Three Nights of Lights
Dec. 5-7
This three-day festival returns to Providence with citywide events, all incorporating the theme of light. Enjoy an evening of WaterFire, multisensory installations and activations by FirstWorks and The Avenue Concept, tree lightings, holiday markets, music, a gingerbread breakfast and more!
Dinner & A Show
An impressive lineup of shows, concerts and events is headed to Providence this season, from holiday classics to A-list comedians. Pair your event tickets with dinner in the city and an overnight at a hotel to turn your night out into a getaway.
New Mobile Passes
Pick from one of three new tours and explore Providence. Each passport is packed with surprises and unforgettable experiences.
2024 WaterFire Dates Released
You can travel the globe and never find anything quite like WaterFire. A series of nearly 100 bonfires that seems to magically perch on the three rivers of downtown Providence, WaterFire is actually an art installation. Created by local artist and Brown grad Barnaby Evans, WaterFire has attracted…
Fall in Providence
During the fall season, Providence, RI is brimming with ways to stir up some fun.
Things To Do
WaterFire Providence
Providence's signature event is WaterFire, an award-winning fire sculpture installation on the three rivers in downtown Providence. Created by local artist Barnaby Evans, WaterFire has become a must-see for visitors.
Buy Local
Keep it local and support Rhode Island’s renowned restaurants, eclectic shops, stellar arts organizations and fun family attractions. Find great ideas for shopping, dining and things to do throughout the state.
Welcome to
ProvidenceSome of Providence’s greatest assets are its vibrant, thriving neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own distinct personality, unique history and welcoming community. Together, they have made Providence “America’s Coolest City” (GQ) and “America’s Favorite City” (Travel + Leisure). We invite you to get out and...
Read MoreDowntown
The busy city streets of Washington, Westminster and Weybosset are central to downtown Providence and at the hub of commercial and retail growth. Notable companies call the city home, as do many restaurants, theaters and institutes for higher education, such as Johnson & Wales University and a campus of the University...
Read MoreFederal Hill
Providence’s historic Federal Hill neighborhood spans iconic Atwells Avenue and the surrounding streets. Largely settled by Italian-American immigrants in the early 1900s, Federal Hill effuses a sense of warmth and community that embraces visitors and locals alike. While the neighborhood has evolved, the influence of...
Read MoreCollege Hill & Benefit Street
The College Hill neighborhood is home to many historic and cultural sites and residences, as well as world-class educational institutions, such as the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Brown University. Filled with art and history, this iconic area has many treasures to visit.
Read MoreWest End
Providence’s West End includes the areas around Broadway, West Fountain Street and Luongo Square. This also includes part of Westminster Street, where the street moves away from the downtown business center and the landscape is a mix of residences and urban businesses. The commercial corridor along Westminster Street...
Read MoreThayer Street
Thayer Street, in the heart of the Brown University neighborhood, is a vibrant and constantly evolving area. With dozens of unique businesses, the neighborhood caters to the college crowd but is also beloved by academics and locals. Thayer consistently refreshes its offerings to stay current and engaging in the...
Read MoreWayland Square
The Wayland Square neighborhood runs along the edge of the Seekonk River. It boasts the charms of a classic New England neighborhood, with the conveniences of city living within close proximity. The area is rich in diversity, spanning all ages as college students, senior citizens, young couples and families all reside...
Read MoreHope Street / Summit
Community resonates in this neighborhood tucked on the East Side of Providence on a stretch of road aptly named Hope Street. Discover vibrant streets lined with historic houses and get a feel for why The Huffington Post named Providence one of the “Top 10 Most Walkable Cities.” Visitors and locals alike will be met...
Read MoreFox Point / Wickenden Street
Fox Point is a relaxed and walkable neighborhood with a diverse mix of college students, urban professionals and academics. The area has an eclectic, cool vibe. Old and new are juxtaposed, as vintage and modern meet, and shops and restaurants converge. This area played an important role in the development of Providence...
Read MoreRiverWalk
Stroll along the area around the Providence River and discover a number of quaint shops and tantalizing restaurants, as well as historic monuments and landmarks of note. South Main Street offers a number of great options for browsing. The dining choices are plentiful and just one meal may help you understand why...
Read MoreJewelry & Innovation District
The iconic towers of the Narragansett Electric Company rise high above the Providence skyline illuminating the night sky with the glow of their red lights. They point towards a neighborhood that was once a thriving hub of jewelry manufacturing and is now poised to be a center of innovation. The “Jewelry District” has...
Read MoreBroad Street
The Broad Street neighborhood is most notable for its international character, especially its distinctive concentration of markets, restaurants, and festivals that reflect the cultures of those who live there. The street itself is a vibrant commercial center filled with entertainment, food, and local small businesses....
Read MoreElmhurst & Mt. Pleasant
Visit Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant and discover vibrant restaurants, delicious bakeries and many locally owned small businesses. These neighborhoods include many single- and multi-family homes, as well as the Rhode Island College campus.
Read MoreElmwood
Located directly off Interstate 95, the Elmwood neighborhood is an epicenter of multicultural activity in the city. On this stretch of road, there are more than a dozen different countries represented by neighborhood businesses and community organizations. Locals refer to the Elmwood area, which includes the South...
Read MoreSilver Lake & Olneyville
Around the turn of the 20th century, communities of Italian immigrants settled these streets. Now home to a worldlier population, the Silver Lake, Olneyville and Valley Street neighborhoods merge, as flavors and cultures meld in this city area. Being spread out, this community is better traveled by car or explored by...
Read MoreSmith Hill
The Smith Hill area, bordering downtown, is home to the august Rhode Island State House, one of the most impressive in the nation, as well as Providence College, a premier institution of higher education. Shopping is plentiful and residential areas range from modern apartment living in refurbished mill buildings to...
Read MoreFamily Fun
Educational and interesting, eclectic and entertaining, Providence has plenty of attractions, events...
Events in Providence
No matter when you plan your visit, you will find something fun to do. From historic tours to WaterFire, performing arts to food festivals, and everything in between, there are events for every season.
Fall Time Glass Blowing
- Gather: Glass Blowing Studio
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 1, 2024
Parasols and Pocket Watches: A History Tour
- Providence Ghost Tour, LLC
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 29, 2024
Bring Your Own Improv’s Family Friendly Comedy Show
- Nov 22, 2024 - Nov 29, 2024
Photos With Santa
- Garden City Center
- Nov 22, 2024 - Dec 24, 2024
Cozy Autumn Fires and Tasty Treats
- Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
- Nov 23, 2024 - Nov 24, 2024
Free Open Houses at the Betsey Williams Cottage
- Nov 23, 2024 - Nov 24, 2024
Saturday Night Laughs @ The Industrious Spirit Company
- Nov 23, 2024 - Sep 27, 2025
Monday Trivia at Diego’s East Side
- Diego's Providence East Side Restaurant
- Nov 25, 2024 - Nov 16, 2026
"The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis" Exhibit at Brown University
- Brown University
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 20, 2024
Amadeus by Peter Shaffer
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 1, 2024
Art In The Atriums Small Works Show
- First Unitarian Church (ca. 1818)
- Nov 21, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025
Fall Time Glass Blowing
- Gather: Glass Blowing Studio
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 1, 2024
Franklin Williams: It's About Love
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 8, 2024
Gallery Opening: Barbara Healy and Robin Nunes
- Nov 21, 2024 - Nov 29, 2024
Parasols and Pocket Watches: A History Tour
- Providence Ghost Tour, LLC
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 29, 2024
Appy Hour at the Alley!
- Moonshine Alley
- Nov 21, 2024 - Mar 13, 2025
Downcity Providence Food Tour
- Rhode Island Red Food Tours
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 28, 2024
Fantasy Football Parties at GPub
- Providence G Pub
- Nov 21, 2024 - Feb 9, 2025
Newport Neighborhood Food Tour
- Rhode Island Red Food Tours
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 29, 2024
"Jazz It Up" with Sarto every Saturday Night!
- Sarto
- Nov 23, 2024 - Feb 1, 2025
Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill
- Giuseppe Garibaldi Park and the Welcome Gateway
- Nov 23, 2024 - Nov 24, 2024
Prohibition in Providence: A Drinking History Tour
- Nov 23, 2024 - Nov 30, 2024
Brunch with Sarto
- Sarto
- Nov 24, 2024 - Dec 29, 2024
Acoustic Thursdays at Moonshine Alley!
- Moonshine Alley
- Nov 21, 2024 - Mar 13, 2025
Open Mic Comedy Thursdays
- Jake & Johnny's Lounge (part of Napolitanos Brooklyn Pizza)
- Nov 21, 2024 - Jan 16, 2025
Providence Ghost Tour
- Nov 21, 2024 - Dec 1, 2024
Bring Your Own Improv’s Caffeinated Insomniacs Comedy Show
- Nov 22, 2024 - Nov 29, 2024
Comedy @ The Hide Speakeasy
- The George
- Nov 22, 2024 - Jun 14, 2025
DJ NIGHT
- Nov 22, 2024 - Mar 28, 2025
Live Music Fridays at Moonshine Alley
- Moonshine Alley
- Nov 22, 2024 - Nov 13, 2026