WaterFire Providence

I had such a great time visiting Major Taylor Museum in Worcester, MA and walking in nearby Marlborough that I took another birthday trip a few days later. I had heard about WaterFire Providence from friends and colleagues for many years, including watching a talk about WaterFire presented by its founder Barnaby Evans during Historic New England Summit 2022.

A passenger boat in a canal operated by a long paddle and filled with black-clad volunteers slips across the water between lit cauldrons

Several black-clad volunteers in a small motor boat in a canal place chopped wood into a lit cauldron near a pedestrian bridge.

On the opposite side of the canal are three buildings: a tall, 20th century concrete building, an adjoining three-story red brick Federal style building, and a four-story red brick Colonial Revival style building

WaterFire in marked by caldrons lit along the canals. A gondola or motor boat filled with black-clad volunteers glides between cauldrons to supply with wood. This unique event began in 1994, the year before I was born, making my visit part of its 30^th anniversary. What began as a fairly small event has expanded with up to a hundred fires on the canals. This coming season is currently scheduled to have twelve lights held between May and November. My visit coincided with parents weekend at Brown University, so the school sponsored student groups performances and vendors.

Four brightly lit cauldrons stand on a concrete base in the middle of the canal. The flames reach three or four feet in height.

A building-sized mural featuring a Native American woman holding a photograph of her ancestor, to whom she bears a physical resemblance.

A series of electric lights on the opposite bank reflect into the water. In the distance is a brightly lit bridge bridge.

Beside the fires of the canal, the event offered plenty to see in the way of art and architecture. Covering a nearby building was the mural Still Here painted by artist Gaia in 2018. The prolific muralist has work throughout the United States and across the world, including New York City, Baltimore, Houston, and Atlanta. He focuses on portraying people from the community, whether they are the Native American woman featured in the Providence mural, a gardener in Baltimore, or immigrants in Italy. Meanwhile, I had a favorite trio of buildings located on the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) campus next to the canal. One is currently known as Design Center, which combines an eight-story, concrete, early 20^th century building with a three-story, red brick, federal style building. The two buildings have the same sized windows, suggesting that the second building was inspired by the first. Next door is the Auditorium Building, which was constructed in 1941 during the presidency of Helen Metcalf Danforth in a red brick, Colonial Revival style to match its neighbor.

A pontoon boat filled with people wearing street clothes. The boat is on the right side of the canal, with the cauldrons acting as a separation between lanes.

A round section of the canal with cauldrons forming a circle in the water

The canal and cauldrons begin beneath the viewer's feet and spread out in front going underneath another bridge and towards a modern skyscraper before bending towards the right

Behind the basin is a tall hotel or conference center building light up against the black sky.

WaterFire is an enjoyable experience if you do not mind a crowd on a night with nice weather. People of all ages enjoy the festivities. While some areas are dimly lit so the cauldrons can have a visual impact, most walkways are easy to navigate despite the lighting. Parking may be difficult to find on the city streets. While visiting area of Providence, I park at the State House, which allows free parking when not in session. I look forward to attending other WaterFire lightings in the future.

Search Abby Epplett, Historian

Abby Epplett, Historian

WaterFire Providence

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