Families Invited to Enjoy a Weekend Long Holiday Celebration & Christmas Tree Lightings in the Capital City
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy, The Partnership for Providence Parks and the Department of Parks & Recreation today announced the 2017 PVD Winter Lights Market and Tree Lighting. This year, Providence’s annual holiday tradition will take place over two days and feature a wealth of activities for all ages to enjoy including two tree lighting ceremonies. The event hours on Friday, December 1 are 5:00PM to 9:00PM and on Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 12:00PM to 9:00PM.
To celebrate the holiday season, East Approach, the street between the Rink and Burnside Park, will become Winter Lights Lane, home to the Winter Lights Market, a stage featuring local and national performers, family activities, and public art installations. The tent between Burnside Park and the Skating Rink will host an artisan marketplace curated by Eat Drink RI. Expect savory dishes from some favorite local food trucks, hot drinks and sweet treats, a local holiday market featuring art, gifts, and creative culinary products – all in the comfort of a heated tent! Support your local art community and pick up some gifts for the holidays from artists and artisans making unique and memorable items, with something for everyone.
On Friday, December 1, the Winter Lights Market opens at 5:00PM, and at 5:15 Festival Ballet will be there to offer some ballet learning. At 5:45PM, the Sackett Street Elementary School choir will sing on the steps of City Hall. Mayor Elorza, the Rhode Show co-host Brendan Kirby, and the students will then light the 2017 City Hall tree which was donated by Betty and Joseph D’Arezzo. Once the tree is lit, Circus Dynamics’ fire jugglers will be on hand to lead the audience over to the stage on East Approach where the What Cheer Brigade, then a local DJ will get everyone warmed up for the 8:00PM performance by Bronx singer/songwriter Andre Veloz who will have people dancing to Bachata music in the streets!
On Saturday, December 2, the shopping and good cheer opens at noon, with performances throughout the day in Kennedy Plaza. At 5:30PM the Alex & Ani Skating Center kicks off their programming with the Brown University Ice Skating Band whose performance at the tree lighting has become an annual tradition all its own! (Please note: public skating will be closed from 4:00PM – 7:00PM.)
Following their performance, WJAR’s Patrice Wood and Mayor Elorza will light the Rink Christmas Tree which was donated in memory of Abe and Alice Asermely. Following the tree lighting, enjoy a holiday figure skating showcase, “Christmas in the City,” produced by Sarah DiNardo and Brad Vigorito. This engaging family event will star 2011 US National Silver Medalist, World Competitor, Junior Grand Prix Champion and 2014 Olympic Alternate Richard Dornbush of Corona, CA. There will also be a special appearance by 2014 Olympic Team Event Bronze Medalist and Rhode Island’s own Marissa Castelli of Cranston. The show will also feature the five-time US National Champions, 2017 National Bronze Medalists, and International competitors, Ocean State Ice Theatre Novice Team. The 60-minute skating spectacular showcases local, regional, sectional, and national level skaters including former Disney on Ice principal skaters and professionals. The rain date for Saturday activities is set for Sunday, December 3, 2017.
Both days of the Winter Lights Market will exhibit exciting public art visual installations and interactions for everyone to enjoy including:
- Enter Winter Lights Lane (a/k/a East Approach) via artist Kristina Browns illuminated archway.
- “Glow” interactive illuminated cubes installation by Work-Shop Design Studio (East Approach).
- “Snowy Flakes” public art stencil installation by Carrie Hyde and volunteers sponsored by Partnership for Providence Parks (East Approach, Kennedy Plaza, Neighborhood Parks).
- Illuminations in Burnside Park including interactive light installation by RISD students David Walden & Jon Talbot (Burnside Park).
The City of Providence’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration is presented by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and the Department of Parks & Recreation, The Downtown Parks Conservancy. Additional support provided by the Alex & Ani City Center, NBC 10 WJAR, the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Providence Tourism Council, Eat Drink RI and the Downtown Improvement District. Each year the City places a call out to the public for tree donations and provides free removal courtesy of the great folks over at Stanley Tree Service.
For more information please visit: http://artculturetourism.com/2017-city-of-providence-holiday-celebration-christmas-tree-lighting/
For street closure information related to the event: https://www.providenceri.gov/act/event-street-closures/
About The Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy (DPPC)
The Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy is a public-private partnership formed to preserve and revitalize Providence’s historic downtown core by transforming it into a lively, cohesive and prosperous economic and cultural center through the development and management of exceptional public spaces. More information about the DPPC at http://provparksconservancy.org/.