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- Need Plans? We’ve Got Plenty ✔️
Need Plans? We’ve Got Plenty ✔️
Embrace the little moments with events filling your planner, a spark starting in the Ocean State, festival fun just ahead, + more!
Nothing snaps you into the moment quite like noticing the leaves have suddenly swapped their summer green for autumn gold – Rhody’s way of reminding us how fast time flies. In between all the rushing around, it’s worth pausing for the small joys, like catching up with today’s newsletter. From weekend happenings to locals making big waves, we’ve packed it all in for you.
Surfer Turns Grief Into Global Tribute
When Aquidneck Island’s Dan Fischer lost his dad and dog, he found healing in the ocean and began honoring others’ loved ones by writing their names on his surfboards. What started as a personal ritual at Second Beach has grown into the One Last Wave Project, a worldwide movement that has carried nearly 18,000 names across the waves. Read more online.
• By Emily Olson, photo courtesy of One Last Wave Project
Shop Bloom PVD Brings Fresh Energy to Wickenden Street
A new retail-meets-community hub has opened its doors in Providence, offering a rotating mix of locally made goods and hands-on workshops. Shop Bloom PVD is all about discovery, connection, and celebrating creativity on one of the city’s most vibrant streets. Read more online.
• By Jenna Kaplan, photo courtesy of Shop Bloom PVD
Presented by Roger Williams Park Conservancy
“Long Wave” Public Art Installation Mesmerizes Visitors at Roger Williams Park
A captivating new sight is drawing visitors to Roger Williams Park. After sunset, Long Wave – an immersive, illuminated public art installation – transforms the lawn near the Rose Garden into a vibrant, otherworldly landscape. Commissioned by the Roger Williams Park Conservancy, Long Wave is the work of Pneuhaus in collaboration with Smooth Technology, with funding from the RI Commerce Corporation’s RI Rebounds Placemaking Initiative and support from the Providence Parks Department.
Designed and fabricated by Pneuhaus, a Rhode Island-based art and design studio known for its innovative inflatable architecture, Long Wave is built from modular segments tailored to standard fabric roll widths. The lighting and animation elements were developed in partnership with Smooth Technology, a Brooklyn- and Providence-based studio known for integrating responsive lighting into public art and performances.
Spanning nearly 200 feet in length and rising over 20 feet high, the spiraling structure evokes a sense of motion and scale. After dark, dynamic pulses of light move along the structure’s path. “The title, ‘Long Wave,’ refers not only to the sine-like geometry of the structure, but also to broader cycles – of time, energy, and perception – that unfold slowly and steadily across space," says August Lehrecke, co-founder of Pneuhaus.
“Long Wave is a perfect example of how public art can transform familiar spaces into something truly magical,” said Bonnie Nickerson, Executive Director of the Roger Williams Park Conservancy. “We’re thrilled to bring this installation to the park to invite visitors to pause, reflect, and engage with art in a direct and memorable way. It’s a celebration of creativity and community.”
Experience the installation during Sunset at Long Wave on September 26 at 6:30pm, a relaxed gathering with live music, or visit on your own any evening through October 2025. Visit RWPConservancy.org and follow @rogerwilliamspark to share your #LongWave photos for a chance to win Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular tickets at the Zoo!
Polina Chesnakova Serves Heritage Through Her New Cookbook
Providence author Polina Chesnakova stirs memory, migration, and tradition into her third cookbook, Chesnok: Cooking from My Corner of the Diaspora. Blending recipes from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia with her own immigrant story, Chesnakova crafts a heartfelt portrait of culture kept alive through food. Read more online.
• By Maggie Pearson, photography by Dane Tashima, courtesy of Polina Chesnakova
Rhody Recs is your weekly roundup of what’s happening across the state, a built-in excuse to rally the crew early instead of scrambling for plans at the last minute. Because let’s be real, life’s too short to leave the fun for last minute.
Date | Event |
|---|---|
Friday 9/19 | 20th Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Happening September 19-12 across stunning mansion venues in Newport, with tastings, dinners, seminars, and a Sunday Jazz Brunch. Learn more online. ⸻ Butterfly Farm's Burger Bash Butterfly Farm’s Burger Bash serves up farm-fresh beef, live music, drinks, and hayrides from 5-8pm in Lincoln. Learn more online. ⸻ Glam Jam ride with PVD Bike Jam Providence Bike Jam hosts its Glam Jam ride with cyclists meeting at Burnside Park at 7pm and rolling out at 7:30pm for a glitzy group ride through the city. Learn more online. |
Saturday 9/20 | 4th Annual Jewelry District Fall Festival The 4th Annual Jewelry District Fall Festival returns to Richmond Street in Providence from 12-7pm with free admission, live performances by Rory and the Blue Hounds and Lisa Bello, kids’ activities, 30+ vendors, food, drinks, and family fun hosted by neighborhood favorites. Learn more online. ⸻ Newport Singles’ Speed Dating Event Find your fall fling (or forever!) at Newport Singles’ Speed Dating at Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co., with age-based sessions starting promptly at 2pm and 4:30pm. Learn more online. ⸻ Exeter Fall Festival ⸻ Sculpture Park Porch Reception Celebrate the 31st Annual Sculpture Park Exhibition Season with Ellen Blomgren’s Habitats series at The Meeting House Porch in Tiverton from 3-5pm. Learn more online. ⸻ Valley Street Neighborhood Market The Valley Street Neighborhood Market returns to The Plant from 2-7pm, with food, drinks, live music, author readings, fitness classes, vendors, and even a baby rave. Learn more online. ⸻ The Thrift x Vintage Fest The Thrift x Vintage Fest returns to Pawtucket with more than 80 vendors offering unique clothing, bags, jewelry, and more, plus live music, food trucks, and a bar for guests 21+. Learn more online. ⸻ Warwick Center for the Arts 50th Anniversary End of Summer Soiree Warwick Center for the Arts is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with an End of Summer Soiree from 5-8pm featuring festive food and drinks, live music by the Extraordinary Rendition Band, a silent auction with original art, and special dedications, including the presentation of the Sharon D. Eisman Peace Pole Project. Learn more online. |
Sunday 9/21 | 11th Annual Ocean State Oyster Festival The 11th Annual Ocean State Oyster Festival returns to 195 District Park in Providence from 1-8pm, showcasing 16 Rhode Island oyster farms alongside live music, craft beer, wine, and food trucks. Learn more online. ⸻ Tiverton Farmers Market Summa Sizzla Tiverton Farmers Market is turning up the heat with its Summa Sizzla celebration from 10am-2pm at 3588 Main Road, where sizzling eats, live music, and local makers mark the tastiest way to say goodbye to summer. Learn more online. ⸻ 5th Annual Proctoberfest Proclamation Ale Company hosts its 5th Annual Proctoberfest on Saturday from 12–4pm with seasonal beer, live music, Oktoberfest eats, local vendors, and family-friendly contests, free to attend. Learn more online. ⸻ Zac Brown Tribute Band Phantom Farms Brewing hosts a summer send-off from 12-6pm with live music by a Zac Brown Tribute Band and The Island Castaways Band, plus seasonal brews, food trucks, and more. Learn more online. |
On Deck For Next Wee | - George’s of Galilee is hosting a Beachfront Lobster Bake on September 22 at 6pm, featuring a raw bar, Gooseneck bubbly, a traditional lobster and clam boil, and fireside s’mores under the stars. ⸻ - Movies on the Block returns to Grant’s Block with a free outdoor screening of The Wizard of Oz on September 25 – just bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a classic film under the stars. ⸻ - Queers & Beers RI kicks off fall with a free, donation-based yoga class led by Rhode Island Hot Yoga on Thursday, September 25 at 7:15pm, followed by a social hour with Welcome to Hotties. ⸻ Artist Occipital brings craft cocktails, live drink-painting, and contemporary art to The Rhodium Room in Pawtucket on September 25, with original works and limited editions on view all weekend. ⸻ Track 15 Food Hall hosts the RI Night Market on September 27, from 4-9pm, a free, family-friendly event during WaterFire featuring live music, local artisans, delicious eats and drinks, and the magic of Providence’s newest gathering spot. ⸻ The Wickenden Street Makers Market returns on Saturday, September 27, from 11am-6pm, transforming the street in PVD into a lively block party with local makers, artists, food trucks, and live music. ⸻ The Thirsty Beaver in Smithfield hosts its Annual Fall Festival on September 27, from 12-3pm, featuring local vendors with seasonal goods, cozy crafts, tarot readings, face painting, tiny tattoos, fresh juice, and more. ⸻ River Bar in Westerly is throwing a “Last Call” party on September 28 from 4-8 pm to bid farewell to patio season, featuring cocktails with guest bartender Kenneth Young, DJ sets, live music, fresh oysters, and summer favorites like hot buttered lobster rolls. ⸻ Join The Heart of RI and Club Pilates for “Paws & Pilates” on September 28 at 10 a.m. in Cranston – a mat class benefiting the Heart of RI Animal Rescue League with tickets starting at $25. ⸻ Dave’s Coffee in Charlestown hosts Family Fall Day on September 28 from 10am-3pm, featuring live music, caricatures, outdoor games, raffle baskets, photo ops, and seasonal treats like apple cider donuts and hot cider. ⸻ Mill’s Tavern invites guests to channel their inner Vanderbilt at a Gilded Age Afternoon Tea on September 28, where vintage elegance meets sweet and savory bites in the heart of Providence. ⸻ Celebrate the season in style at Shepherd’s Run’s Harvest Market on September 28, where cozy vibes meet curated crafts, fall sips, gourmet bites, and pampering perks – all with no ticket required. ⸻ Grunge legends Melvins and punk rockers Redd Kross bring their “Stop Your Whining” tour to Fête Music Hall on September 29 for a night of noise, nostalgia, and no apologies. ⸻ On September 29, join actor and author Marianne Leone at Ink Fish Books for an evening of laughs, literary candor, and Catholic school flashbacks as she discusses Christina the Astonishing in conversation with Ann Hood. |
Our Rhody Rec list is refreshed with every newsletter, so be sure to check back for the latest events!
Rhody Rewind: Our Fall Adventure at Clark Farms
With autumn on the horizon and Clark Farms’ Fall Fest officially underway, we’re flashing back to last year’s visit. From getting hilariously lost in the corn maze (thanks to Jenna’s questionable navigation skills) to sampling all the seasonal fun Clark Farms has to offer, it was the perfect kickoff to fall in South County.
Ocean State Black and Funny Festival Returns with Laughter and Community
.The Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield hosts the fifth annual Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival September 25–28, celebrating Black improvisers with performances, workshops, and family-friendly fun. Expect powerhouse troupes, hands-on classes, and a joyful sense of community that extends far beyond the stage. Read more online.
• By Jenna Kaplan, photo courtesy of the Contemporary Theater Company
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⭐Got a story we have to hear, a hidden gem we missed, or just wanna say hi? At Hey Rhody Media Co., we’re all about celebrating the Ocean State – and we love when readers like you help us do it even better. Whether it’s a stunning photo, a foodie find, or a neighbor doing something awesome, your submissions might just end up in one of our award-winning mags!