Tonight’s WaterFire lighting
is brought to you by
Picerne Real Estate Group &
Textron, Inc
WaterFire Providence is presented on the three rivers in downtown Providence and will be lit shortly after sunset at 7:33 pm and remains lit until 12:30 pm.
This page will be regularly updated with more information as the date gets closer.
Weather Updates:
(Updated on 8/23/08: 5:05 pm) It is a gorgeous day here in Providence and WaterFire is going ahead as planned. Current forecasts are for a beautiful night tonight in the 70s. Please check this page frequently for regular updates on both weather and additional special events for this evening. WaterFire is held unless a major storm occurs.
The Ribbons of Light Program:
WaterFire volunteers will be giving out gifts of glowing blue Ribbons of Light in exchange for donations to support WaterFire. WaterFire is an independent non-profit and your contribution is what Keeps the Fires Burning. The volunteers are located along the river at stations marked by illuminated blue columns. Please make a donation to support WaterFire and keep the fires burning. Donations of $3, $5, $10 or more are much appreciated and allow us to keep offering this event for free. All proceeds go to support WaterFire. By wearing a glowing blue necklace you will become a part of the artwork and create a river of soft blue light flowing alongside the riverbanks.
Thank you for coming to WaterFire and thank you for your support! 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.
The dedication of the WaterFire Access Boats and a salute to our volunteer captains:
2:00 pm Waterplace Basin The Rhode Island Shriners have been the major supporter of the WaterFire Access Boats for the past three seasons. Please join Mayor David N. Cicilline and Representative James Langevin as we formally dedicate our two Access Boats: Scimitar and Fez.
The WaterFire Access Program provides free water-borne access to WaterFire for individuals in wheelchairs who cannot otherwise enjoy WaterFire.
Also at 2:00 pm the Mayor and the Congressman will offer a salute to the corps of volunteer WaterFire captains who pilot the Access Boats and the other boats in the WaterFire Fleet.
WaterFire brochure & music program:
WaterFire prints a wonderful 48-page program that is full of photographs, and essays and information about WaterFire, the artists, and upcoming events. It is available for a donation from the Ribbons of Light stations marked by the illuminated blue columns of light. Please see the volunteers at the stations for a printed program. The program also has a complete listing of all the music featured for this evening.
The music at 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 programs vary each night and we always offer something entirely new. 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 (and often for partial lightings too). The program lists all the music including the artists’ names, the CD titles, and the exact start time of each piece. We urge you to support these artists by buying their work and sharing your interest in them with others.
Please pick up a complete music program from a WaterFire volunteer at the Ribbons of Light stations illuminated by blue balloon sculptures. (Please make a donation to Keep the Fires Burning! The programs cost us about $3 to print.)
Barnaby is always interested in hearing new music or in getting suggestions and you can email him about the music at music@waterfire.org. Artists are always welcome to send new material to WaterFire for consideration at WaterFire Providence, 101 Regent Avenue #12, Providence, RI 02908. Please realize that we cannot afford to return the material to you and it may be some time before we get to it.
The WaterFire cranes!
Last Saturday, was our annual celebration where we introduced this year’s 2008 origami crane design. Nearly 7000 hand-folded origami cranes were given away as gifts in partnership with our sponsor Fidelity Investments. A few will be available tonight for those who missed them from the volunteers at the Ribbons of Light stations. The origami crane is a symbol of peace and fidelity and are folded by the employees of Fidelity Investments in partnership with WaterFire as a gift to the entire community.
In commemoration of this annual event we are once again offering WaterFire’s special collectable porcelain origami cranes for sale. The cranes are hand-made of traditional green celadon porcelain and each come in a fun special gift package with an explanatory booklet about WaterFire. The cranes are available for $10 each at the WaterFire sales table in front of the RISD Auditorium (between Washington and College Street along the river). They may also be ordered from WaterFire at (401) 273-1155, ext 141. The proceeds all go to support WaterFire.
Light Luminaria Candle Lanterns for Good Luck
Light your own luminaria candle lantern and participate in WaterFire by adding your light to the Renassiance City!
WaterFire invites you to dedicate your Luminaria paper lantern with a commemoration, a dedication, a wish, a rememberance, your name, or the reason for your visit to WaterFire. You will light your candle lantern and be led into the park where you will place it in a special spot. All the dedication cards are saved and preserved in a book at WaterFire.
The candle lanterns are available for a donation to WaterFire. Please give what you can. We suggest a donation of $10 per candle.
By lighting a lantern you will become directly involved in the event in a memorable and special way and you will join the ranks of those who support WaterFire.
WaterFire walking tours of Historical Providence:
5:30PM - 6:30PM Walking Tour of Historical Providence presented by the RI Historical Society. Tour starts at the John Brown House at 52 Power Street. Tickets are $10/person. Reservations are strongly encouraged at 401.273.7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org
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! A new addition tonight are the special porcelain origami cranes!
WaterFire Gargoyles!
8:40PM-11:00PM Discover the Gargoyles at the WWI monument near College Street and South Main Street. The Gargoyles are the creation of Ten31 Productions in Providence.
Michael Grando portrays Pierrot!
8:30PM - 11:00PM 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 during the evening. Each flower is accompanied by a different quote that illuminates the connections between life and art.