What's Burning?

As odd as it's sounds, it's the water in downtown Providence, RI — it's been happening every year for the past 20 years.

And, it's an event we witnessed for the first time last night. Yes, we are on a(nother) road trip and a visit with the grandkids here.

Called WaterFire, it's the city's signature event. This fire sculpture installation on the three rivers (Woonasquatucket, Moshassuck, and Providence Rivers) in downtown Providence was created by local artist Barnaby Evans and has been cited as the most popular work of art created in the state capital's history. Evans created First Fire in 1994 as a commission to celebrate the 10th anniversary of First Night Providence. In 1996, he created Second Fire for the International Sculpture Conference.

Art supporters urged Evans to create an on-going fire installation and eventually established WaterFire as a non-profit arts organization. With the support of volunteers, corporate contributions, visitors donations, plus city and state support, WaterFire regularly illuminates the cityscape and includes music from around the world.  In 1997, WaterFire expanded to 42 braziers attracting an estimated 350,000 people during 13 lightings. In response to growing attendance, it increased to 81 braziers in 1998, and 97 in 1999. The 1999 season culminated with 100 bonfires in a special WaterFire lighting for the millennium celebrations.

WaterFire centers around a series of over 80 bonfires ablaze above the surface of the three rivers at Full Lighting WaterFire events. This string of fires illuminates two-thirds of a mile of city public spaces and parks. Boats pass between the flames as the fire tenders attend to the fires from sunset to midnight during Full Lightings. (Yes, including a gondola, a bit pricey at $125, but then you do get really close-up fire views.)

There's also smaller Basin Fire WaterFire lightings are a smaller version of the event with the lighting of less than 30 total 22 braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin. The fires are light shortly after midnight and remain lit until 11 p.m. 

This year, WaterFire will be held twice a month, May through November, usually on Saturday nights, but sometimes on Fridays which was lucky for us even though we only saw the smaller Basin WaterFire (this time). We're looking forward to seeing the full lighting on a future visit, and with the grandkids living close by we will be back.

How is your weekend going?