Annual Events in Providence

Winter, spring, summer and fall, Rhode Island hosts annual events that are inspiring, iconic and entertaining.

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Providence Restaurant Weeks
Providence Children's Film Festival
Providence Pizza Week
WaterFire
Rhode Island PrideFest and Parade
Festival of Historic Houses
Independence Day Celebration
Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival
PVDFest
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Rhode Island Comic Con

Providence Restaurant Weeks
One of America’s hottest food cities (Travel + Leisure mag’s opinion, as well as others’!) must host show-stopping Restaurant Weeks, and Providence does – in January and July. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant in the city that doesn’t participate with special menus and dining offers. It’s the ideal excuse to try a new place or return to an old favorite.

Providence Restaurant Weeks

Providence is one of the nation’s hottest culinary destinations. Find out what the fuss is all about during Providence Restaurant Weeks. Choose from mouthwatering menus and special offers at scores of participating restaurants.


Providence Children's Film Festival
This annual February festival showcases the best of independent and international cinema geared to an audience of future film aficionados. The Festival's films bring joy, inspiration and often education to a diverse community of children and families. In addition to screenings, the Providence Children's Film Festival offers filmmaking workshops, presentations, and interactive activities to help deepen the film-watching experience.

Providence Pizza Week
Providence Pizza Week in April features great deals and delicious pizzas from restaurants throughout Rhode Island. With a variety of creative toppings from savory to dessert, you'll want to try them all. You can even vote for your favorites during the week.

WaterFire
This iconic event has helped put Providence on the top destinations map with its installations of bonfires lit along the middle of the city’s rivers. Locals and tourists alike come out on certain nights from May through November to revel in the sights, sounds and smells – golden embers, mystical music, performing artists and of course, lots of food. Artist Barnaby Evans, who created WaterFire almost 30 years ago, has been internationally recognized for this unique celebration. 

Things To Do

2024 WaterFire Dates Released

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…


Rhode Island PrideFest and Parade
Providence is proud to be one of the top destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists in part because Rhode Island Pride works so hard to advocate for the rights of the community. This annual weekend-long event, held in June, celebrates the culture, art, music and diversity of the local and regional LGBTQ+ population with concerts, bar and club events, and a nighttime illuminated parade as colorful and fun as any you’ve ever seen.  


Festival of Historic Houses
The Providence Preservation Society celebrates the city’s gorgeous architectural gems, some dating to the 1600s, with this annual June festival. The tour provides a rare opportunity to step inside historic properties and learn about their origins and inhabitants while viewing firsthand the modern day living spaces – indoor and out – in these prized, preserved places.  

Independence Day Celebration
In an invigorating display of patriotism the Rhode Island Philharmonic Summer Pops perform an outdoor concert each July Fourth at India Point Park in Providence. Pull up a blanket on the lawn by the water and enjoy the music, food trucks, street performers and more, and cap it all off with a grand fireworks display. 

Fourth Of July

Rhode Island has a long history of showcasing its independent spirit, so it's no surprise that there are plenty of festivities scheduled around Independence Day. Start planning now.


Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival
This week-long August event is the largest public film festival in New England and a qualifying event for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Television and Film Arts awards. The festival welcomes entries from Rhode Island and throughout the world and showcases the films, with post-viewing lectures and events, across the city. For film lovers of all kinds, it’s a must-see.  

PVDFest
Providence's signature arts festival, held in September, brings together artists, performers and vendors to showcase the city's artistic, cultural and culinary talent. This event celebrates everything that makes Providence The Creative Capital.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
The wooded walkways and paths of Roger Williams Park Zoo are transformed each October into a spooky and oh-so-cool venue for thousands of illuminated pumpkins. Each jack-o-lantern is artistically and meticulously carved into the likeness of celebrities, scenes and scary Halloween designs. The event is the perfect way to get into the spirit of Halloween and enjoy the autumn harvest.   

Rhode Island Comic Con
This fun three-day event is Rhode Island's premier toy, comic book, media and collectibles event. Held in November, it attracts thousands of eager fans of everything from “Star Trek” to “Star Wars.” Dozens of celebrities are featured at meet-and-greet and photo-op events, lectures and parties. Many attendees come in costume, making the people watching spectacular!