Safely Rediscover the Creative Capital this Fourth of July
July 2, 2020
PROVIDENCE, RI – Ahead of the holiday weekend, Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Council President Matos, and the Providence Warwick Visitor and Convention Bureau (PWCVB) are encouraging residents to celebrate safely, and close to home, this Independence Day.
“While we will all be celebrating differently this year over this long weekend our city’s safety and health should be our number one priority,” said Elorza. “This year’s 4th of July celebrations take on a new meaning as we work together as a community to explore what freedom and equity mean truly mean in this country. Please celebrate in accordance with social distancing and gathering guidelines while supporting our local restaurants and businesses who have reopened safely.”
Providence’s annual 4th of July celebration attracts residents and visitors from across the region to India Point Park. To adhere to City and State guidelines designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, this year’s celebration was postponed until 2021. While the signature summer event won’t fill the park and light up the sky, there are plenty of ways Providence will still shine.
“The holiday weekend is a great opportunity to rediscover all the capital city has to offer,” said City Council President Sabina Matos. “We hope that you will take the time to celebrate with your friends and family to visit the neighborhood parks, attractions, restaurants, and shops that have reopened.”
After months of staying indoors, July’s warm weather is the perfect backdrop to rediscover and explore the Creative Capital. Each of Providence’s twenty-five neighborhoods features a unique blend of art, culture, and plenty of public space to practice social distancing.
“Providence holds a storied place in American history as one of the original colonies and the birthplace of religious freedom,” said Kristen Adamo, President, and CEO of the Providence Warwick Visitor Convention Bureau. “While July 4 may look a little different this year, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Independence Day. GoProvidence.com has historic walking tours, lots of dining options, a calendar of events, hotel listings, and all the other things you need to celebrate the birth of our nation and take a mini-vacation.”
The City’s call to celebrate safely means following Phase III guidelines and adhering to State firework laws. For those planning or attending events, residents are asked to remember that indoor gatherings may not exceed 125 people or 66% capacity. Outdoor gatherings may not exceed 250 people and social gatherings may not exceed 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
While celebrating outdoors, only handheld and ground sparklers are permissible. In compliance with Rhode Island state law, all other projectile devices, including those that create a “boom” are considered illegal. Studies have shown the dangers of unpermitted use of these fireworks. U.S. hospitals saw 12,900 firework-related injuries in 2017 alone and yearly about 19,500 fires are started by fireworks. Any vendor wishing to sell fireworks in Providence should complete a vendor license form. To report a fireworks-related complaint, residents can call the Providence Police non-emergency line at 401-272-3121 or submit it online.
Visit pvdcovid19.com for the latest updates and resources.