Mayor Smiley, FirstWorks, ACT Announce Early PVDFest Programming Details
More artists, stages, and programming announcements to be made throughout the Summer
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Brett P. Smiley today joined FirstWorks Executive Artistic Director Kathleen Pletcher, Department of Art, Culture and Tourism Director Joe Wilson Jr., PVDFest panelists, partners and Providence community members to share several early programming highlights for Providence’s signature arts and culture festival. PVDFest returns Downtown this September with an exciting lineup of main stage performers and an array of highlights that promise to captivate attendees. This year’s festival, set to take place on September 6 and 7, with a rain date of September 8, will transform Downtown Providence into a dynamic hub of creativity, community and celebration.
“I am excited to welcome PVDFest back to Downtown this year,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “This year, in response to the increase in extreme weather events, we are proactively incorporating a rain date on Sunday, September 8 to help ensure everyone gets a chance to enjoy the fun. Please join us in celebrating our Creative Capital this September and be sure to stop by a few of our restaurants and establishments Downtown and throughout the City to get the most out of your PVDFest experience.”
PVDFest 2024 is set to captivate attendees with a diverse array of cultural and artistic highlights. Joining this year’s event are the Italian aerialists eVenti Verticali, returning with their mesmerizing performance “SPHERE,” which features five dancers suspended from a crane, delivering a breathtaking spectacle high above the ground.
New to the festival are PVDFest IDEAS: Art + Technology, presenting innovative works by artists exploring virtual reality, AI, and more; Cultural Heritage activations, showcasing the rich cultural landscape of Providence; and Maker Spaces, where local artisans will offer interactive demonstrations.
On Friday, September 6, New York’s all-women salsa group, Lulada Club, will electrify the Main Stage with vibrant rhythms following a public salsa dance lesson led by Rodney Eric Lopez. The festival will also host Chip Douglas and Friends on Friday, with a dynamic show blending hip-hop, R&B, and dance, accompanied by live painting from muralist Agonza.
