Patricia!
How come nothing in October?
Hi Ashley, we have a couple of October events in the pipeline, but they haven’t been fully confirmed. Please stay tuned. Thanks!
LOVE HAVING CEO OF WATERFIRE PETER MELLO ON THE RADIO (AM 1320 ATTLEBORO EVERY FEW WEEKS TO LET US KNOW WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE FINEST ENTERTAINMENT EXTAVAGANZA IN THE NORTHEAST!!!!
Do you really require masks along the river walk & all Waterfire events?
No, we don’t. And we never said we did. During our 2021 season we recommended all visitors wear masks and still recommend them for anyone who wants to wear them. Even outdoors viruses can spread among large crowds of people.
I saw back in May that there was a possibility of an October event. Is there going to be one?
Yes, there are two events that have been added since the season was announced. Check out the up-to-date schedule at waterfire.org/schedule