Saturday, August 9 - Clear Currents
Event Details
Saturday, August 9th Details
Full Lighting – Clear Currents Community Paddling Night
Sunset (7:54 pm) – 12:00 am
Onshore programming and vendors open at 6:30 pm
Music Program
Full Lighting Supported by:
Performers
- Andrew Anselmo, Origami Master: Sunset – 10:00 pm at Market Square
- Ten31 Productions: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm located at the World War Monument in Memorial Park
- A Silent Soapbox living statue: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
- Cirque de Light fire performer: performing on the river throughout the night
- Amber Rose and The Renegades: 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm on the Steeple Street Music Stage
- Tori Costa: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm on the College Street Music Stage
Food Vendors
- Washington Street: Kettle Korn Express, Full House Q, Incredabowl, Saugy Express, Atomic Blonde, RaRa’s Surf Shack
- Canal Walk: Gather Farm Ice Cream, Del’s Lemonade + Inside Voices
- Steeple Street: Maven’s Delicatessen, Sarcastic Sweets
- College Street: Chill’s Cheesecakes, Taste of India, Sal’s, White Dog Distilling
Trinity Brewhouse has two locations – one on the corner of Steeple and Canal St. with the other one on the corner of Washington St. and Canal St.
Art Vendors
- Washington Street Artists Include: Recycled SilverWear, Joseph Mushipi Visual Art, Boojie Lolli, Bare & Brine, Celeste Diaz Falzone, Ani Ron Treasures, Skoshie & Friends, Brushed Away Art, Land and SeaGlass
- Steeple Street Artists include: Jade’s Gems, Sophie Foulkes, Design WhatHaveYou, Parched, Cutie Curls, Lilly’s Bone To Pick, CandlesByJudith, Tigris Handmade, Studio J Florals
- College Street Artists include: Pourever Creations, Paul & Sandy’s Honey Shack, Ecuador to your door
WaterFire Ambassador + Merchandise Stations
- 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm on Canal Street, in front of RISD Auditorium, Waterplace Basin (in the tunnel + stage side)
WaterFire Providence announces a full lighting on Saturday, August 9, made possible through the support of Amica and the Providence Tourism Council (PTC). This full lighting celebrates Clear Currents Paddling Night, featuring over sixty kayaks on the river with illuminated Japanese koi (fish) temporarily mounted on the front of each kayak. The lighting will begin at 8:03 PM, and the braziers will remain lit until Midnight.
“The Providence Tourism Council welcomes visitors to this special WaterFire as part of supporting clean water, community art, and paddling fun,” says Alexis Gorriaran, Chair and Commissioner of the Providence Tourism Council. “We invite you to join us for this special lighting that serves as both a cultural beacon and a catalyst for artistic expression, community connection, and citywide pride.”
Clear Currents is a community paddling event celebrating clean water in Rhode Island. The improved water quality in the entire bay area over the past few years is due to the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow Project.
“Our commitment to community is deeply rooted in our values and guides the decisions we make at Amica. We take great pride in supporting beloved traditions like WaterFire that speak directly to our mission of building enduring relationships,” says Ted Shallcross, President and CEO of Amica.
The WaterFire Marketplace will return to Canal Street
Stop by to support WaterFire with a donation or a purchase of locally designed apparel, jewelry, glassware, + gifts, as well as glass blowing by Gather Glass. WaterFire will also have additional information and merchandise stations in front of the RISD Auditorium and on both sides of the basin in Waterplace Park.
FIRED UP 50/50 Raffle returns for 2025
This allows attendees the chance to win cash prizes while supporting a community event. How it works: participants purchase tickets, and the total amount collected is split evenly between the raffle winner and WaterFire. The funds raised through the raffle directly support WaterFire’s operations, helping to sustain and enhance the art installations, performances, and community programming. By participating in the 50/50 raffle, attendees can enjoy the excitement of a potential win while contributing to the continued success and growth of WaterFire. Raffle tickets will be sold on the College Street Bridge, and the winner will be announced at the end of the night.
WaterFire Food, Artist and Maker Vendors will be located on Washington Street and College Street from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
Visitors can browse and shop for a variety of goods, including glass, photography, jewelry, and more. Washington Street Artists include Recycled SilverWear, Joseph Mushipi Visual Art, Boojie Lolli, Bare & Brine, Celeste Diaz Falzone, Ani Ron Treasures, Skoshie & Friends, Brushed Away Art, and Land and SeaGlass. Steeple Street Artists include Jade’s Gems, Sophie Foulkes, Design WhatHaveYou, Parched, Cutie Curls, Lilly’s Bone To Pick, CandlesByJudith, Tigris Handmade, and Studio J Florals. College Street Artists include Pourever Creations, Paul & Sandy’s Honey Shack, and Ecuador to your door.
Food fairs will be open on Washington Street, College Street, Canal Walk, and on Finance Way from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM. Enjoy local food from festival favorites: Washington Street – Kettle Korn Express, Full House Q, Incredabowl, Saugy Express, Atomic Blonde, and RaRa’s Surf Shack. Canal Walk – Gather Farm Ice Cream, Del’s Lemonade, and Inside Voices. Steeple Street – Maven’s Delicatessen, and Sarcastic Sweets. College Street – Chill’s Cheesecakes, Taste of India, Sal’s, and White Dog Distilling.
Trinity Brewhouse will have two locations on the patio of Finance Way and the other on the corner of Canal and Washington Street. They will be serving up local brews and wine from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
Music Stages
Amber Rose and the Renegades, a rock band from Rhode Island, will be performing on the Steeple Street Music Stage from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Tori Costa, a Portuguese & Americana folk singer with a rock and roll flair, will be performing on the College Street Music Stage from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Performances
Andrew Anselmo, Origami Master, will be hanging out all night at Market Square, and visitors can find A Silent Soapbox living statue at the bottom of the Washington Street Bridge and Canal Walk starting at sunset. Ten31 Productions will be illuminating the World War Monument in Memorial Park with patriotic statues, including Ida Lewis, 1st Female Lighthouse keeper in the US, and Thomas Tew was an English privateer-turned-pirate in the 17th century. He was known as the “Rhode Island Pirate”.
Catch three fire-spinning performances beginning at 7:23 PM, 8:30 PM, and continuing at 9:30 PM by Cirque de Light.
New Additions for This Event
Our friends from the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council will be on the Washington Street Bridge from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM, talking about their mission and upcoming activities in the community.
A dragon boat from the RI Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival will be on display before lighting on the dock in Memorial Park.
Mills Tavern will be on site from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM in front of the RISD Auditorium, handing out samples of their latest menu items.
WaterFire Activations
Stop by College Street from 6:30 to 11:00 PM to see Big B and the Looking Glass, a life-size bunny sculpture by Rhode Island artist Peter Diepenbrock.
The Starry, Starry Night installation returns to Memorial Park near the Crawford Street Bridge; add your light to the night by wishing on a star or dedicate a luminaria candle lantern.
Happening during the lighting across from the basin in the Providence Place mall will be a Paint & Sip in partnership with Providence Place, Fogo de Chao, and supporting WaterFire Providence. Led by local artist and WaterFire Intern Pat Jurkowski. Tickets are limited.
The reception tent for WaterFire Circle Members will be located in the Waterplace Basin on Finance Way. Members have exclusive access to the tent all season with their annual membership. This year’s Official WaterFire Circle Sponsors are Fire Works Catering, McLaughlin & Moran, Gooseneck Vineyards, Pranzi Tents and Events, and The Flower District. Memberships are still available for the 2025 season for individuals and businesses. Looking to experience the WaterFire Circle on August 9th? One-night tickets are available now. Ticket purchase includes access to the exclusive WaterFire Circle tent and first-come, first-served access to highly coveted WaterFire boat rides. G Hospitality will also be under the WaterFire Circle with special offers for guests, including a complimentary cocktail tasting.
WaterFire Access Boat rides are still available to reserve for August 9 and throughout the lighting season. The WaterFire Access Program is a water taxi that provides an experience of the artwork for children and adults with disabilities to ensure that they can join in the most popular arts event in the state and share the experience with their families and friends. Contact access@waterfire.org to learn more about the program or to schedule a ride.
Special Thanks to our 2025 Clear Currents Sponsors!
Organizer
