PROVIDENCE – WaterFire will once again see the lighting of its braziers, after being dark for the first time in its 25-year history during the pandemic.
The popular attraction’s revival is due to efforts by state and local officials who approved funding to ensure it would be operational, with lightings scheduled from September through December.
A special lighting ceremony was held on Wednesday evening at Memorial Park, attended by a host of officials, including Gov. Daniel J. McKee, Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, City Council President John Igliozzi, and WaterFire Providence’s co-CEOs Peter A. Mello and Barnaby Evans.
“WaterFire is not only an iconic tourist attraction in our capital city, but it’s also an economic driver that draws hundreds of thousands of people to downtown Providence to support our local businesses,” said McKee. “This kind of economic activity is crucial to continuing our recovery from the pandemic, and our small businesses need it. I was glad that our administration committed the support needed to ensure that WaterFire is back this year.”
On June 28, during a R.I. Commerce Corp. board meeting, McKee and Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said the state agency would allocate $300,000 to help save the season. Pryor said $150,000 would be provided through a discretionary fund, with another $150,000 coming from the agency’s marketing budget.
After some back and forth, the City of Providence committed $300,000 in funding from what it received in federal stimulus per the $164 million the city expects to receive from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The city Finance Committee had approved a spending plan for its federal stimulus money that did not include funds WaterFire Providence requested, prompting outcry among the local business community. WaterFire organizers said the season – and the organization’s existence – were in jeopardy without the funding.
Igliozzi, in concert with Elorza, pushed to have the funding allocated for WaterFire’s budgetary needs.
“WaterFire lights up our city and brings tens of thousands of visitors to enjoy a beautiful evening outside, stay at our hotels, and dine at our world-class restaurants,” said Igliozzi during Wednesday’s event. “The tourism and hospitality sectors have been hard hit by COVID-19 and WaterFire will bring back a classic Providence attraction and provide a much-needed social and economic boost to our city. I am proud to have worked with my council colleagues to provide $300,000 in extra funding for WaterFire to help revive this iconic institution.”
“WaterFire is an excellent model for how by working in partnership, we can use our parks to serve the public good and create thriving, inclusive art experiences that bring people together,” said Elorza. “I am proud to have championed bringing WaterFire back this year and can think of no better event to safely welcome people back to Providence and celebrate all that makes our city unique.”
“We couldn’t be happier or more excited about getting back downtown and on the river to make the magic of WaterFire happen,” said Mello. “In addition to the state of Rhode Island and the City of Providence, we are grateful that many other businesses and organizations have stepped up to make the 2021 season possible.”
“We are all tremendously grateful for the outpouring of public support for WaterFire from the entire community and our many hospitality partners,” said Evans. “As an entirely admission-free event, WaterFire continues to be hard hit by the challenges of the COVID crisis, and with the community’s ongoing support we pledge to be here to literally keep the home fires burning.”
The 2021 season will include four full lightings and five partial lightings, opening with a full lighting on Sept. 4 of Labor Day weekend giving thanks to COVID-19 heroes. Other lightings include WaterFire’s 25th Birthday Celebration; a BIPOC Arts, Technology and Business Night; WaterFire Salute to Veterans, and the return of a WaterFire for the Holidays in December.
Additional funding could lead to more lightings, an expansion of programming and added schedule dates.
The 2021 season will run as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day Weekend)
Thanking COVID Heroes including Essential Workers
Full lighting
Thursday, Sept. 9
Supported by Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC
Celebrating their 15th anniversary
Partial lighting
Saturday, Sept. 18
Celebrating Educational Excellence in RI with RI Department of Education
Partial lighting
Friday, Sept. 24
Supported by University of Rhode Island
URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement
Partial lighting
Saturday, Oct. 2
“Then. Now. Next: 50 Years of Women at Providence College”
Supported by Providence College
Full lighting
Saturday, Oct. 16
Supported by BIPOC Arts, Technology and Business and Brown University
Full lighting
Wednesday, Oct. 27
WaterFire’s 25th Birthday Celebration!
Supported by the RI Manufacturers Association
Partial lighting
Saturday, November 6
9th Annual WaterFire Salute to Veterans
Full lighting
Saturday, December 4
WaterFire Celebrates the Holidays
Partial lighting
Nearly one million people come to Providence every year to experience WaterFire, spending over $114,000,000 locally, generating over $9,000,000 of direct tax revenue for the state.
Cassius Shuman is a PBN staff writer. Contact him at Shuman@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter @CassiusShuman.
