Make This New Year’s Eve Unforgettable with Providence’s Illuminate PVD

If your New Year’s resolution is to start 2025 with a bang, Providence has just the event for you. On December 31, the city will come alive with its second annual Illuminate PVD New Year’s Eve Celebration, an evening filled with music, food, entertainment, and a grand fireworks finale over the Providence River.

The festivities, organized by the Providence Tourism Council and the City of Providence, begin at 5pm in 195 Innovation District Park. Attendees can enjoy a diverse array of local food trucks, including A Mano Pizza, The Burrito Bowl, and Clyde’s Cupcakes, along with adult beverages at The Guild Beer Garden.

Live performances feature something for everyone. Fluxion Entertainment’s disco-themed dancers welcome revelers, while Cultura Dance Arts hosts salsa sessions. Roaming performers from Circus Dynamics and on-the-spot New Year’s poems by PVD Poetry add unique flair. Local musicians, including Sidy Maiga and the Providence Drum Troupe, bring their beats to the celebration, complemented by the illuminated After Dark playground designed for all ages.

At 6pm, WaterFire Providence’s signature braziers will light up along the Michael S. Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge before the night culminates with the Illuminate PVD Fireworks Display at 8:30pm, best viewed from the bridge.

Although programming wraps up by 9pm, the festivities continue at downtown restaurants, hotels, and bars, many of which are offering special menus and events. Celebrations at venues like the Renaissance Hotel and Aloft keep the party going.

“This event showcases Providence as a welcoming and family-friendly city,” says Alexis Gorriarán, chair of the Providence Tourism Council. “It’s a moment to celebrate our creative capital and the vibrant community that makes it thrive.” For updates and details, visit ProvidenceTourismCouncil.org or follow on Instagram at @ProvidenceTourism.