PVDFest changes from street fair to family friendly festival of arts, music, food

PVDFest has a new date – a new place – and a new, some say safer, focus. Moved from the summer to the first weekend in September, PVDFest will now celebrate the close of summer and the beginning of the school season, being held on September 8th to the 10th. The mayor notes the date change was to maximize on a “lull time for businesses” because in June they are “already very busy”.

It will also move from multiple spots around the downtown proper to either side of the Providence River waterways, running from District Park to Memorial Park, closer to the Pedestrian Bridge area, also including Innovation Park.

There will also be no open drinking or carrying around of drinks, or city run bars. Restaurant/food vendors will be allowed to sell alcohol at their locations, which must be consumed at those locations.

The Fest will be more focused on the arts and performances than a street fair. Block party permits will not be part of PVDFest anywhere in Providence.

Over 100,000 people attended PVDFest over the 3 days in 2022.

In their announcement…

Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Director of the Department of Art, Culture, Tourism (ACT) Joe Wilson Jr. said the return of PVDFest as Providence’s signature arts festival will bring the City together once again to celebrate Providence’s world-renowned artistic, cultural, and culinary communities.

“PVDFest is the moment where we as a community celebrate all the creativity, uniqueness, and diversity that lives here in the Creative Capital,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “I am excited to see our local artists bring their creative talents to this year’s festival and hope to see everyone join us with their family and friends!”

Since debuting in 2015, PVDFest has featured over 4,800 artists, performers, and curators, and has brought in 596,000+ attendees during the festival weekend. PVDFest continues to grow each year, providing new and exciting ways to bring people together through the arts and embracing both local and global talent in a way that is uniquely Providence.

From Joe Wilson Jr.:

“For PVDFest’s ninth year we are putting the focus back on the city’s talented local artists and artisans,” said Director of Art, Culture, Tourism Joe Wilson Jr. “We are partnering with FirstWorks and WaterFire [on Saturday] to create a unique, family-friendly waterside experience you could only find in Providence. This innovative twist on the festival we all love exemplifies Providence’s commitment to integrate arts and culture into community life and further establish the city as a global destination for the arts.”

Beginning yesterday, artists, performers, vendors, and volunteers may visit the PVDFest website to initiate interest in participating in the festival via the appropriate interest form(s). The forms will be routed to ACT for processing and applicants will be contacted when festival planning gets underway.

While security wasn’t clearly mentioned in the Mayor’s statement or in materials reviewed, the ability to provide security in a more focused way with a short staffed Providence Police Department has been mentioned by some sources as key in the decision, and a concern of local businesses as well. Other festivals around the country have become sites of violence, either during the events or as they were ending.

There have been some negative comments, or a “mixed-bag” reaction from people, especially about the ability to walk around with alcohol. RINewsToday did an informal, unscientific Twitter poll yesterday and here are the results. The Mayor acknowledges “change” can be difficult and even says for Rhode Island change can sometimes be particularly difficult.

Restaurants, food trucks, performers, artists, street performers, volunteers and those hoping to work at PVDFest can now go on the website – PVDFest.com – and apply until June 20th.

For more information about PVDFest, please visit PVDFest.com and follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for continuing announcements as it gets closer to September.