You can travel the globe and never find anything quite like WaterFire. A series of nearly 100 bonfires that seems to magically perch on the three rivers of downtown Providence, WaterFire is actually an art installation. Created by local artist and Brown grad Barnaby Evans, WaterFire has attracted hundreds of thousands of people to Providence every year.

WaterFire is a multisensory spectacle, replete with the comforting aroma of burning wood and the lilting tones of carefully curated music, which amplifies the experience. Street performers, musicians and thousands of attendees add to the enchantment. Best of all, the entire incredible experience is free.

Full lightings wind through the downtown area, while partial lightings are confined to the Waterplace Basin. Fires begin at dusk. 

Here are the dates for the 2021 WaterFire Season:

Full Lightings:

Saturday, September 4
Thanking COVID Heroes Including Essential Workers

Saturday, October 2
Then, Now, Next: 50 Years of Women at Providence College
Supported by Providence College

Saturday, October 16
Supported by BIPOC Arts, Technology and Business and Brown University

Saturday, November 6
9th Annual Salute to Veterans 

Partial Lightings:

Thursday, September 9
Supported by Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O'Gara LLC Celebrating Their 15-year Anniversary

Saturday, September 18
Celebrating Educational Excellence in RI with the RI Department of Education

Friday, September 24
Supported by University of Rhode Island, URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement

Wednesday, October 27
WaterFire's 25th Birthday Celebration

Saturday, December 4
WaterFire Celebrating the Holidays

Add a little more heat to your WaterFire evening by enjoying one of Providence’s great restaurants and exciting nightlife.