The event is being sponsored by: National Grid
National Grid delivers the energy to the places where Rhode Islanders live, work and play. This year, we are once again proud to be a sponsor of WaterFire Providence to help shine a light on the rich cultural heritage of our community. Please visit www.nationalgrid.com and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for energy-saving ideas for home and business.
June 13th, 2015 Event Info:
SPECIAL TRAFFIC AND PARKING INFO FROM THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE
Sunset: 8:21 p.m.
Lighting time: 8:46 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.
WaterFire presents The Gaspee Project in celebration of the birth of our nation with performances and activities as part of an expanded humanities program. Visitors can take a walk through history from flash mob to freedom with the Twitter Story of 1772 by following #WFGaspee on Twitter. Historic walking tours will also be available during the day through the RI Historical Society.
Things to see:
The Providence International Arts Festival
June 11-14, 2015
Downtown Providence
Kennedy Plaza and Washington Street
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”2015 Providence International Arts Festival brings the city center to life with firsts in arts, culture, music, food, and spectacle. Photo by Ehsun Mirza.” ]
A jaw-dropping celebration in the Creative Capital of Providence, Rhode Island.
“The Providence International Arts Festival will be a way to connect the world-class talent we have here in Providence with artists and performers from around the world. We are excited to welcome visitors to the City to explore all that we have to offer and look forward to partnering with so many great organizations and artists.”
—Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence
Discover the city center as it comes to life with firsts in arts, culture, music, food, and spectacle. Experience an extravaganza of performances and art installations throughout the city and join the parade converging on Kennedy Plaza during this signature showcase event.
WaterFire Providence Presents the Gaspee Project
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Gaspee Day at WaterFire Providence 2014. Photo by Emily Gauvin.” ]
Join WaterFire June 13th, 2015, 243 years after the burning of the Gaspee, as we retell and relive the story of that historic night through a variety of artistic mediums, events, and experiences.
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From Flash Mob to Freedom
Join us throughout the day to follow this thrilling story of daring patriotism by seeing it all unfold in the long-lost twitter feeds of that famous day. Check out the WaterFire Gaspee Twitter feed (#wfgaspee) and witness the revolt as it unfolds.
A concert by the The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps from Washington DC will be on the Waterplace Stage from 7:45 – 8:20 p.m. The Corps will march through WaterFire leading followers to the site of Sabin’s Tavern.
Sabin’s Tavern – The Great Debate
From 9:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. discover a fascinating re-enactment of the lively debate that occurred at Sabin’s Tavern on June 9th, 1772 over whether or not the Colonies should demand independence from Great Britain. At The Wild Colonial Tavern at 250 South Water Street (one block from WaterFire downstream at the intersection of Power Street) three engaging historians, John McNiff, John Concannon, Jonathan Ryder and Earl Salisbury, will lead us towards a deeper understanding of what was discussed that night from the perspective of the Providence residents who first started the American Revolution.
The Marquis de Lafayette will be visiting WaterFire accompanied by a contingent of French infantry. He is here to continue telling the next chapter of America’s independence, and how he arrived here in Rhode Island with 6,000 troops who were instrumental in our defeating the British during the American Revolution. The Marquis will be addressing the crowds at the site of Sabin’s Tavern after the Great Debate at about 10:45 p.m.
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Walking Tours
The RI Historical Society presents walking tours featuring the Gaspee and much more. Tours depart from the John Brown House Museum located at 52 Power Street at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $10 each. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Barbara Barnes at 401-273-7507 x362 or [email protected].
Open Historic Houses
John Brown, the Providence merchant who promoted the attack on the Gaspee, later built and resided in a magnificent 18th century mansion. 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) and open for tours between 1:00 and 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, donations are always welcome.
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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.” ]
Join our sponsor National Grid on the Washington Street Bridge for a variety of interactive and educational energy efficiency demonstrations from 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
- Make sure you can capture the magic of WaterFire all evening long by visiting National Grid charging stations on Washington Street and Canal Street to recharge your smartphone and other mobile devices during the lighting.
- Learn about making your home more energy efficient with National Grid on Washington Street! With fun and interactive displays guests can learn about how much energy it takes to power a standard light bulb versus the newer, more energy efficient CFL bulbs.
- Every home has one, but what do you do with your old refrigerator when you get a replacement? Join National Grid on Washington Street to let your kids get creative with old refrigerators that are actually ok to decorate and while you learn about how to recycle one of the most common household appliances!
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 on Washington and Steeple Streets – 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 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.
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
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Washington Street
UMelt – Lobster Rolls
Flatbread Company
Dudley’s
Kettle Korn Express
Steeple Street
Fat Belly’s Irish Pub Beer Garden
Various Locations
Del’s Lemonade
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Catch your favorite WaterFire performers:
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Fire dancer Liz Knights from Cirque de Light. Photo by Jen Bonin.” ]
Fire dancers Andrew Lindsay and Liz Knights from Cirque de Light will be performing during the lighting ceremony and along the installation several times during the evening.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Mime artist Michael Grando as Pierrot. Photo by Yessenia Pineda.” ]
Mime artist Michael Grando will make his 2015 season debut. Be sure to catch Michael, in costume as the Commedia dell’arte character Pierrot, as he cruises the river tossing carnations to visitors along the shore.
[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.
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.
