Admission Cost: We are asking everyone to make a donation of at least $5 to WaterFire. We need your support. Visit the Amabassador Stations and give your donation to the volunteers at the illuminated column of blue balloons. Donate $20 or more and receive a red glow necklace.
There are other fun ways to interact with WaterFire! For a $5 donation or more you may light a candle Luminaria lantern at various places in the park. Or visit the new installation Starry, Starry Night in Memorial Park near Hemenway’s restaurant where you may wish upon a star, hang your wish as a ribbon tail upon your star, and then set it aloft in the constellation of stars in the trees — all for a donation of $20. For an additional $20 hang your star in the trees AND take a luminous star home too!
Weather Updates
WaterFire Information at Ribbons of Light
Boating Policies & Non-WaterFire Public Boats
Restrooms
Public Transportation to WaterFire
Pets
ATM Locations
Lost & Found
Missing Children & Safe Point
Admission to WaterFire
WaterFire is presented by a small, independent non-profit 501(c)3 organization and we need your support. Please make a contribution to the volunteers at the stations marked by illuminated blue balloons. We suggest a donation of $5 a person and will give you a gift of a luminous blue Ribbon of Light as a thank you for your contribution of $3 or more. The blue Ribbon of Light will show you support WaterFire and make you a part of the artwork and Light Up the Night. The flow of blue Ribbons of Light will echo the flow of the water and surround the entire part with a Ribbon of Light. Thank you for your support.
WaterFire Information
During WaterFire there are WaterFire Ambassadors standing by marked by an illuminated column of blue balloons. Please make a donation here too. Please come by and visit with all your questions about WaterFire, visit with our volunteers, write your comments in our guest books, make a tax-deductible donation or purchase WaterFire memorabilia.
Locations:
The Ribbon of Light stations are located along the river walkways at various locations, usually including:
1. on the south side of WaterPlace basin,
2. at the River Walk on the north side of the river between Exchange St. and Waterplace basin,
3. at the gazebo between Memorial Boulevard and the river, across the river from the Citizens Bank building,
4. at the Citizen’s Plaza,
5. at the entrance to the RISD auditorium,
6. at the College Street tent in Memorial Park.
You can also refer to the waterfront map for more details.
The location at the Gondola Landing accepts Visa and MasterCard. Credit card purchases have a $10 minimum. You may also order any of the WaterFire memorabilia by calling (401) 272-3111. All phone sales require a credit card and have a small shipping fee.
Boating Policies and Services
WaterFire does not operate or arrange for boat tours or rentals for the general public on the river. The river is closed to all boat traffic on WaterFire nights from sunset to midnight upstream of the Crawford Street Bridge. WaterFire is intended to be viewed from the shore. We encourage anyone who would like to see WaterFire from the water to join us in creating this work of art as a volunteer on the fire tending boats. If you would like to volunteer, please click here.
Boat Access to WaterFire There are two private, independent companies that provide boat tours during WaterFire.
Public Boat Rides
La Gondola operates three genuine gondolas and a vapereto and can be reached at www.gondolari.com Reservations are recommended by going to their website or by phoning (401) 421-8877.
Proud Mary provides motor launch tours leaving every half hour from the north side of Waterplace Basin. They can be reached at (401) 580-2628.
Restrooms
Rest room facilities are located in the lobby of the RISD auditorium and on Exchange Street (between the Citizen’s Bank building and Waterplace Park basin) just north of the river. The RISD facilities are open to the public from the start of WaterFire until about midnight. The portable facilities on Exchange Street are open from about two hours before sunset until the end of the event. For precise locations of facilities, please consult the Waterplace Park Map.
Public Transportation
Amtrak offers weekend service to Providence. The Amtrak station is one block from WaterFire. Call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL for schedules and fares.
Bonanza Bus Lines offers service to Providence. Upon arriving at the Bonanza Bus Terminal, transfer to the shuttle bus to Kennedy Plaza. Kennedy Plaza is one block from WaterFire. Call Bonanza at 800-556-3815 for schedules and fares.
Greyhound Bus Lines offers service to Providence. Their terminal is located about two blocks from WaterFire. Call Greyhound at 800-231-2222 for schedules and fares.
Numerous airlines have convenient service to Providence’s T. F. Green Airport. Taxi service from the airport to downtown is about $25 one way. A shuttle van servicing downtown hotels and universities is available for $9 one way. The most convenient stop request for the shuttle van for visiting WaterFire is the Westin Hotel.
When you are in Providence, The Rhode Island Department of Transportation offers bus and trolley services around the city as well.
Pets
Most dogs seem to love WaterFire! Leashed dogs and other animals are always welcome to join you at WaterFire, provided that they are safe and will be comfortable in large crowds. WaterFire can get fairly crowded, so consider your animal’s confort and temperment. Please bring plastic bags to clean-up after any messes and be careful to monitor your pet. There are no doggie cleanup bag dispensers in this park.
ATMs
There are many convenient ATMs nearby at the Providence Place Mall (several), the Amtrak train station, the Citizen’s bank tower(Citizen’s ATM), the Sovereign Bank Tower, and outside Hemenway’s at the south end of the park (Citizen’s).
Lost and Found
All lost items (and children!) should be returned to the Audio Gazebo on Steeple Street and Memorial Blvd.
If you lose an item at WaterFire, please visit the Audio Gazebo that eveing or call the WaterFire office at (401) 273-1155; ext 141 the following Monday to see if we have retrieved it.
Missing Children and Safe Point
Missing children should be brought to the Audio Gazebo at Steeple Street and Memorial Blvd during the event and parents should report here to reconnect with them. This site is continually staffed.