Sponsored by Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation and Lifetime Medical
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
[/one_half_last]
Saturday, October 1st, 2016
Weather update: There is rain in the forecast for Saturday. The WaterFire lighting and Flames of Hope events are going ahead as planned. Some onshore programming may be curtailed, updates will be posted here as they become available.
Special Event Alert from Providence Art, Culture + Tourism
[one_half]
Sunset: 6:26 p.m.
Lighting time: 6:46 p.m.
The fires will remain lit until 11:00 p.m.
Music Program
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
Join us as a volunteer for this event!
[/one_half_last]
The Illuminations of Life Torch Ceremony will begin on the Statehouse steps at sunset and the torches will arrive in Waterplace Basin approximately 45 minutes later. Follow @waterfireprov on Twitter for breaking updates during the event.
[one_half]
All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on the below scheduled evenings. Lighting begins shortly after sunset and the event continues until half past midnight.
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
Visiting from out of town? Check out our Plan Your Trip to Providence guide, it’s jam packed with info about parking, public transport, restaurants, hotels, and more.
[/one_half_last]
Things to see:
The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation’s Flames of Hope a Celebration of Life™
The Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life™ event includes educational and awareness activities for survivors and their families from the afternoon into the evening in Station Park. Kicking off the evening portion of the event will be the Illuminations of Life tribute on the steps of the State House followed by a procession of torch bearers walking down to Waterplace Basin which will include performances and the lighting of the braziers.
The Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life™ WaterFire is part of a weekend long celebration of the hope, strength, determination and courage all of those battling breast cancer and their friends and family show each and every day. Starting at 8:00 am on Saturday at the Omni Providence Downtown Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life™ will offer a resource fair featuring 50+ vendors offering health, wellness and cancer care information. At 3:00 pm the Celebration Village in Station Park will come to life with performances and interactive activities followed by a Pink Party until midnight. For a full schedule of the weekend’s activities please visit www.flamesofhoperi.com.
Bai Supertea Tent on Steeple Street
Enjoy a complimentary bottle of Bai Supertea on Steeple Street. Bai Supertea is a new antioxidant infused, real brewed tea that provides refreshing flavor without the baggage. Available in four fruit flavors, each bottle contains 5 calories and 1 gram of sugar per serving and no artificial sweeteners. Bai Supertea will help you unleash your inner superhero and eliminate any guilt from your daily tea fix. Bai is proud to be a contributing sponsor of this weekend’s WaterFire and to celebrate Providence’s signature event.
Queen Boudicca a Metal Opera – Unplugged
The cast of QUEEN BOUDICCA a Metal Opera, Composed by Robert E. Schlink, will perform selections from the piece using only ancient Celtic instruments such as the Warrior’s Lyre and the Carnyx War Trumpet. Performances will have from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. at Citizens Plaza on Steeple Street and along the riverwalk Washington and College Streets (RISD campus).
QUEEN BOUDICCA a Metal Opera shares the epic struggle of a Celtic Warrior Queen to free her people from the grip of the Roman Empire… told in a radical reimagining of opera. Follow her story in this dramatic Metal Opera that marshals the forces of Metal band, Choir, Chamber orchestra, Celtic drumline, and ancient instruments to create an overwhelming wave that propels all headlong to its tragic conclusion. Performed in its entirety at RISD AUDITORIUM, Oct. 29, 2016 at 8pm. For tickets go to: https://bit.ly/QBaMORISD.
Charge up the night with National Grid!
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Visitors make use of a National Grid Courtesy Phone Charging Station. Photo by John Nickerson.” ]
Make sure you can capture the magic of WaterFire all evening long by visiting National Grid charging stations on Washington Street and College Street to recharge your smartphone and other mobile devices during the lighting.
The WaterFire Merchandise Store on Canal Street – Open 5:30 – 11:00 p.m.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”WaterFire Providence volunteers at the The WaterFire Store on Canal Street, photo by Jennifer Gervais.” ]
The WaterFire Store on Canal Street is open for business. Stop in and buy a t-shirt, hoodie, poster, magnet, pendants and much more to help support WaterFire and keep the fires burning. Also make sure to check out the Photos of WaterFire tent on Washington Street. This tent will have matted photo prints, featuring the work of our Volunteer Photographers; WaterFire Providence postcards; large format photo posters; and silkscreen prints by local artists.
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza
Washington Street – 6:00 – 10:30 p.m.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza on Washington Street. Photo by Jennifer Bedford.” ]
Located on Washington Street in the heart of the WaterFire installation, the Arts Festival Plaza is a showcase for local artists and craftspeople. From photography and sculpture, paintings and hand-crafted ceramics, to jewelry and specialty textiles, the WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza features a wide range of locally crafted artisan wares to exhibit for sale to WaterFire’s visitors.
Featuring: Mike Bryce, RI Artisan Birdhouse, Anne Made Designs, Tanner Glass, The Cheeky Hound, Henna by Heather, Jessie Jewels Hoops, Framboozled, Orange Cat Candle Co., Esteverde, Stella Marie Soap Company, New Moon Ceramics, K & T Jewelry, Deb’s Designs, M Pearl LLC, The Attic Project.
Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails – Cocktail Garden Under the Willows
Waterplace Basin 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Featuring drinks from Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails. Located just upstream of Waterplace Basin in the heart of the downtown river park, under the willow trees at the foot of the IGT building. Forty five tables, specially made by WaterFire will mount on the river railing overlooking the double row of bonfires for your dining pleasure.
Catch your favorite WaterFire performers:
Fire dancers Benjamin Reynolds and Julia Jerome will dazzle the crowds during several performances throughout the evening at the confluence, on boats, and on the wall of braziers near Memorial Park.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”One of Ten31 Production’s gargoyle characters at WaterFire Providence. Photo by John Nickerson.” ]
Visit the living statues in Memorial Park at the World War I monument. Ten31 Productions returns with their interactive living statues and gargoyles in Memorial Park shortly after lighting.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Photo by Thomas Payne.” ]
Origami Master Andrew Anselmo – 7:00 – 10:30 p.m. in Market Square. A delight for young and old alike. See Andrew make paper come alive in Market Square, outside of the RISD auditorium.
A. Lincoln Portrait – A one-man performance by Robb Dimmick
“A. Lincoln Portrait” traces Abraham Lincoln’s life from childhood and family man, to his brilliant legal career, his political aspirations and rise to presidency. In this authentic portrayal entirely in Lincoln’s own words, we experience a fully human, rarely seen Lincoln as seen through his trials, triumphs, foibles and follies., The audience shares his deep melancholy, remarkable humor and gift of storytelling on the way to understanding his brilliant mind, his political savvy, his grappling a with race and slavery, and his power as an orator. Robb Dimmick’s one man show has been called a tour de force, one of the most authentic Lincoln’s of our time. Having retired his portrayal four years ago following thirty years touring the nation, Dimmick comes out retirement for this rare, not-to-be-missed WaterFire performance. 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the Old State House, 150 Benefit Street.
Historical Tours
Make time to see The Governor Stephen Hopkins House located at 15 Hopkins Street (off Benefit Street) and open for tours between 10:00 a.m. to 10:0 p.m., the last tour begins at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, donations are always welcome.
The Nursing Placement First Aid Station on Washington Street – 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Providing a safe environment for our visitors while they are enjoying WaterFire Providence is a top priority for us. Should you need assistance a first aid station is available at the top of Washington Street behind the Arts Festival Plaza.
Nursing Placement the official first aid provider at WaterFire events will offer first aid care to the public at any time during the event. Additionally, the venue will serve as a meeting place for missing children and parents to reunite. The First Aid RV will be located on Washington Street and can be found on all WaterFire event maps. Nursing Placement will also be taking applications for new team members to help serve the RI population.
About the author
I've worked at WaterFire Providence since 2003. For the first 9 years of my career, I worked in the Production Shop learning all of the details that go into the physical production of the event. In 2012 transitioned to the role of managing WaterFire's social media and web presence. I now head up WaterFire Providence's digital projects including, web, social, databases, and our physical IT infrastructure.
Hello,
At what point is the decision made to cancel due to weather conditions? It looks like this coming weekend has 70-90% rain. Thanks for any info, maureen
The die has already been cast. For this event and our collaboration with the Gloria Gemma foundation there are too many moving parts to effectively pull off a postponement. This event will move forward as planned rain or shine.
Is the water fire free? Please someone respond
Yes.
when does the water fire stop. I want to see it so badly.
Our last full lighting of the 2016 season is on November 5th. See https://waterfire.org/schedule for more info.