500 Fires Later, WaterFire Invites You Into the Glow

Five hundred lightings in, WaterFire is handing the torch to the people who have been showing up all along. This season, the Providence tradition turns a major milestone into a shared experience, inviting locals to step out of the crowd and into the ceremony itself.

Since its debut in 1994, WaterFire has grown from an experimental art installation into one of the city’s most recognizable cultural moments. The rivers glow, music drifts through downtown, and for a few hours, Providence feels like it is moving to a slower, more intentional rhythm. Now, as the organization prepares for its 500th lighting, it is bringing that sense of connection even closer.

“It is amazing to realize we have presented WaterFire 500 times,” says Barnaby Evans, executive artistic director of WaterFire Providence. “All of us are tremendously pleased that WaterFire has celebrated our community with 500 gatherings, honoring our heroes, observing important milestones, and bringing people and families together along Providence's rivers.”

For the 2026 season, WaterFire invites 500 community members to become official torchbearers. Participants will walk down the basin steps during select lightings and help ignite the fires that define the experience. Each procession includes up to 50 people, creating a moment that feels both intimate and collective.

“As we enter our next era, we invite the Rhode Island community to step into the circle of firelight and participate directly in the lighting ceremony itself by helping set the fires ablaze,” Evans adds. “Your support and help can ensure WaterFire continues to illuminate Providence for another 500 lightings.”

Torchbearers must be 18 or older and contribute a $125 donation, which supports WaterFire’s ongoing programming. Each participant will also receive a commemorative photo to mark the moment they helped carry the fire forward.

The milestone 500th lighting takes place Saturday, May 30, with additional torch processions scheduled throughout the season, from summer basin lightings to full fall displays. For more information, visit waterfire.org.