Saturday, September 5th, 2009

This page is updated continuously with new information.
Please check back frequently!

  

Tonight’s lighting is brought to you by:

Bank of America presents:     "LIVE UNITED at WaterFire"

&

Providence Place

The fires will be lit shortly after sunset at 7:15 PM and remain lit until 12:30 AM.    

Weather Updates: 

(Updated: 9/5/09 7:22 AM ): The forecast calls for sunny skies today with cooler temperatures this evening - absolutely perfect weather for WaterFire!  Consider bringing a light jacket or sweater tonight and get ready for some great live performances along the river!  

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Providence Place is proud to celebrate their 10th season of sponsorship! 

"Providence Place is proud to be a WaterFire sponsor! We are excited about continuing this sponsorship for our 10th consecutive year as WaterFire celebrates its 14th season. We feel that Providence Place is the ideal complement to the WaterFire experience. Stop by for dinner, do some shopping, and enjoy the show!"

-Will Malone, Manager of Providence Place, General Growth Properties

Bank of America presents a special evening at WaterFire to salute United Way of Rhode Island’s work in the community!

A LIVE UNITED-themed evening at WaterFire, presented by Bank of America, will light up Downcity on Saturday, September 5th, during a celebration to kick-off United Way of Rhode Island’s latest campaign. 

"We are grateful to Bank of America, a longtime contributor, for supporting us in our efforts to work together to improve our community," said Anthony Maione, CEO & President of United Way of Rhode Island. "This is a special night for United Way — our second LIVE UNITED WaterFire. We are pleased to be launching our ‘09 campaign during this spectacle, which is an incredible showing of unity and aligns with our mission of community engagement and bringing people together." 

This event features a fabulous torch lighting ceremony at 7:35 PM in the basin and many other special surprises throughout the evening.

Please visit United Way of Rhode Island’s website for more information. 

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The River Sings! 

WaterFire’s ever-popular Opera Night returns!

From 7:30-Midnight WaterFire and Opera Providence will bring live opera to the public for free along the rivers in downtown Providence.   

And don’t miss Orchestra Romanza in Market Square from 7:30 - 9:45 PM

Click HERE for all the exciting details! 

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Verizon Jazz Stage featuring Kelley Lennon!

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We need everyone to donate…

Your support keeps us going.  We are asking everyone to make a donation at a WaterFire Ambassador station.  We will give you a glowing blue necklace so that you can add your light to the night! Donate $20 or more and receive a special RED glow necklace! 

(Please realize that the commercial novelty vendors outside the park are not affiliated with WaterFire and your purchase there does not support WaterFire.  Further, many of those who attend WaterFire find the flashing, and strobing novelties they sell are disruptive and distracting and ruin the calm of the WaterFire evening). 

      

WaterFire Luminaria Tributes:

Do you have a special wish, dedication, and/or remembrance you would like to make at WaterFire? Please visit one of our luminaria stations where, for a $5 donation, a WaterFire volunteer will light your candle lantern, lead you into the park, and help you place it in a special spot so you can share your tribute with the world.  Click here for more information!  

Starry, Starry Night!

Barnaby Evans and WaterFire Providence have unveiled the most "stellar"project to date — one that asks you to dream big and share your wish with the world.  A wish for peace; a wish for love; a wish for grace; whatever your wish may be, come and share it at WaterFire and help us create a spectacle in the sky.

   

WaterFire is a celebration of community and we are dedicated to inspiring the city of Providence.  Our wish is that with your support, we can make many more wishes come true.

Click HERE for more information about Starry, Starry Night!

 

The Music of WaterFire

WaterFire offers a new and unusual program of music each night that is curated by Barnaby Evans from sources all around the world.  The music is likely not something you have heard before and we hope you discover something new and wonderful. 

WaterFire prints a detailed music program for all full lightings which lists the  artists’ names, the CD titles, and the exact start time of each piece.  Please pick one up at a Ribbons of Light station, where you can also make a donation to Keep the Fires Burning!  (The programs cost us about $3 to print.) 

Click here for more about the Music of WaterFire and information regarding how to send us your suggestions and inquiries!  

 

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO BEFORE THE EVENT!

Roger Williams National Memorial presents: William Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

3:00 PM 282 North Main Street, Providence. Come and enjoy a performance by the Flying Vegetables Theatre Troupe, a group committed to free theatre, by the people, for the people.  For more information about this or other park programs, please contact Park Ranger Sparkle Bryant, 401.521.7266 or sparkle_bryant@nps.gov.

For additional information about Roger Williams national Memorial, a unit of the National Park Service, please visit http://www.nps.gov/rowi/.   

RiverWalk: Before the Fires are Lit

Discover the winding history and continued importance of Providence’s rivers! Urban outdoor sculpture and beautiful civic and commercial buildings of varied architectual styles provide the setting for stories of Providence’s fabled past and dynamic present.  This walk shares the history of Rhode Island’s capital city and the history of WaterFire. $10 per person. Reservations requested: Dalila Goulart @ 401.331.8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org. Tours last 60 minutes and depart at 5:30 p.m. from the John Brown House Museum on 52 Power Street, Providence.

Spogga Spins Fire!

Spogga, the WaterFire Fire Dancer, will be performing throughout the park. Spogga has recently released his new DVD featuring his music and his fire performances at WaterFire.

WaterFire Gargoyles!

Discover the Gargoyles at the WWI monument in Memorial Park near College Street and South Main Street. The Gargoyles are the creation of Ten31 Productions in Providence.

Mime Artist Michael Grando!

Michael Grando, the noted master mime, will portray Pierrot (Pedrolino) from the Commedia del’arte, in his naive and everlasting quest to win the heart of the beautiful girl. Pierrot will be tossing hundreds of long-stem carnations to the crowd from a boat starting at 8:30 PM and continuing throughout the evening. Each flower is accompanied by a different quote that illuminates the connections between life and art.

Andrew Anselmo: "The Origami Guy" in Market Square!

For years, Mr. Anselmo has brought his origami paper creations including frogs, cranes, penguins and many more to the streets of Providence to the delight of thousands.  He will be located at the corner of Market Square next to the RISD Auditorium, between South Main Street and the river.    

WaterFire Merchandise:

7:00PM - 10:30PM WaterFire Merchandise Sales Table opens at the RISD auditorium for the night. Purchase WaterFire merchandise such as posters, t-shirts, commemorative hats, and tote bags and help keep the fires burning!

 

Please visit this page often as the evening gets closer! We will be filling it with exciting updates and great tips & information!