WaterFire announces 2021 season with COVID heroes kickoff
Saved by state and city funding, WaterFire rolled out plans for the 2021 season on Wednesday with a Labor Day weekend kickoff.
The season features four full lightings and five partial lightings, opening Sept. 4 with a commemoration of pandemic heroes and essential workers.
The organization will also hold lightings to celebrate its 25th anniversary and its ninth annual salute to veterans.
Last month, as WaterFire fretted that it might not have the funding needed to stay afloat, the Providence City Council and Gov. Dan McKee's administration each pledged $300,000 to the group.
Now, the fiery art installations will once again appear on the city's three rivers. However, WaterFire's operation will be downsized, with "less of the peripheral kind of shoreside activities like vendors and things like that this year," managing director and co-CEO Peter Mello said.