Sponsored by Webster Bank, the Confucius Institute and US-China Institute at Bryant University, and Lifetime Medical.
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For 80 years, Webster Bank has supported organizations that enrich our communities with vibrancy and hope. We are pleased to support WaterFire Providence® and it’s integral role in the city’s renaissance. Webster Bank, NA., Member FDIC.
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“The U.S.-China Institute and Confucius Institute at Bryant University are proud to be a sponsor of WaterFire Providence. This year we are celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of the U.S.-China Institute, and will share our diversity with the community through promoting Chinese language and cultural heritage.” Dr. Yang
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Lifetime Medical is committed to attaining the highest professional standards in the delivery of quality client care utilizing integrity, respect, and 100% customer satisfaction. We are happy to support WaterFire Providence in their commitment to making Providence a more vibrant community.
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September 26th, 2015 Event Info:
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Sunset: 6:38 p.m.
Lighting time: 6:58 p.m.
The fires will remain lit until 12:30 a.m.
Music Program
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Sign up to volunteer at this event:
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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.
Things to see:
Before the lighting — Big Drum Powwow at Roger Williams National Memorial
Traditional Eastern Woodlands Cultural Big Drum Powwow featuring: host drum Eastern Medicine Singers, guest drums Mountain Spirit Singers and Wampum Boys. September 26th & 27th, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunrise Ceremony at Dawn with Chief 3 Bears Fisher Black Goose Clan. Traditional Native Dance, Storytelling, Native Food. Part of the New England Native American Cultural Week.
Chinese Culture Night at WaterFire
Chinese Culture Night at WaterFire is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the US- China Institute. The US-China Institute and the Confucius Institute at Bryant University will be joining WaterFire all evening long! Headquartered in Beijing, China, the Confucius Institute is a global education network dedicated to teaching Chinese language and culture, and promoting understanding on China worldwide.
The U.S.-China Institute and Confucius Institute at Bryant University are proud to be a sponsor of WaterFire Providence. This year we are celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of the U.S.-China Institute, and will share our diversity with the community through promoting Chinese language and cultural heritage.” — Dr.Yang
The US-China Institute and Confucius Institute will be sharing Chinese Culture all evening long:
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5:00 – 10:00 p.m. — WaterFire guests are encouraged to Visit Steeple Street to learn about Chinese architecture, calligraphy, ceramics, knots, silk, paper cutting, and the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival. Participate at the Tai Chi practice area and explore the U.S.-China Institute 10 Year Anniversary Interactive Timeline Display.
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5:20 – 6:40 p.m. — Prior to lighting The Confucius Institute will be hosting very special performances highlighting Chinese culture and performance art including a Chinese Dragon Dance performance on the basin stage in Waterplace Park.
- 7:45 – 8:10 p.m. — Shadow Puppetry Master Mr. Zhen’an Fan. Mr. Zhen’an Fan was born in 1945 in Tai’an, Shandong Providence. He started learning the art of shadow puppetry with the Master Yufei Liu at the age of 8. He has devoted his passion and life to the art of shadow puppetry for over sixty years.
WaterFire Salutes Rhode Island Educators
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) will be recognizing the Rhode Island Teacher of the Year as well as 75 additional distinguished Rhode Island educators at WaterFire this Saturday. The commended educators will gather to be recognized in a ceremony taking place at Memorial Park. Education Commissioner Ken Wagner will speak as well as the 2016 Teacher of the Year Tracy L. Lafreniere. Starting at 6:35 p.m., teachers will be participating in a torch procession from Market Square to the basin for the lighting of WaterFire. A very special thank you to Bananagrams and Thames & Kosmos who will be supplying each of the 75 distinguished Rhode Island Educators with full game sets for their classrooms.
Innovation in Education: WaterFire’s Showcase of Educational Excellence will be located at the intersection of College and South Main Streets from 6 -11 p.m., WaterFire will host an inspiring display of exhibits and interactive projects showcasing Rhode Island Talent and Students.
Special Lighting Installations from IALD New England
The International Association of Lighting Designers New England Annual Convention is presenting two student projects, which will be the lighting of the Irish Famine Memorial installation and a Shadow Play performance on Amos Street Alley, next to the RISD Auditorium after dark.
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 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.
Gerbermuhle: Biergarten Unter den Weiden – Beer Garden Under the Elms
Waterplace Basin 7:00 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.
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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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=”Mime artist Michael Grando as Pierrot. Photo by Yessenia Pineda.” ]
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.
[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.
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 1:00 and 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.
