Summer of Science Series || Big Bang Science Fair
Community Heroes Series || Celebrating Educational Excellence in Rhode Island
Saturday, September 28
FULL LIGHTING
The 2nd Annual Big Bang Science Fair presented by Brown University, Brown Physician’s Inc and Citizens Bank. Celebrating Educational Excellence in Rhode Island is presented in partnership with the RI Department of Education with additional support from the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association Rhode Island. This WaterFire lighting is sponsored in part by Fidelity Investments.
- The Big Bang Science Fair starts at 4:00 pm with presentations in RISD auditorium and workshops in Market Square (4 North Main Street). Hands-on-activities in Market Square (4 North Main Street), College Street, and ICERM start at 5:00 pm. Hack401 activities start at 1:00 pm at 30 Exchange Terrace 1st Floor. Free tickets required for some activities can be obtained via Eventbrite. High School students who get their “STEAM passports” stamped by all activity tents are eligible to enter a drawing to win a “tablet” as a prize!
- Salute to Rhode Island Educators starts at 5:00 pm in Memorial Park
- Arts Fairs, Food Vendors, and Special Performances and Events start at 5:00 pm
- Sunset at 6:33 pm; the fires will remain lit until 12:00 am
- Music Program
All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the event continues until midnight.
Celebrating Educational Excellence in Rhode Island
Starting at 5:00 pm in Memorial Park.
Together with the community we celebrate our successes in education across Rhode Island, showcase interesting and successful projects, and commending teachers and educators who have been recognized for excellence. WaterFire and the Rhode Island Department of Education invite everyone to Memorial Park in the afternoon for an award ceremony followed by a torch ceremony recognizing and thanking our educators.
Celebrating Educational Excellence in Rhode Island is sponsored in part by:
The 2nd Annual Big Bang Science Fair at WaterFire
The Big Bang Science Fair starts at 4:00 pm with presentations in RISD auditorium and workshops in Market Square (4 North Main Street). Hands-on-activities in Market Square (4 North Main Street), College Street, and ICERM start at 5:00 pm. Hack401 activities start at 1:00 pm at 30 Exchange Terrace 1st Floor. Free tickets required for some activities can be obtained via Eventbrite. High School students who get their “STEAM passports” stamped by all activity tents are eligible to enter a drawing to win a “tablet” as a prize!
The Big Bang Science Fair celebrates the intersections between science and the arts. We invite kids and adults of all ages to participate in the free, hands-on activities and discover science in our daily lives. For one exciting day, famous scientists team up with musicians, programmers, mathematicians, physicians, artists, and chefs to explore the wonders of science. Do not miss our fascinating speakers, and meet the researchers working with the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva. Stargaze with local astronomers! Blend science with art at RIMOSA! Experience the wonders of the brain! Design your own circuitry and code robots! Interact with Math+Art artists and their work! View a virtual “Living Heart”! Take a selfie in the tunnel of the Large Hadron Collider! See invisible particles which penetrate the earth! Get a hug from the Brown bear!
Learn more and see the complete Big Bang Science Fair schedule.
The Big Bang Science Fair is sponsored in part by:
Champions:
Mr. Guy Lombardo
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mencoff
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sorenson
Partners:
Lincoln School
Moses Brown School
Textron
The Wheeler School
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza, in partnership with Bryce Studio, is happening again on both Washington Street and Steeple Street from 5:00 – 11:30 pm., this outdoor artisan fair will showcase some of the great artwork created in Rhode Island in mediums such as glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more. The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza will offer visitors the opportunity to support the local arts economy by purchasing work by Rhode Island-based artists.
Visit the WaterFire Marketplace on Canal Street and help light up Providence. Support WaterFire with a donation or a purchase of locally designed apparel, glassware, books, and gifts. Pin where you are from on Map Center’s maps and watch glass blowing by Gather Glass.
Grab a bite to eat! Visit one of our great food vendors:
Washington Street
- Hummingbird Syndicate
- Kettle Korn Express
- Saugy’s Hot Dogs
- Sweet Smokin’ Pits
- Hometown Poké
- Mad Good Cookie
- Red’s Street Kitchen
On the River Walk between College and Washington Streets
Tony’s Chocolonely Chocotruck on Washington Street from 5:00 to 10:00 pm
A bright red truck touring the U.S. will be at WaterFire interacting (and chocolate sampling!) with visitors of all ages teaching about modern slavery and exploitation in the cocoa industry in West Africa in a fun and inclusive way.
The XQ Super School will be on Steeple Street from 5:00 to 10:00 pm
“XQ+RI is a unique partnership between XQ and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to empower communities to reimagine high schools so they fully prepare all students for the future. Every school community in the state joined one of four Design Days, where state leaders, teachers, school leaders, students, families, and local partners dug into XQ’s Learner Goals and Design Principles.” Come explore what Rhode Islanders’ shared during the XQ+RI Design Days inside the XQ Super School Bus.
CollegBound Saver and EaglePicher Technologies will be represented on Canal Street from 5:00 to 10:00 pm
Come learn about how the CollegeBound Saver Program is helping families to save for college. EaglePicher Technologies has been an industry-leading American batteries manufacturer in integrated power solutions for nearly a century. Come meet company representatives to learn about their products and recruitment opportunities.
Exhibitions at the RISD Illustration Studies Building Gallery
The exhibition at ISB is free!
The Creative Marriage of Words and Images
The ISB Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of work by alumni SooJin Buzelli 96 IL and Chris Buzelli 95 IL, including finished paintings and published pieces, along with sketches and preliminary designs that reveal the collaborative process behind the Buzellis’ extraordinary creative output. SooJin is a world-renowned art director who commissions hundreds of illustrations each year, and Chris is an award-winning illustrator known for his distinctive work.
The gallery is open every WaterFire night from 12:00 to 10:00 pm.
Dates: August 17 through October 18
Hours: Tuesday through Friday 12:00 – 5:00 pm.
Address: 55 Canal Walk, Providence, RI 02903
Step back through history at the Governor Stephen Hopkins House
Make time to see The Governor Stephen Hopkins House located at 15 Hopkins Street (off Benefit Street). They are open for tours: Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m. and April through November on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & until 7:00 p.m., when they fall on a full WaterFire lighting (the last tour begins at 6:30 p.m.).
Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
The museum is also open by appointment, for which there may be a modest admission charge. Please email [email protected] to make an appointment.
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.
I saw water fires for the first time on 9/28/2019. Loved it and thought music was wonderful. Is there any way I can find out what the music was that had a cello in it?
Hi Barbara, we’re glad to hear that you’ve enjoyed your experience. We play a few pieces of music that feature the cello. Here is the music program from that night.