PROVIDENCE, RI—For five years, PVDFest has brought people from all walks of life together for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From art installations, to musical performances, to world-renowned eats- there is something exciting for every attendee. This year’s festival continues this tradition, offering diverse family-friendly events and activities like the Children’s Mini Maker Space presented by the Providence Children’s Museum; the Providence Mini Maker Faire curated by AS220; the fan-favorite PVDFest Parade processions; and the FirstWorks curated Pre-Parade Hat and Sash Making Workshop with Celebrity Costume Designer Machine Dazzle.
Start the week off by meeting the PVDFest team at Burnside Park on Thursday, June 6 at 6:30PM for this year’s Bike the Night with Mayor Elorza. The bike ride will lead attendees through the city to the Fox Point neighborhood, ending outside Hot Club. Participants will be provided a PVDFest flashlight to use in the first-ever Citywide Goodnight Lights happening at 8:30PM. Festival goers across the city are encouraged to participate in this citywide act of kindness, bringing PVDFest to the patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Once again, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy has curated Family Fun Day in Burnside Park for an entire day of arts and cultural programming that is fun for attendees of every age. In the heart of the festival’s footprint, participants are encouraged to celebrate World Oceans Day at the “ImaginOCEAN” Center next to the Brandon’s Beach play area in Burnside Park with Bonnie Combs and Jen Long, 3D Resident Artists at The Avenue Concept and the RecyCLEAN Project. Explore our ocean by taking in oceanic light and sound installations while making your own ocean and environmental art with kids of all ages.
If oceans aren’t for you, stick around the park for an open drum circle with Malian percussionist Sidy Maiga at 12:30PM or catch “Songs with Ricky Rainbow Beard” at 3:30PM. When you’re done—experience some of your favorite children’s stories through Art in the Park “STORYROOMS” and step into the books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon, or stay for Providence Children’s Film Festival shorts and illuminations until 10PM!
For more story-telling performances, the city’s very own Turnaround Arts: Providence will showcase work from their spring musicals. Don’t miss Providence Public School students premier their take on classics including (Gilbert Stuart Middle School) Hairspray, Jr.; (Roger Williams Middle School) Beauty & The Beast, Jr.; (DelSesto Middle School) Willie Wonka, Jr.; (Esek Hopkins) Annie, Jr. at the Providence Mini Maker Faire on Mouton Lane from 12PM to 2PM on Saturday, June 8.
FirstWorks Arts Learning students from across the state will also be performing on Saturday, June 8, drawing on their in-school and at-the-theater experiences with world-class artists brought by FirstWorks to inspire these rising stars of Rhode Island. Highlights include Classical High School theater club performing the Japanese folk tale Urashima Taro on the Arcade Stage, 35 Weybosset Street, at 12PM; Cranston-based siblings Eden, Elliott, Harrison, and Helena Fisher performing on violin and viola at Washington and Union Street from 1PM – 1:30PM; Juanita Sanchez High School dance students performing an original choreographed piece at the 77 Eddy Street Stage Pop-Up from 1:30PM – 2PM; and student performing groups from Pell Elementary School in Newport, Classical High School, and Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA) from 4PM – 6:30PM at the Summer House on Kennedy Plaza. TAPA students will also be performing at 79 Washington Street from 6:30PM -7PM and on the Mural Stage at 120 Mathewson Street.
Local community arts organization AS220 encourages festival-goers to make their own memories and memorabilia at the Providence Mini Maker Faire by pursuing their creative interests in a playful, interactive way. Participants will have the opportunity make their own projects using the provided family-fun working stations that include access to printmaking, 3D printing and a photo booth. On the Saturday and Sunday of the festival, engineers, artists, crafters, and all creative types will display their projects along Moulton Lane.
Dancing in the streets is an iconic part of PVDFest, and this year, we are providing more opportunities to dance all weekend long through PVDFest Parades which will inject the festival footprint with several inspirational processions. Working with local artists, the captains and grand marshals, each will bring their own unique twist to individual parades. One of these opportunities will be kicking off at 4PM at 255 Westminster Street in front of the Children’s Mini Maker Space, making noise and dancing all the way to Burnside Park. Families are encouraged to stay on the look-out all weekend long for these processions, and be ready to jump in!
For more fun, festival-goers are invited to dazzle up a hat and sash in preparation for the parade processions at a Pre-Parade Hat and Sash Making Workshop with Celebrity Costume Designer Machine Dazzle. Curated by founding partner FirstWorks, festival goers of all ages will have the unique opportunity to DIY with the renowned celebrity costume designer before dancing in the streets once more.
More events will be added and schedules are subject to change; full schedule times and locations will be released this week.