Rain dampens PVDFest debut at new location in District Park – Ann-Allison Clanton

By Ann-Allison Clanton

Photo, top: Dominican dancers

Amid controversy over location change, thousands of Rhode Islanders and neighboring Massachusetts visitors were expected to pour into the Capitol City and District Park for three days of music, vendors, and yes, food trucks, for PVDFest.

A Friday night party took place at the CIC Building’s Venture Cafe with sweeping views overlooking the District Park. Touted as a ticketed event ($35 entry fee) the gathering was presented as a community party to kick off festivities, and was sprinkled with elected officials. Winner of the Democratic special election primary for CD -1, Gabe Amo, as well as Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez, Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor and Jewelry District Association president Sharon Steele were among the notable attendees.

Launched in 2015, PVD Fest is a First Works and City of Providence led production of multiple artists on multiple stages, an extravaganza across public spaces between the Michael S. Van Leesten Bridge, South Main and Water Streets. A Food Village, an Artisan Market, Big Nazo clowns, among nationally recognized bands and performers appeared on strategically placed stages on the downtown bridges connecting downtown to College Hill.

The only surviving member of the R&B group, The Staple Singers, Gospel singer and civil rights activist, Mavis Staples did a forty-five minute set following a rain delay. Many in the audience voiced their surprise that Staples did not perform her single hits “I’ll Take You There” or “Let’s Do It Again”, recorded with her family in the early 70’s.

Making its presence known throughout the Festival was mother nature with the rain showers and lightning threats intermittently appearing beginning Friday evening before the party and continuing through clean-up by PVDFest massive crew of staff, volunteers, and security.

While I suspect the rain kept people away, and some events were curtailed with calls to shelter in place due to the potential of lightning strikes, PVDFest touted itself as a celebration of diversity and culture, though there was little evidence of that. In what seemed a symbolic gesture, Providence residents Helen Baskerville Dukes, and former Providence Candidate for Mayor Gonzalo Cuervo, served as Parade Grand Marshalls.

September 10^th, Sunday, was declared “Edward Mitchell Bannister Day” and a new sculpture of Edward Bannister was unveiled.

The PVDFest Parade was to begin on Sunday at the 195 District Park in front of the CIC building, through Innovation Park, over the Providence River via the Michael Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge, and conclude at Market Square. However, due to fast-approaching rainstorms, most of the Sunday afternoon events were called off and a close to PVDFest, as announced on a bull horn by Mayor Smiley came as fast as the rain, with Smiley declaring PVDFest a success.  

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Ann-Allison Clanton was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. As principal of Ann Clanton Communications, Ann has more than two decades of experience as a communications and public affairs consultant. She has written features and profiles articles for the Providence American Newspaper and Ethnic Online Magazine.

Among the notable persons interviewed include former U. S. Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Cornell West, former Florida Congressman Allen West (R-FL) and Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus first African American Ringmaster, Johnathan Lee Iverson.

Ann is the founder of the Rhode Island Black Film Festival and a founding member of the Southern New England Association of Black Journalists.