Saturday, July 4, 2026 - Commemorating 250 Years of American Independence
Event Details
Saturday, July 4th Details
Full Lighting
Commemorating 250 Years of American Independence
Sunset (8:23 pm) – 12:00 am
RI Philharmonic Orchestra Concert at RI State House Starts at 6:28 PM
Food and Arts Markets Open at 5:00 pm
Schedule at a Glance
Music Program
“Rhode Island played a unique role in the Revolution, and I can think of no better way to commemorate our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary than with the uniquely Rhode Island tradition of WaterFire,” said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore. “I encourage all Rhode Islanders and visitors to attend this special event, beginning with the rare opportunity to see Rhode Island’s copies of the Declaration of Independence up close at the State House. I’m proud to chair the RI250 Commission, and I hope you will consider joining us on Independence Day!”
RI250 Commemorating 250 Years of American Independence Schedule at a Glance
All Admission Free
Rhode Island’s Declarations Viewing at the Rhode Island State House · 1:00 – 3:00 PM
World Cup soccer game at the PVD Fanzone Station Park · 1:00 – 2:45 PM
RI Philharmonic Orchestra (rehearsal) at the State House · 5:00 – 6:00 PM
World Cup soccer game at the PVD Fanzone Station Park · 5:00 – 6:45 PM
Food and Arts Festival Vendors at WaterFire · 5:00 – 11:30 PM
RI Indian Council Activation in Memorial Park · 6:00 – 11:30 PM
“America in Song: 250 Years of Resilience and Harmony” with Rose Weaver at the RISD Auditorium · 5:00 PM
RI250 Commission Opening Program, State House · 6:28 – 7:00 PM
America 250 In Concert with the RI Philharmonic (concert program) at the State House · 7:15 – 8:45 PM
“Portrait of Rhode Island” projections along river · 8:30 – 11:30 PM
WaterFire Procession begins at the State House · 8:40 PM
Lighting of WaterFire · 8:50 PM
“Coming Together in Song” community singing · 9:00 – 9:25 PM — View the song lyrics!
Luis Gilberto – College Street Stage · 9:00 – 11:30 PM
An Evening with Becky Bass – Steeple St Stage · 9:30 – 11:30 PM
There will be NO FIREWORKS during this event.
(Just good ole fashioned flames).
Event Details:
From 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Rhode Island’s three copies of the Declaration of Independence will be on display inside the State House, as well as exhibits about Rhode Island’s role in the Revolution. Visitors must enter through the Smith Street entrance and are required to go through a security screening. The State House Visitor’s Center and Gift Shop will be open. This event is free and open to the public.
The PVD Fan Zone will be featuring live World Cup Soccer Matches at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, on a Jumbotron screen located in Station Park. Everyone is welcome, free admission, with food on site.
Throughout the afternoon, Behind the Magic Walking Tours will be available. Led by long-time WaterFire volunteers, this tour covers the remarkable origin story, artistry, and hidden gems of Providence’s most cherished event. Guests will walk through the heart of the city, following alongside the path of the braziers that will be lit just a few short hours later. Tours on July 4 are at 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM. Tickets are now available online.
Beginning at 5:00 PM, on the lawn by the south steps of the Rhode Island State House, the public is invited to watch the RI Philharmonic’s rehearsal for their evening concert (at 7:15 PM see details below). Both performances are free. Both performances are free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic-style seating.
Food and Artist Vendors located on Steeple Street, Washington Street, and College Street will open at 5:00 PM. Vendors will remain open until 11:30 PM.
At 5:00 PM, America in Song: 250 Years of Resilience and Harmony, led by Rose Weaver’s Waterspill Junction, will be taking place at the RISD Auditorium. This performance will honor 250 years of resilience, struggle, and harmony through music and story. America in Song features Rose Weaver, Becky Bass, Kia Baird, Lauri Small, Joyce Brayboy, Ann Landis, Laura Gabiger, Jeffrey Theodore, Elizabeth Keiser, John McNiff as Roger Williams, Kim Trusty, Paul Williams, Delbert Collins, Cathy Clasper-Torch, Lon Plynton, Lenny Burrell, and Sidy Maiga; with production support by Natalie Rosario, Ramona Harris, and Dominique Sindayiganza. This performance is free and open to the public.
The Rhode Island Indian Council will be located in Memorial Park beginning at 6:00 PM. The council will be displaying historic artifacts and images throughout the night.
A speaking program on the steps of the RI State House will begin at 6:28 PM and feature remarks from the RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore, members of the RI 250th Commission, and members of the community.
Following the speaking program, at 7:15 PM, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will take the stage and perform on the steps of the Rhode Island State House. America 250 In Concert with the RI Philharmonic (concert program) will feature a presentation of the colors for the Star Spangled Banner and a flyover by the Air National Guard. “We are honored to celebrate this historic milestone with the people of Rhode Island,” said David Beauchesne, Executive Director of the RI Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School. “This concert is an opportunity to bring our community together through music and reflect on the ideals that helped shape our nation.” He noted that Rhode Island played a pivotal role in the movement for American independence and in shaping foundational democratic values, including religious freedom, individual rights, tolerance, self-government, and the rule of law. These principles, rooted in the colony’s 1663 Charter, influenced the nation’s founding documents and continue to resonate today. The concert program will feature iconic American works that reflect these ideals, including music by Paul Simon, Carlos Simon, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein. The Philharmonic’s performance will lead into the lighting of WaterFire at 8:45 PM. In case of inclement weather, the concert may be relocated to Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Should it be necessary to relocate the concert, tickets for the performance at The Vets will be made available on a first come first serve basis through the RI Philharmonic’s website.
The lighting ceremony will feature a procession of the Pawtuxet Rangers and other historical militia members, Rhode Island municipal leaders, RI250 Commission members, and other guests, will start the procession of torches and flags from the State House lawn down Francis Street and into Waterplace Basin, down the staircase closest to Francis Street, to light WaterFire during the encore of Stars and Stripes Forever.
“WaterFire is greatly honored to work with the RI 250th Commission to create a special 4th of July ceremony for the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration. We are delighted to be joined by so many collaborators, including the RI Philharmonic Orchestra, Rose Weaver, Becky Bass, and many others,” said WaterFire Executive Artistic Director Barnaby Evans. “As we reflect on the ideals our country was founded upon, we best honor those ideals by creating a community today of free individuals gathered together for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our peaceful assembly bathed in the light of renewal along the river is a statement of recommitment and a pledge to our future. With this in mind, we will have 250 flags, a procession of dignitaries and militia, thousands of portraits of Rhode Islanders, and at 9:00 PM a chance for all of us to Come Together in Song, where everyone is invited to raise their voices together in unison as we affirm our faith and commitment to the next 250 years.”
Beginning at sunset, Portrait of Rhode Island, a project which features portraits of Rhode Islanders over the past 250 years submitted by Rhode Islanders, will be projected across six screens along the WaterFire footprint.
At 9:00 PM, audience members are invited to Come Together in Song along the river to sing six traditional and patriotic songs. Guests can pick up free songbooks with the song lyrics at the Rhode Island State House or at any WaterFire information tent around the event. The full list of songs and lyrics including a printable version of the songbook can be found here. We invite everyone to lift up their voices and sing.
At 9:00 PM, the College Street Acoustic Stage will feature Luis Gilberto, singing in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English. Luis plays Bolero, Bossa Nova, Rock / Pop, and the occasional sentimental ballad.
At 9:30 PM, the Bank of America Music Stage on Steeple Street will feature Becky Bass, a native of the US Virgin Islands, who will bring her angelic, soulful voice and skillful steel-pan playing to WaterFire. A two-time New England Urban Music Award winner and Brown University graduate, Becky performs uplifting and engaging Caribbean soul music.
Guests will also be able to find their fan favorites around the event as well, including the Starry, Starry Night Installation, WaterFire Phone Booth, and the Big B sculpture in Memorial Park. Pin it Pavilion on Canal Street, and WaterFire merchandise and information tents located on Canal Street, in front of the RISD Auditorium, as well as either side of the Waterplace Basin.
WaterFire signature performers will also be at the event, including Ten31 Living Statues in Memorial Park, Andrew Anselmo, Origami Master in front of Market Square, and fire spinning performances by Cirque De Light along the river.
The WaterFire lighting on Saturday, July 4, is free and open to the public to attend. We encourage donations at any of our merchandise and information tents. We thank the RI 250 Commission for their generous support and partnership as we mark the nation’s semiquincentennial on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
The 2026 WaterFire lighting season is proudly presented with generous support from the City of Providence, Providence Tourism Council, and GoProvidence.
“Transform RI” a poem by Josselyn Wolf, the 2026 Rhode Island Youth Poetry Ambassador
Presented in honor of Rhode Island’s Semiquincentennial celebration.
Organizer
