Providence's Can't Miss Spring Events

Begins at Noon at Smith Street and Hilltop Avenue. The parade will proceed eastwards on Smith Street and end at the Rhode Island State House.

COME FOR THE CITY. STAY FOR THE PUNCHLINE.Rhode Island’s premier comedy festival returns March 18–21, 2027! After an incredible first year, we’re bringing the biggest laughs back to the smallest state for four nights of unforgettable comedy, community and chaos.​Presented by Professional Facilities Management, Lil Rhody Laugh Riot transforms Providence, Rhode Island into a comedy capital. With shows at The VETS, PPAC, Rhode Island Comedy Connection, The Uptown Theater and more.Additional announcements are coming soon — so get ready to laugh loud, laugh local, and experience Rhode Island like never before.

The largest home improvement and idea show in Southern New England! Featuring the “Specialty” RI Flower Show, the 10,000 sq ft Garden Experience, the Annual Energy Expo, the new House of Brews, and the Inspiration Showcase! Plus, hundreds of home-related exhibitors with trends, & services!

Presented by GoProvidence

End your week at Food Truck Friday, a free outdoor festival at Carousel Village in Roger Williams Park, running Fridays from spring through September starting at 5 pm. Pay as you go from a rotating lineup of 15+ local food trucks, enjoy live music, local beer and wine, the carousel and train rides (extra cost), and Hasbro’s Boundless Playground. The 2026 season ran April 17 to September 25. Check back for next season’s dates.

Our New Artistic Director’s Trinity Rep Directorial Debut - January 27 – March 18, 2027 Dowling Theater

By Lauren Yee Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo February 11 – March 21, 2027 Dowling Theater In rotating repertory with Cyrano An Off-Kilter New England PremiereIt’s 1992 in the country formerly known as the Soviet Union, and the Cold War’s gone lukewarm. Gorbachev is out, Yeltsin is in, and the newborn Russian Federation is getting to know the free market and the Filet-o-Fish. Two old friends—once aspiring KGB agents, now struggling to adapt to the new regime—find work spying on an ex-pop star and absolutely nothing goes according to plan. Fast, sharp, and darkly funny, Mother Russia is a new comedy about what happens when the world flips upside down that asks how ordinary people can recalibrate when the rules change overnight.

Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is the uplifting true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like "America," "Forever in Blue Jeans," and "Sweet Caroline," an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world that made him bigger than Elvis, Neil Diamond's story was made to shine on Broadway-and head out on the road across America.Like Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical before it, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL is an inspiring, exhilarating, energy-filled musical memoir, that tells the untold true story of how America's greatest hitmaker became a star, set to the songs that defined his career.Part of the Encore Series

April 8 – May 9, 2027 Dowling Theater A Must-See American Classic Blues legend Ma Rainey and her band are getting ready to record new takes of old tracks in a worn-down Chicago studio. When the young, ambitious trumpet player Levee pushes for a different direction, competing visions quickly emerge. As he fights to make a name for himself, Ma Rainey asserts control over her music, while producers press for profit at every turn. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson delivers a blistering exploration of power, racism, and autonomy in this iconic play that’s as melodic as it is profound.

A Ballet for Young Audiences: Based on the book by Rhode Island author Emberli PridhamOnce upon a time, a real princess walked among us. This charming children’s ballet brings to life the beloved story of Princess Diana. Filled with wonder and warmth, A Real Life Fairy Tale is a perfect introduction to the magic of ballet for young audiences and a celebration of one of history’s most beloved figures.Choreography by Adele WaldenTICKETS ON SALE NOWPerformances:Ballet RI Black Box TheatreApril 25 - 12:00pmMay 1 - 1:30pm, 3:30pmMay 2 - 12:00pm, 2:00pm

The original Broadway sensation returns to the road! Celebrating 20 years - Jersey style! They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story -- a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The show features all their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What a Night,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Beggin’” and “Working My Way Back to You.”  Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award®-winning, original Broadway sensation, JERSEY BOYS.  From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true.

By Aaron Posner and Dendy Magic by Dendy Directed by Aaron Posner Dowling Theater Spring 2027 A Magical New England PremiereMaster illusionist Nate Dendy, whose magic captivated audiences in last year’s sold-out A Christmas Carol, returns to Trinity Rep with a spellbinding new theatrical experience. Part dazzling magic act, part deeply personal journey, Nothing Up My Sleeve…Simple Deceptions for Curious Humans pulls back the curtain on the history of magic while exploring Dendy’s own path to becoming a magician. Featuring captivating storytelling, jaw-dropping tricks, and mind-bending surprises, this exhilarating show will leave audiences of all ages believing in magic again.