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September 30th, 2017 – Full Lighting

Sponsored by the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation

The Illuminations of Life Torch Ceremony will begin on the Statehouse steps at sunset and the torches will arrive in Waterplace Park Basin approximately 60 minutes later. Half of the braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin will remain unlit until approximately an hour past sunset. At this time the Illumination of Life 150-person torch procession will arrive in the basin from Station Park leading into a Ring of Fire and the remaining fires will be lit.

Visitors enjoy attractions in Station Park as the Flames of Hope torch procession passes by. Photograph by Kevin Murray.
Visitors enjoy attractions in Station Park as the Flames of Hope torch procession passes by. Photograph by Kevin Murray.

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 torchbearers 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: Passport to Survivorship will offer a resource fair featuring 50+ vendors offering health, wellness and cancer care information. At 3:00 pm the Celebration Festival 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.

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September 30th, 2017 – Full Lighting

Sunset time: 6:29 p.m.
Music Program

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Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation

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The Illuminations of Life Torch Ceremony will begin on the Statehouse steps at sunset and the torches will arrive in Waterplace Basin approximately 60 minutes later. The WaterFire lighting will begin at its regular time, just after sunset. Half of the braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin will remain unlit until approximately an hour past sunset. At this time the Illumination of Life 150-person torch procession will arrive in the basin from Station Park leading into a Ring of Fire and the remaining fires will be lit. Follow @waterfireprov on Twitter for breaking updates during the event.

All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset (6:41 p.m.) and the event continues until 11:00 p.m.


The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza on Washington Street starting at 5:00 p.m.

The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza on Washington Street. Photo by Jennifer Bedford.

The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza, in partnership with Bryce Studio, returns to Washington Street for the 2017 WaterFire Providence season. The Arts Festival Plaza and will be active from 5:00 – 10:30 p.m. 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 purchase artwork by Rhode Island-based artists.

iHeartMedia will be spinning some tunes on Steeple Street from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Visit Starry, Starry Night

Starry, Starry Night. Photograph by Erin Cuddigan.
Starry, Starry Night. Photograph by Erin Cuddigan.

The Starry, Starry Night Installation will shine brightly in Memorial Park. Join thousands of WaterFire visitors in Memorial Park where the public is encouraged to add their own light to the night. For a small donation to WaterFire, make a wish upon a star or place your very own message and luminaria candle lantern in the park. The park will be aglow with hanging blue stars and a constellation of twinkling luminaria candle lanterns below.

WaterFire’s favorite characters are back!

Fire spinner Ember Flynne performs at WaterFire. Photograph by Kevin Murray.
Fire spinner Ember Flynne performs at WaterFire. Photograph by Kevin Murray.

Fire dancers Ember Flynne and Michael Kevin Farrel will dazzle the crowds during several performances throughout the evening at the confluence and on the wall of braziers in Memorial Park.

Michael Grando the Phantom Boatman
Mime artist Michael Grando

Mime artist Michael Grando will return again for this event. Be sure to catch Michael, in costume as the Commedia dell’arte character Pierrot, as he cruises the river tossing carnations to visitors along the shore.

Andrew Anselmo

Origami Master Andrew Anselmo will delight crowds of all ages near the RISD auditorium.

Charge up with National Grid

Photo by Tom Lincoln

Make sure you can capture the magic of WaterFire all evening long by visiting National Grid charging station on the Washington Street Bridge to recharge your smartphone and other mobile devices during the lighting.

Step back through history at the Governor Stephen Hopkins House

Governor Stephen Hopkins HouseMake 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 10:00 p.m., when they fall on a full WaterFire lighting (the last tour begins at 9:30 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

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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.

4 thoughts on “September 30th, 2017 – Full Lighting”

  1. greetings tim,

    i am a volunteer photographer and illustrator. Please feel free to contact me to help coordinate images with content to attract newcomers attention.

    My work is in dropbox for some of my waterfire images.. performers, locations, loading wood on boats ,lighting torches.. still images capturing a moment in time at waterfire

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