C is for Cure: A WaterFire Lighting for RI Defeats Hep C | Supported by: Gilead / HepCHope.com | Sponsored by: Fidelity Investments
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At Gilead, we are inspired by the opportunity to address unmet medical needs for people living with life-threatening diseases. We are proud to sponsor WaterFire Providence and light a fire in recognition of the more than 3 million Americans living with hepatitis C.
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“We are celebrating a 13-year sponsor partnership with Fidelity Investments by distributing Japanese origami cranes hand-folded by Fidelity employees to all WaterFire guests. These cranes are a symbol of peace, fidelity and longevity.” – John Muggeridge, VP Public Affairs at Fidelity Investments[/one_half_last]
August 1st, 2015 Event Info:
Sunset: 8:05 p.m.
Lighting time: 8:15 p.m.
The fires will remain lit until 12:30 a.m.
Music Program
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.
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Clear Currents returns for 2015 with two nights of paddling fun at WaterFire on August 15th and September 12th. Learn more and sign up now.
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Things to see:
Hep C Resource Fair and Screenings on Steeple Street 6:00 to 11:30 p.m.
WaterFire is thrilled to join in a public awareness campaign about Hep C as part of Dr. Lynn E. Taylor’s larger RI Defeats Hep C campaign. “We are organizing a statewide campaign to eliminate Hep C in RI. With the powerful new medicines we now have available and the cooperative networks for care in RI organized by the RI Department of Health we have a chance to greatly improve the health of all Rhode Islanders impacted by this disease. Working with WaterFire we are bringing more attention to this silent epidemic, providing up to date health information, and providing free Hep C screening. We are doing this in coordination with the World Health Organization’s World Hepatitis Day.”
WaterFire Providence and RI Defeats Hep C have created numerous events for the community to bring greater awareness about Hep C, present updated health resources, and bring more attention to this silent epidemic. A population at particular risk are baby-boomers, with 1 in 30 individuals infected with Hep C, although most are not aware that they have the disease. Special events include:
Beginning at 6:00 PM and running throughout the night until 11:30 PM, there will be a Hep C Information, Resource Fair and WaterFire Music Stage brougnt to you by HepcHope.com on Steeple Street. The resource fair will provide hepatis C information and free Hep C screenings for adults. There will also be information tents including Hep C Hope, the Rhode Island Blood Center, the Rhode Island Organ Donor Awareness Coalition, Brown Medical School, and AARP.
Free screening for Hep C is available for everyone 18 and older on Steeple Street.
As part of the events of the C is For Cure: A WaterFire Lighting for RI Defeats Hep C, Festival Ballet Providence senior program students will dance in a free and open performance. The performance will begin around 7:30pm at the Waterplace Park stage. The Exult Choir of the Mixed Magic Theatre will be performing on the Basin stage prior to Festival Ballet Providence’s Performance.
The WaterFire Music Stage on Steeple Street 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
The WaterFire Music Stage on Steeple Street Returns with an incredible line up of musicians as we celebrate RI Defeats Hep C: Located on Steeple Street the WaterFire Music Stage will be in full swing featuring some surprise guests and national and internationally renowned artists. WaterFire is proud to welcome Rose Weaver and New Orleans Jazz to the stage from 7-9 PM and then followed by headliner and International Jazz Sensation Greg Abate along with the Greg Abate Quartet from 9-11:30 PM.
Rose Weaver is a sassy jazz singer and narrator, she has been a featured vocalist with the Marian Anderson String Quartet, The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Conrad Janis and the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, she is currently the artist-in-residence at Brown University’s Rites and Reason Theatre, will be playing two sets at WaterFire with her band New Orleans Jazz.
Greg Abate is a jazz saxophonist, flutist, and composer continues as an International Jazz/Recording Artist with 225 days a year touring the globe. Greg is also an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician with co. sponsorship from the Conn-Selmer Instrument Co., conducting workshops and master classes through the U.S. and abroad. He will be accompanied by Mark Walker on drums, Todd Baker on bass, and Alain Mallet on piano.
Visit the AARP Info Tent on Steeple Street – 6:00 to 11:30 p.m.
Stop in to learn all about AARP Rhode Island, Better living in the Ocean State. AARP enhances the quality of life for all as we age. We champion positive social change and deliver value through advocacy, information and service.
Origami Crane Folding with Fidelity Investments in Memorial Park from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Folding origami cranes with Fidelity Investments. Photo by Jeffrey Stolzberg.” ]
Longtime WaterFire sponsor Fidelity Investments continues to bring the message of hope to the shores of the river. “We are celebrating a 13-year sponsor partnership with WaterFire by distributing Japanese origami cranes hand-folded by Fidelity employees to all WaterFire guests. These cranes are a symbol of peace, fidelity and longevity. Be sure to visit the Fidelity crane tent near the World War monument in Memorial Park where you will learn the art of origami and fold your own crane! Check out the illuminated blue neon cranes displayed at the installation” –John Muggeridge, vice president of public affairs, Fidelity Investments.
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 and Washington Street Bridge – 6:00 – 11:00 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 crafts-people. 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.
Gerbermuhle: Biergarten Unter den Weiden – Beer Garden Under the Willows
Waterplace Basin 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Gerbermuhle: Biergarten Unter den Weiden in partnership with Trinity Brewhouse. In a friendly salute to our new international air partner, Frankfurt, Germany (with non-stop flights on Condor Air from T. F. Green PVD Airport), WaterFire has opened a beer garden on the Woonasquatucket in partnership with Trinity Brewhouse. 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.
WaterFire’s favorite characters are back!
- 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.
- Fire Dancers Benjamin Reynolds and Spogga Hash will dazzle the crowds during several performances throughout the evening at the confluence and on the wall of braziers in Memorial Park.
- Catch mime artist Michael Grando in costume as the Commedia dell’arte character Pierrot, as he cruises the river tossing carnations to visitors along the shore.
- Visit Andrew Anselmo, the Origami Master near the RISD Auditorium.
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
Canal Walk, near the RISD Campus
Frenchy’s Popcorn
The Nutty Bavarian
Steeple Street
Fat Belly’s Irish Pub Beer Garden
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Washington Street
UMelt – Lobster Rolls
Flatbread Company
Dudley’s
Kettle Korn Express
Various Locations
Del’s Lemonade
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Historical Open Houses
The John Brown House Museum at 52 Power Street will be open from 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. with guided tours at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Self-guided audio tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Also, make time to see The Governor Stephen Hopkins House located at 15 Hopkins Street (off Benefit Street). They are open for tours between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 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.
Hitch a ride with Sol Chariots Pedicab
Sol Chariots Pedicab Cooperative is a local, worker-owned cooperative business operating in Providence RI that provides sustainable, pedal-powered transportation services.
Operating mostly in the downtown area, Sol Chariots primarily provides a bike taxi service for short-distance transportation, as well as a new way to experience and explore the city of Providence. A pick-up and drop-off location will be established along the northbound lane of Memorial Boulevard between College and Washington Streets.
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, Just wanted to note that we are open for tours from not 1PM but 10AM until 10PM, last tour starting at 9:30PM, on this and all FULL lightings of WaterFire. Hope to see you!
Thanks for the update. We’ll make the change.
Oops, I should have said “the Stephen Hopkins House” not “we”
Maybe you could correct that to avoid confusion? Thanks!