WaterFire festival fire on the water in Providence

Waterfire is a popular artistic event taking place in Providence, Rhode Island during the summer and early fall months. This event takes place downtown at WaterPlace Park.

Over 80 bonfires are lit on the river on an award-winning sculpture created by artist Barnaby Evans. We heard that this is one of the city’s most popular events that all the locals look forward to, so we decided to see what all the fuss was about. As we are currently living in Fall River, it was an easy drive.

We stopped at a local restaurant called Amici to enjoy some pizza prior to the event. There are a lot of great local Italian restaurants in this area, so definitely support a local business before heading out to this event or any others. Update: This restaurant is now closed. I recommend Andino’s, another local gem. Their shrimp scampi is delicious!

A long running local art installation worth visiting

Now going strong for over 25 years, Waterfire is one of the city’s most popular festivals. The first fire took place on NYE in 1994 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “First Night Providence.” It was the idea of artist Barnaby Evans. You can read up more about the history of this tradition. Update: As of 2025, this festival is now 30 years old!

Mike and I regularly visit downtown since moving to Fall River. Typically, we enjoy strolling around the mall and dining at local restaurants. We decided to check out this festival since we have heard so much about it. It was unusual, fascinating, and definitely something we would check out again. We are always on the lookout for new and exciting local festivals to attend no matter where we are living or traveling at the time.

The event starts with people carrying torches down into the water to light the fires. Attending this event is the perfect romantic night out for those interested in art and music. In addition, there is a restaurant called WaterPlace Restaurant, where you can dine outside as you watch the show. UPDATE: This restaurant closed. In 2026, plans are underway to convert it into a temporary House of Portugal fan zone in honor of the World Cup.

You could also walk over to the Providence Place Mall beforehand to get dinner. This mall is home to a lot of popular chains, my favorites being The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Changs. We dine here frequently before attending any events or ice skating because it is super convenient.

Enjoy a few pictures we took from the event we attended. Obviously, you will want to make it out here in person if you can. It’s a true sensory experience that combines art and music.

Carrying torches in Waterfire event in downtown Providence
Carrying the torches down to the water
holding torches for the Waterfire event in Providence
Putting the torches into the water
Waterfire festival in Providence
The ring of fire
Enjoying the lights at the Waterfire Providence event
Enjoying the festivities

Parking info

Parking in the area is expensive and hard to find. I usually try to find a spot by one of the parking meters (free after 6:00pm). I advise getting to the show early to try to find a good parking spot!

When is it?

The event takes place from May-November (weather permitting) on Saturday evenings. It usually runs twice a month, but you will want to check with the website for updates.

Learn more about this unique festival

Best place to watch the show

WaterFire starts around sunset and ends around Midnight. The best place to watch the show is by the river downtown (Memorial Blvd and Exchange St in Providence).

What else to do in the area?

Roger Williams is a great little zoo which is often overlooked due to Boston’s tourist popularity (I actually prefer this zoo). Other notable attractions include: an amazing Italian neighborhood known as Federal Hill, one of the nation’s most historical streets (Benefit Street), and one of the top rail trails in the country (The East Bay path). You can check my weekend travel guide for full details on these attractions and others.