If you ask locals what Providence's signature event is, chances are that most residents would say WaterFire, a series of nearly 100 bonfires that seem to magically perch in the three rivers of downtown Providence. This art installation, created by local artist and Brown grad Barnaby Evans, has attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the Creative Capital every year.
WaterFire is a multisensory spectacle, replete with the comforting aroma of burning wood, the lilting tones of carefully curated music that only amplifies the experience, and breathtaking sight of a city aflame. Street performers, musicians and thousands of enchanted people only add to the experience.
Full lightings wind through the downtown area, while partial lightings are confined to the Waterplace Basin. Fires begin at dusk. There are also two special fires - one calling attention to the fight against breast cancer and its survivors and one honoring our nation's veterans.
Here are the dates for the 2015 WaterFire season:
for RI Defeats Hep C
Additional fires may be added throughout the season. Hotels and restaurants close to the WaterFire route fill up quickly, so make your reservations as early as possible. To learn more about WaterFire or make a donation to keep the fires burning, visit Waterfire.org.