WaterFire lights up summer nights in Providence. Photo from Flickr.com.
WPRO Newsroom
The Sequester, the series of automatic federal spending cuts, had WaterFire organizers worried that their annual summer event would not go on — cuts would have impacted the operation of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, a key component in maintaining water levels for the nightime lightings.
But those at WaterFire are now saying that by working hand in hand with the city, the Army Corps of Engineers (who operate the barrier), congressional delegates and Dominion Energy, they have come to a solution. The details of that solution are still unclear, but representatives from WaterFire said they are confident the season will be able to go on as originally planned.
Here is the full schedule of WaterFire lightings:
Saturday, May 25th – Memorial Day Weekend
Full Lighting – Sunset 8:08PM
Sponsored by: Bank of America
Friday, May 31st
Partial Lighting, Waterplace Park Basin – Sunset 8:14PM
Sponsored by: Providence College Alumni Association
Saturday, June 8th – Gaspee Day
Full Lighting – Sunset 8:19PM
Sponsored by: Textron Charitable Trust and Rhode Island Hoteliers
Saturday, July 13th
Full Lighting – Sunset 8:21PM
Sponsored by: Schneider Electric and TBD
Saturday, August 10th
Full Lighting – Sunset 7:54PM
Sponsored by: Fidelity Investments and Amica Insurance
**National Grid
Saturday, August 24th
Full Lighting – Sunset 7:33PM
Sponsored by: Cox Business
Saturday, September 7th
Full Lighting – Sunset 7:10PM
Sponsored by: Rhode Island Hospital Celebrating 150 Years of Caring and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
**National Grid
Saturday, September 21st
Full Lighting – Sunset 6:46PM
Sponsored by: (Up)Beat Cancer: Joe Andruzzi Foundation presented by East Commerce Solutions, Inc. and RI Rally4Recovery and The U.S.-China Institute and Confucius Institute at Bryant University
**National Grid
Saturday, September 28th
Full Lighting – Sunset 6:34PM
Sponsored by: Roger Williams University & Roger Williams University School of Law Celebrating 20 Years
Saturday, October 5th
Full Lighting – Sunset 6:22PM
Sponsored by: Webster Bank
Saturday, October 12th
Full Lighting – Sunset 6:10PM
Sponsored by: Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation: Flames of Hope
Saturday, November 9th – WaterFire Salute to Veterans
Full Lighting – Sunset 4:31PM
Sponsored by: Alex and Ani and RI Broadcasters Association
