PVDFest may not have completely reverted to its historically gritty roots when it took place Sept. 6-7, but this year’s signature arts and culture event appeared to rebound from the dismal experience in 2023.
And it provided a template that can be built upon, observers say.
The event returned to downtown Providence a year after Mayor Brett P. Smiley relocated it to 195 District Park along the Providence River, a move that was unpopular among attendees and vendors. It didn’t help that blustery rainstorms drenched the 2023 event, driving crowds away.
Though shorter and tamer, this year’s version of PVDFest brought back thousands of revelers to downtown, filling block parties and surrounding performance stages, according to vendors.
Jason Totten, owner of Warwick-based food truck Big Dog Eats, was so busy with hungry customers that he ran out of food, a welcome shift from last year when “nobody even knew we were there” along the river, he said.
Trotter’s main complaint: He felt the festival was too short. What used to be a three-day blowout going late into the evening was a two-day event that mostly shut down at 9 p.m.
“Many vendors had to cut people off,” he said. “Everyone is paranoid nowadays worrying about safety, which I understand. But it just was not as loose as it used to be.”
Deb Thibault, co-owner of Providence-based Atomic Blonde Ice Cream, who took a financial hit at last year’s festival, said the switch back downtown made all the difference, particularly on Saturday. Thibault also said she would like to see a return to three days and activities that run later into the night.
“Friday really wasn’t that good. By the time many people get there, everything is shutting down,” she said. “We must have had 20 to 30 people in line. We had to stop them and say, ‘Please don’t get mad at us.’ ”
Providence City Council member Miguel Sanchez, who had been vocal in his opposition to the changes in 2023, said “the energy this year was much better,” though he has also heard concerns about the shortened time frame and moving the event from June to September, which happened in 2023, too.
“Last year really took life out of what it means for our community members and the people of Providence,” he said.
For Smiley, based on the feedback he’s received, 2024 was a success.
“The artists and vendors I spoke with had good crowds to see or hear their work,” he said. “The feedback I received was generally very positive.”
Still, Smiley is open to making tweaks for next year’s event, although he wasn’t specific about what those adjustments may be. “The festival has and almost certainly continues to change a little bit every year. It’s never been identical year to year,” he said. “We change because we get feedback or because of new circumstances.”
Sanchez said there is still an undercurrent of tension from some in the neighborhoods outside the downtown core who’ve written off PVDFest. He wants to explore how to bring more of those communities into the fold.
“There are always going to be folks left out, whether intentionally or not,” he said. “We should take that feedback into account.”
No stranger to “uncomfortable conversations with members of the administration,” Sanchez isn’t convinced a September date should be permanent.
“There is still a strong desire from a good chunk of residents to move it back to June,” he said. “That’s an important conversation to be had.”
But Smiley did not sound like he was open to that idea. “We feel good about the move to September,” he said. “Businesses say June remains a very busy month and think this is a nice addition to September for the purposes of business activity in the city.” n
Sanchez Has ZERO credibility. Good job, Mayor.
Smiley has ruined PVDFest. This year’s happenings were just as bad as last year. Everything closed up early, no parties and this September timing is only in place to placate to Smiley’s beloved East Side neighbors who he hopes to use to rise up politically to try and get back in the State House. Sanchez hit the nail right on the head. PVDFest needs to be returned to the way it was, in June, before Smiley got his hands on it and ruined it for everyone.
I agree that Smiley was the cause of last year’s fiasco. But more important, the changes Smiley implemented indicates he does not really understand in detail or depth how cities operate and what gives them vitality. If I am right on that, then Providence is not being led daily with a knowledgeable mayor.