WaterFire Providence
Fall festival · Providence · Rhode Island
More than 80 bonfires burn just above the surface of the three rivers through downtown Providence during scheduled lightings, accompanied by music and torch-lit boats, a public art installation running since 1994, with fall dates stretching toward Halloween.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Select evenings; see schedule
Dates from the official announcement — always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: October 22–October 26
Color builds from October 9 · mostly bare by November 14
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at WaterFire Providence’s own coordinates and elevation (13 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
WaterFire Providence on the map
More things to do in Rhode Island
Colt State Park
State parkPeak October 26
Industrialist Samuel Colt's former farm gives Bristol 464 acres of Narragansett Bay shoreline, its open fields lined by a mile of stone walls and a tree-shaded loop drive that's especially popular for fall cycling and picnicking with bay views.
Don’t miss: 464 acres of Narragansett Bay waterfront · Stone-wall-lined loop drive · Popular fall cycling route
Newport Cliff Walk
TrailPeak October 26
A 3.5-mile National Recreation Trail traces Newport's rocky Atlantic shoreline below the Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue, from Easton's Beach past The Breakers and Marble House to Bailey's Beach, with dramatic surf and ocean light through the fall.
Don’t miss: 3.5 miles along the Atlantic shoreline · Passes below The Breakers and Marble House · National Recreation Trail
Sweet Berry Farm
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks October 26
A 100-acre Aquidneck Island farm running pick-your-own fields from June through October, Sweet Berry's fall pumpkin patch spreads across open, rolling ground with farm-stand cider, a café, and honey from its own hives.
Don’t miss: 100 acres of pick-your-own fields · Fall pumpkin patch · Farm café and honey from on-site hives
Demon Woods at Seven Cedars Farm
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks October 23
A haunted hayride through twenty-one acres of wooded trails northwest of Providence, adding new scenes each year alongside a few fan favorites. A heated waiting area and a movie screen make the line more bearable on cold nights, and a quieter non-scare version runs one weeknight for younger kids.
Don’t miss: Hayride through 21 wooded acres · New scenes added yearly · Non-scare version for younger kids
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is WaterFire Providence open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs May 30 – Dec 11. Select evenings; see schedule. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does WaterFire Providence peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 22–October 26 (best estimate October 24). Color starts around October 9 and is mostly bare by November 14.
- What is WaterFire Providence best for?
- Fire-lit evening on the rivers.
- How do I get to WaterFire Providence?
- WaterFire Providence is in Providence. The closest city is Providence, about 0 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Rhode Island's fall lineup.
Own or manage WaterFire Providence? Update your listing or get in touch.