Saturday, October 22 - Full Lighting
Event Details
Full Lighting – Sunset (5:54 pm) – 11:00 pm
Food fairs, artists’ market vendors, and other onshore activities open at 5:00 p.m.
Music Program
Supported by Brown University – Celebrating Brown’s Commitment and Partnership to the City of Providence
Brown’s sponsorship of the October 22 lighting comes as the University welcomes thousands of parents and family members of current students from across the globe to Providence for Family Weekend and for the Warren Alpert Medical School’s Medical Family Weekend, part of a celebration of Brown’s 50 years of impact in medical education and research benefiting communities. The weekend events give families of Brown students a taste of the intellectual and cultural vitality of Brown and Providence, and the opportunity to engage firsthand in the local community. The lighting also coincides with a Fall Weekend celebration for Brown alumni volunteer leaders.
Brown President Christina H. Paxson mentions their support of the upcoming WaterFire “reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to and connection with the City of Providence — as a neighbor, top employer and institution dedicated to a mission of education, research and service.” She continues on to say, “In everything from advancing health and medical care in Rhode Island, supporting local K-12 schools and playing a key role in fueling the regional economy, Brown is deeply committed to investing in the success of our local community,” Paxson said. “In the 28 years since Brown graduate Barnaby Evans founded WaterFire, this remarkable installation has illuminated Providence and helped to transform the city culturally and economically. We are excited to build on our previous partnerships with WaterFire, celebrate our enduring commitment to Providence, and ignite new and lasting connections with the city and state we call home.”
Before the lighting ceremony, Brown will kick-off the night with a short speaking program on the Waterplace Park Stage with remarks from President Paxson and the Warren Alpert Medical School Dean Mukesh K. Jain with a performance by Chance Emerson. After the speaking program the WaterFire Lighting Ceremony will begin at 6:20 p.m.
The Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School will be activating the Washington Street Bridge in celebration of 50 Years of impact in medical education from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The medical school will have a hospitality tent along with the featured activation MEGA Lungs, an educational exhibit that allows visitors to step inside an inflatable human lung replica. Visitors can learn about the various structures and normal lung functions, observe examples of lung trauma and disease including lung cancer, the leading cause of death from cancer in Rhode Island and view displays explaining some of the latest respiratory medical treatments. There will also be two student hosted tents for the public to interact with.
There will be a hospitality tent for Brown University friends and family in Market Square.
Brown University is activating the Steeple Street Music Stage beginning at 5:00 p.m, the lineup will include acapella performances by Shades of Brown, Ursa Minors, Beauty and the Beats, paired with musical performances by Elijah Golden, the Brown Salsa club, Daebak Kpop Dance Association, and Em’s Femmes funk and jazz band.
Learn more:
- Building Community Through Art
- Combining entrepreneurship with art: WaterFire founder Barnaby Evans ’75 discusses event’s history, impact (Brown Daily Herald, October 16, 2022)
- Founder Barnaby Evans on WaterFire’s powerful economic, cultural impact in Providence
Opening at 5:00 pm – Food Fairs, Artist Vendors, Living Statues, & More!
WaterFire Marketplace will return to Canal Street, stop by to support WaterFire with a donation or a purchase of locally designed apparel, glassware, books, and gifts. Make a quick and easy donation with DipJar and watch glass blowing by Gather Glass.
Food fairs will be open on Washington Street. Enjoy local food from festival favorites: Saugy’s, Sweet Smokin’ Pits, Kettle Korn Express, Red’s Street Kitchen, Caribbean Delights Ja’ Patty and One2Taconmore. Additional vendors will be located on College Street including Madonna Rosario Society, Pams Grill on the Go, Spanglish, and Vegan Suga.
Arts Festival on Steeple Street and Washington Street includes local artists and makers Roses N Dragons Designs, Joseph Mushipi Visual Art, Into The Woods, Uncouth Creations, Ecuador to your door, Taft Street Studios and more.
WaterFire will have four pop-up tents for sponsors, including International Gaming Technology (IGT), Dassault Systems, and General Dynamics Electric Boat on Canal Street and Celebrity Cruises in Waterplace basin below the IGT building’s terrace.
The living statues from Ten31 Productions will be in Memorial Park at the base of the World War memorial.
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 fire spinning performances beginning at sunset and continuing throughout the lighting by Cirque de Light.
Pneu Haus will have an immersive sculpture installation in Memorial Park.
College Street will host community organizations from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. including AS220, Haus of Codec, The Avenue Concept Community Booth, Providence Gallery Night and PPAC as well as local bites from Pams Grill on the Go and Spanglish. Catch the Taiko Drummers’ performance at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Trinity Beer Garden will be on the corner of Steeple Street and Canal Street.
Charged up with our General Dynamics Electric Boat Mobile Device Charging Stations
WaterFire Providence is excited to be able to provide mobile charging stations free of charge to visitors at four locations along the riverwalk. The charging stations will be located on College Street, at the WaterFire greeter station located outside the RISD auditorium, at the WaterFire Marketplace tents on Canal Street, and at the WaterFire greeter station located in the Waterplace Park Basin Tunnel. The mobile device charging stations are supported by General Dynamics Electric Boat.
Organizer
