Saturday, October 4 - Flames of Hope
Event Details
Saturday, October 4th Details
Full Lighting
Sunset (6:22 PM) – 11:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:30 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
- Jacob Frezza: 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, and Good Vibes Beverages
- Canal Walk: Gather Farm Ice Cream, Del’s Lemonade + Inside Voices
- Steeple Street: Maven’s Delicatessen, Sarcastic Sweets, and Trinity Brewhouse
- College Street: Chill’s Cheesecakes, Taste of India, Sal’s, White Dog Distilling
- Waterplace Park: Trinity Brewhouse
Art Vendors:
- Washington Street: Recycled SilverWear, Joseph Mushipi Visual Art, Studio J Florals, Jeremy Schilling Fine Art, Scaredy Cat Pottery, Land and SeaGlass, Eric Sturtevant Illustrations, MacxMedia, Paul & Sandy’s Honey Shack
- Steeple Street: Cutie Curls, Annaleah Moon Studios, Skoshie & Friends, Bare & Brine, CandlesByJudith, Design WhatHaveYou, Jade’s Gems, Adopt Crochet Cuties, Psychic Niquel, K&T jewelry and accessories, Lilly’s Bone To Pick, Pourever Creations
- College Street: Nubian Violet Creations, Ecuador to your door
- Canal Walk: Anti-Robot Club and Gather Glass
WaterFire Ambassador + Merchandise Stations:
The WaterFire Marketplace will return to Canal Street from 5:30 to 10:00 PM. Visitors can support WaterFire by making a donation or purchasing locally designed apparel and accessories. Additional WaterFire merchandise and donation stations will be located:
- Canal Street (between Steeple Street and Washington Street)
- In front of the RISD Auditorium
- Waterplace Basin, the tunnel-side
- Waterplace Basin, the stage-side
- Market Square
Our friends at Anti-Robot Club + Gather Glass will also be on-site. Anti-Robot Club will be vending their most popular merchandise and Gather Glass will be live glass-blowing demonstrations on Canal Street.
Don’t live locally? Shop our online store and get the items shipped directly to you! Shop now>>
Your purchase helps support WaterFire’s creative placemaking events and programming that bring diverse arts experiences to Rhode Island.
WaterFire Providence shares details for a full lighting on Saturday, October 4, made possible through the support of Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. The lighting will begin shortly after sunset (6:22 PM), and the fires will burn until 11:00 PM. Vendor streets and onshore programming will start at 5:30 PM.
“The Gloria Gemma Foundation has proudly partnered with WaterFire Providence on the Flames of Hope celebration for the past 20 years. Each year, we look forward to this event because it not only reflects the mission of Gloria Gemma but also embodies what WaterFire is about—creating a sense of community and bringing people together. That is truly what this entire weekend is all about,” says Bryan Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.
At 6:22 PM, a procession of lighting boats will travel upstream from the Crawford Street Bridge lighting the braziers throughout the installation and half of the braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin. The remaining braziers will be lit starting just after 7:15 PM, coinciding with the arrival of the Torch Procession, part of Gloria Gemma’s Flames of Hope: Illuminations of Life Ceremony. During the lighting ceremony, The State Ballet of Rhode Island will perform in the Basin as 150 breast cancer survivors make a powerful walk from the Rhode Island State House steps into the Waterplace Park Basin. Fires will continue to burn until 11:00 PM, thanks to the support of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.
WaterFire is just one part of Gloria Gemma’s Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life weekend, which also features the free Passport to Survivorship Expo, the Celebration Festival in Station Park, Sunday’s Pink Pump Palooza, and the Gloria Gemma 5K. Visit gloriagemma.org/flame-of-hope for their full schedule and details.
Exciting Additions for This Event
The WaterFire Accelerate tent in Market Square will feature 2024-2025 artist, Dorian Epps, who will be selling his work and sharing details about the current exhibition at the WaterFire Arts Center, Family Business. Visitors can also learn more about the professional development program for artists under 30; applications for the next cohort are open now.
Rhode Island Latino Cancer Association will be in Market Square from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, talking about resources for the community and ways to get involved with the organization.
Space2Thrive will be in Market Square from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, bringing awareness about Volt Hockey to the community. Guests can sit in the chairs used to play the sport as well as learn more about how to join and get involved.
Aquidneck Harvest Company will be in front of the RISD Auditorium from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, promoting their new products and where to purchase them.
Johnson and Wales University will be in front of the RISD Auditorium from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, talking about their friends and family weekend happenings on campus and around the city.
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.
WaterFire Food and Beverage Vendors featuring local food trucks and vendors are located on Washington Street, Canal Walk, and College Street from 5:30 to 10:00 PM.
Washington Street includes Kettle Korn Express, Full House Q, Incredabowl, Saugy Express, Atomic Blonde, RaRa’s Surf Shack. Canal Walk includes Gather Farm Ice Cream, Del’s Lemonade, and Inside Voices. Steeple Street includes Maven’s Delicatessen and Sarcastic Sweets. College Street includes Chill’s Cheesecakes, Taste of India, Sal’s, and White Dog Distilling.
Trinity Brewhouse will be serving up its local brews on the corner of Canal Street and Steeple Street, and will also be serving in Waterplace Park.
WaterFire Artist Vendors will be located on Washington and Steeple Street from 5:30 to 10:00 PM.
Shop a variety of locally made goods, including glass, photography, sculpture, and jewelry. Washington Street Artists include: Recycled SilverWear, Joseph Mushipi Visual Art, Studio J Florals, Jeremy Schilling Fine Art, Scaredy Cat Pottery, Land and SeaGlass, Eric Sturtevant Illustrations, MacxMedia, and Paul & Sandy’s Honey Shack. Steeple Street Artists include: Cutie Curls, Annaleah Moon Studios, Skoshie & Friends, Bare & Brine, CandlesByJudith, Design WhatHaveYou, Jade’s Gems, Adopt Crochet Cuties, Psychic Niquel, K&T jewelry and accessories, Lilly’s Bone To Pick, and Pourever Creations. College Street Artists include: Nubian Violet Creations, and Ecuador to your door.
Music Stage
The College Street Acoustic Music Stage will feature Jacob Frezza, a singer-songwriter from North Providence, RI. He will be taking the stage from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.
Performances
Pop-up performers will be scattered throughout the evening, including Andrew Anselmo, Origami Master, who will be in Market Square all night, and A Silent Soapbox, a living statue appearing at the bottom of the Washington Street Bridge starting at sunset. Visitors can also catch three fire-spinning performances by Cirque de Light along the river at 6:21 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:30 PM.
WaterFire Circle: An Exclusive WaterFire Experience
One night tickets to the VIP Reception Tent!
Whether you’re visiting from out of town or treating yourself to a special night in your own backyard, the WaterFire Circle offers a one-of-a-kind way to experience the magic.
Your ticket allows you to come-and-go throughout the night to our intimate, welcoming space away from the crowds. Enjoy complimentary light bites, wine, beer, coffee, and desserts. Throughout the evening, guests may enjoy surprise pop-up performances, visits from living statues, and other unique moments.
Individual and Corporate members will enjoy a reception area with linens and tables from Pranzi Tents & Events. The tent will feature a curated grazing table courtesy of FireWorks Catering, beer, and wine from McLaughlin & Moran and Gooseneck Vineyards.
This is also one of the only ways to experience WaterFire from the water. Guests have the opportunity to sign up for a complimentary boat ride during the lighting. Space is limited and rides are first-come, first-served, so we encourage you to sign up early onsite.
The Circle’s location may vary from night to night, but the experience is always unforgettable.
Learn More>>
Join us for an unforgettable WaterFire Experience!
Embrace your inner artist and join us for a night of painting a WaterFire inspired scene while overlooking the Waterplace Park Basin during WaterFire.
Your ticket includes:
- All painting supplies and professional instruction with local artist Pat Jurkowski (@patartchive)
- Two glasses of red or white wine (must be 21+)
- Delicious lite fare courtesy of Fogo de Chão
- A chance to win a $50 Fogo de Chão gift card
- Complimentary parking for the 1st 2-hours available in the Providence Place garage
A portion of the ticket sales will benefit WaterFire Providence
Organizer
