Saturday, November 2 - WaterFire Salute to Veterans

Saturday, November 2
Full Lighting
Sunset (5:38 pm) – 9:00 pm
Made possible through the crucial support of Rhode Island Energy, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and BuildSubmarines.com/BlueForge Alliance with additional support from Dominion Energy/Manchester Street Station, Rob Levine Law, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LT, and Stanley Tree Service, Inc.
Music Program

The lighting will begin at 5:56 PM and end at 9:00 PM. The earlier closing hour is to reduce costs due to the decreased number of sponsorships and the impact of the pandemic. Onshore programming and vendors open at 4:30 pm

WaterFire will be celebrating the 12th annual Salute to Veterans torch procession. This ceremony will honor Rhode Island’s Veterans and active-duty military personnel from all service branches. Over 100 Veterans holding torches will process into the Waterplace Park Basin and create a Ring of Fire during the lighting of the WaterFire Braziers.

A speaking program will be held on the Basin Stage beginning at 4:30 PM with opening remarks from Kasim Yarn, the Director, RI Office of Veteran Affairs. There will also be remarks from Governor Daniel J. McKee, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Representative Seth Magaziner, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Secretary Gregg Amore, Attorney General Peter Neronha, Treasurer James Diossa, Senator Walter Felag Jr., Representative Sam Azzinaro, Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley, Director of the VA Regional Office EJ McQuade, David Roberts, the Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities at Electric Boat, and President of RI Energy Greg Cornett. The keynote speaker will be Rear Admiral Darryl L. Walker of the Naval War College.

Salute to Veterans Torch Ceremony

Following the speaking program will be performances from the Providence Firefighters Pipes & Drums at 5:15 PM and 5:30 PM. The torch ceremony will begin at 5:45 PM when Civil Air Patrol Color Guard leads in a 100 torch procession into the basin with Rhode Island’s Veterans and active-duty military personnel from all service branches.  The Navy Band Northeast and Rhode Island Army National Guard 88th Band will play on the Basin stage from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM following the torch procession.

Sign-ups for the 2024 Salute to Veterans Torch Ceremony have closed. Please reach out to Ineke Knudsen at [email protected] if you are interested in being placed on the torchbearer waitlist.

WaterFire Providence thanks the planning committee for the 12th Annual Salute to Veterans lighting:

• Kasim Yarn, Director of RI Veterans Affairs
• Ernest S. Boisvert
• Justyn D. Charon
• John P. Gallo, Sr., United Veteran Council of Rhode Island
• Parker Gavigan
• David A. Harbuziuk LT USN NAVY BAND NE
• Robert Hayden J V CPT USARMY NG
• Michael Jolin P LTC USARMY NG RIARNG
• Bruce Katz, Naval Station Newport
• Sage A. Maker
• Christyn Marcotte SSG USARMY NG RIARNG
• Michael Miragliotta PO2 USN NAVY BAND NE
• Christopher Sams MCPO USN NAVY BAND NE
• Paul Anthony Santilli CIV NG RIARNG
• Edward Smith
• Lynn St. Germain-Lundh, Gold Star Families
• Heather L. Tarducci
• Erik Wallin
• Ed Cabral
• Kellie Martin
• Kris McKenzie

WaterFire Walking Tours

WaterFire Walking Tour bookings are still available for the Saturday, November, 2 Full Lighting of WaterFire. We have tours starting at 1:00 and 2: 00 p.m.⁠
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Experience the magic of WaterFire like never before with this behind-the-scenes walking tour! Led by long-time WaterFire volunteers, this tour covers the remarkable origin story, artistry, and hidden gems of Providence’s most cherished event. Your guide will bring you through the heart of the city, walking alongside the path of the braziers that will be lit just a few short hours later. ⁠
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Tickets are $25 and also include a certificate to add a wish to the Starry, Starry Night installation during the lighting. Be sure to select your preferred date/time at checkout: we cannot issue refunds for tickets bought in error, or after the event has passed. Behind the Magic tours will take place at most full lightings throughout the 2024 season. We hope to announce more lightings as funding becomes available, so check back regularly for updates about tour dates.⁠

Guests are welcome to join us on the Washington Street Bridge from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM for a Veterans Resource Fair including informational tents from General Dynamics Electric Boat, Blue Forge Alliance, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, Rob Levine Law, Washington Trust, Providence Veterans Affairs Regional Benefits Office, Vets Mobile Unit, and National Multiple Sclerosis. Also on the Washington Street Bridge will be the United Way 211 Vehicle, and a Stanley Tree Sevices Military Vehicle.

On the College Street Bridge, there will be a display of Military Vehicles presented by Bruce Ferreira and members of the Rhode Island Military Vehicle Collectors Club (RIMVCC). Guests can check out the vehicles from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

On the Confluence (Steeple Street), where the rivers meet, a Missing Man Table will be set up to honor the memory of fallen, missing, or imprisoned military service members. Every piece of this touching memorial has a special meaning, and we invite you to join us in taking a moment to think about our soldiers who are no longer with us or who are missing.

Lining the river on Memorial Boulevard will be 100 American flags supported by Stanley Tree Service. Stanley Tree will also be providing a large American flag to fly over the Steeple Street Music stage all night long. There will also be a large American flag over Waterplace Park presented by men and women of the Providence Fire Department in honor of all veterans in Rhode Island. 

Performance of Taps will be taking place at the World War I Monument in Memorial Park. There will also be wreath presentations at World War II, Korean and Rhode Island Nine Beirut Memorials, this will beginning at 7:00 PM.

The WaterFire Marketplace will return to Canal Street from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Stop by to support WaterFire with a donation or purchase locally designed apparel, jewelry, glassware, and gifts. Our friends at Gather Glass will do live glass-blowing demonstrations and sell handmade goods. 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. We encourage guests to stop by and purchase WaterFire merchandise or make a small donation. Also stop by the WaterFire programs tent on Canal Street to meet and greet one of the 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort artists, Lizzy Sour, displaying and selling her artwork. 

WaterFire Food fairs featuring local food trucks and vendors are located on Washington Street, Canal Walk, and College Street from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Washington Street includes Kettle Korn Express, Full House Q, Incredabowl, Pam’s Grill on the Go, RaRa’s Surf Shack, and Axelrod’s Fry Shack. Canal Walk – Gather Farm Ice Cream. College Street includes Pita Pocket, Thrive Cakery, Shuckologist, and White Dog Distilling.

Trinity Brewhouse will be serving up its local brews on the corner of Canal Street and Washington Street and will also have a wine tent on the corner of Steeple and Canal Street.

WaterFire Artist Vendors will be located on Washington and Steeple Street from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Shop a variety of locally made goods including glass, photography, sculpture, and jewelry. Washington Street Artists include Recycled SilverWear Suemya Bath Collections,  Alix Fuerst, SepiaLepus Illustration, Carole’s Jewelry Design, Paul & Sandy’s Honey Shack, Sparkles & Glow by Yvonne, Scrapped and Found, and Joseph Mushipi Visual Art. Steeple Street Artists include: Jeremy Schilling Fine Art, Skoshie & Friends, Bare & Brine, Land and SeaGlass, Parched, Into the Woods, Revibed Vinyl, Cutie Curls RI, Nubian Violet Creations, Art by Caitlin, Lilly’s Bone To Pick, Hand Knitted by Grace, Pourever Creations, and Odettas.

College Street Artists include: Stitchery by Heather, Scaredy Cat Pottery, and Jade’s Gems

The Steeple Street Music Stage will feature the Navy Band Northeast RI Sound as they entertain audiences with a mix of music ranging from rhythm and blues to classic rock. They will be taking the stage at 7:00 PM and 8:15 PM

The College Street Acoustic Music Stage will feature Luis Gilberto, playing in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English, Luis plays Bolero, Bossa Nova, Rock / Pop, and the occasional sentimental ballad. He will take the stage at 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 8:00 PM.

Cozy Rhody will be on the College Street Bridge from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM sharing information about how the community can get involved with neighborhood clean-ups and how residences can keep the state of Rhode Island clean.

YES on 5 will have a tent on Canal Way near the WaterFire Main Merch tents from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM. 

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 Washington Street Bridge and Canal Walk starting at sunset. 

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.
Catch three fire-spinning performances beginning at 5:35 PM and continuing at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM by Cirque de Light.