PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and founding creative partner FirstWorks today announced additional details and performances happening during PVDFest weekend, happening on the streets on downtown Providence June 10-12. PVDFest, a free outdoor festival that features live music, dancing, food, shopping, and visual art installations in downtown Providence, will feature events the entire family can enjoy, including a special youth event stage, a Food Village, and art and artisan marketplaces.
“One of the best parts of our signature celebration is that there is something enjoyable for festival-goers of all ages and from all backgrounds throughout the entire weekend,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “I can’t wait to bring my family to enjoy PVDFest, and I hope you’ll join us downtown to participate in all of the family-friendly activities this free festival has to offer.”
Grab your kicks and join Chicago’s The Era Footwork Crew to learn some of their fresh moves at an all-ages public dance workshop on Sunday, June 12 from 2:30-3:15 PM in front of the Squonk Spectacle Stage in Kennedy Plaza. Stick around to learn about the crew’s activism work and the history of Chicago Footwork to the present day.
And keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready for Providence’s favorite creatures from another planet. Big NAZO! Big NAZO’s Intergalactic Creature Band will touch down to kick off PVDFest with an extraterrestrial space-funk dance party on Friday, June 10, at the City Hall Stage. On Saturday, June 11, Yuranian Aliens and STROLL-BOTs from the BIG NAZO LAB “Space Transformation Station” will be at large across the festival footprint to bring joy and surprise festivalgoers.
Building on new and fun experiences, PVDFest and Haus of Codec are debuting a community exploration scavenger hunt that will feature in-game surprises, local prizes, and gear, sponsored by Niantic Labs, the minds behind games like Ingress, Pikmin Bloom, and Pokémon Go. You can pre-register for the scavenger hunt or check in at the Haus of Codec table in Kennedy Plaza on Friday and Sunday, and at the AS220 Stage and Marketplace on Saturday. Get ready to enjoy the greatest virtual citywide exploration Providence has ever seen.
Showing off Providence’s best, music fans can catch live tunes at the Youth Stage presented by Conduent, located at 260 Westminster Street. Youth musicians will impress festivalgoers with their talents, including performances from Classical Gas, a youth jazz/funk group; Kid Lunar, a punk/grunge band; and Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts’ student jazz, funk, and soul groups.
All that music, dancing, and scavenger hunting is sure to work up an appetite. Grab a bite to eat in the PVDFest Food Village, a signature component of festival weekend. The Village will be on the footprint all weekend long in Kennedy Plaza, on Dorrance Street between Fulton and Westminster. Kid-friendly favorites like Friskie Fries, Del’s Lemonade, and Poppy’s Kettle Korn will delight the whole family. Need to plan your meals in advance? Check out our Food Village vendors now listed online.
Taking over our streets and showcasing the creativity of makers, PVDFest’s artisan marketplaces will offer you an opportunity to find a unique and special gift for family or friends. Check out the PVDFest X Craftland Marketplace on Saturday, June 11 from 12PM to 6PM on Washington Street or the Haus of Codec 2022 LGBTQQIA+ Art Marketplaces on Sunday, June 12 from 12PM to 6PM in Burnside Park.
Have some energy after dancing in the streets? Remember that PVDFest relies on the contributions of the hard-working volunteers to make the event a memorable experience for everyone. PVDFest still needs volunteers to help us make this year’s festival the best PVDFest yet! Consider volunteering with your family; everyone can be part of making the magic of PVDFest happen. To apply, complete the volunteer form online.
For more information about PVDFest, please visit PVDFest.com and follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for many more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead.
And meet us outside for the comeback!