A lot of people may not know that Waterfire Providence began as a creative and interactive vision by artist Barnaby Evans. It was thirty years ago when Evans sought to celebrate the 10th anniversary of First Night Providence. His masterpiece was an award-winning fire sculpture installation along the three rivers in the heart of downtown Providence, stretching from WaterPlace Basin to Steeple Street. His main goal was to bring a new sense of life to downtown, all while using the river as a representation of life flowing through the city.
“I started to look at these public interactions in urban environments and wondered how art could change the way people behave in a public place and whether you could use art to rebuild a sense of community,” Evans said. “I thought that might be an opportunity to use that new beginning of the river as a place to think about Providence in a new light.”
With that, Waterfire was born in 1994, which was called “First Fire,” appropriately enough, and Evans himself may not have known how the event would go on to become synonymous with the capital city three decades later. The event immediately resonated with people, offering something that local residents can be proud of as the city became a destination place for everyone around the state, as well as outside Rhode Island’s borders.
“Ideally it’s a place of total freedom,” Evans said. “You don’t pay admission, there’s no line, there’s no reserved seats, you can come and engage with the space exactly how you feel like you would to engage that night.”
The events are typically held once a month May through November on Saturday evenings, but this August, you’ll have three opportunities to check out Waterfire Providence and everything it has to offer. There will be full lightings on Saturday, August 3, Saturday, August 17, and Saturday August 31. The events will start at sunset and conclude at 11 PM.
As a cultural and artistic scene, WaterFire Providence is now a Rhode Island tradition, which attracts visitors from around the globe. When the sun goes down and the events kicks off, the city turns into one big, glowing party. More than 100 fires are set ablaze on braziers floating in the water. This series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of Downtown Providence illuminate almost two-thirds of a mile of parks and public spaces. Visitors experience the scent of blazing cedar and pine while hearing the crackle of flames as firelight flickers and dances along bridges and pathways while a variety of performers travel along the rivers in torch-lit vessels. Music from around the world plays and there is always an array of food and beverages to enjoy as you stroll the grounds around the riverfront.
In addition, the entire city comes alive with artistic performances, such as fire blowers and living art sculptures. Surrounding parks are transformed into artistic experiences, streets are closed for local craft vendors, food trucks and more.
With all these sights, sounds, smells, and tastes, WaterFire Providence has been described as a feast for the senses, which draws about a million visitors to the city each year.
If you’ve never been, it’s the perfect time of the year for Waterfire with the warm afternoons cooling down significantly after the sun sets. Soak up the spectacle with family, friends, and neighbors, take a gondola ride, or a riverboat ride for a firsthand, up-close experience on the river.
For more information visit https://waterfire.org.
