WaterFire’s 2023 Full Season Schedule will be announced on April 19!
WaterFire invites the public on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, to Memorial Park to unveil the lighting dates for the 2023 WaterFire season. The “Strike the Match” event will begin at sunset and feature a press conference, where the full schedule for the season will be announced in front of the World War Memorial. Thank you to our 2023 WaterFire Season Supporters for helping to keep the fires burning.
2023 WaterFire Season Schedule
Saturday, April 1
Partial lighting, Memorial Park
401Gives Celebration
Supported by United Way of Rhode Island
Sunset (7:10 pm) – 9:30 pm
Wednesday, April 19
Partial lighting, Memorial Park
Strike the Match Season Kick-off &
WaterFire Day #SparkYourAppetite Fundraiser
Sunset (7:30 pm) – 9:30 pm
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This page is the most up-to-date event schedule resource.
- Subscribe to the 2022 WaterFire Season Schedule (iCal)
- Download a printable version of our 2022 Season Schedule (PDF)
- Stay tuned and thank you for your ongoing support.
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Your support of the WaterFire Future Fund is more vital now than ever!
Thanks to our 2023 WaterFire Season Supporters
WaterFire Providence would like to thank our 2022 WaterFire Season Supporters for their ongoing support: State of Rhode Island, Governor Daniel J. McKee; Rhode Island Commerce; The City of Providence, Mayor Jorge Elorza; The Providence City Council; The Rhode Island General Assembly; Providence Tourism Council; Rhode Island State Council of the Arts; Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau; Cox Media; Rhode Island Monthly; WPRI 12 & FOX Providence & The Rhode Show; Cumulus Media; iHeartMedia, Inc.; and The Providence Journal.
All Full WaterFire lightings light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on scheduled evenings throughout the season. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the fires will remain lit until midnight (unless otherwise noted).
Basin lightings include the circle of twenty-two braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin and the five braziers leading up to the Providence Place Mall.
Partial lightings can include braziers in any section of the river. Partial lightings typically encompass only one section of the river but may include more than one.
As support and sponsorships develop, WaterFire will announce additional lightings and programming – check back for updates here and on our Facebook page and Twitter account.
You can help us keep the fires burning by making a donation to keep the fires burning, joining the Brazier Society of WaterFire Providence, or by becoming a WaterFire Sponsor.
WaterFire Providence’s Plan Your Trip to Providence web page is the #1 resource for up-to-date details about the event, transportation, parking, hotels, restaurants, and other local attractions.
Each year WaterFire attracts nearly 1 million visitors to downtown Providence to experience art in the city. Annually, WaterFire activity creates $113 million in economic output for local businesses, generates over $9 million of tax revenue for the State of Rhode Island, and supports 1,294 jobs for community residents.
Fire marshal regulations do not permit folding chairs to be set up on any of the riverwalks to assure safe passage for all of our visitors. WaterFire is an event to be explored and savored on foot as you wander around to discover its many surprises, leave your chairs in the car, and start exploring all that our event has to offer.
