Description: Waterfire is an experience. It is difficult to describe. It sounds far too simplistic to say that every few weeks, all along the river in downtown Providence, torches are lit, music is played, roses are sold, and gondola rides are offered. It sounds like a cheesy attempt to reconnect with Providence's Italian heritage. It isn't.
Instead, it is one of the most romantic, breathtaking events one could imagine. At your own pace, you stroll with a loved one along city sidewalks and streets closed to traffic, under antique bridges, over cobblestone walkways. You listen to masterfully selected pieces of music, mostly instrumental, played from dozens of speakers hidden along the winding river. It puts you in a serene mood, a light, happy mood. You can't help but smile at the vendors selling roses along the path. There are places where you can take a picnic basket and hop onto a gondola for a closer view of the torches. The sun has set, yet you are not cold, warmed by the flames that are frequently stoked by volunteers (dressed in black, so as to not call attention to themselves) who sail by and rekindle the flames often. You stop at a bench, hold hands, and enjoy...
At least, this has been my experience every time I have attended Waterfire. Simply not to be missed!
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