August News
Happy August!
Have you encountered Long Wave yet? Right next to the Rose Garden, the mesmerizing structure bends light into a helical path. We’re excited to welcome Park-goers to experience Long Wave, an immersive public art project combining the talents of RI-based art and design studio, Pneuhaus, and Smooth Technology, with funding provided by the RI Commerce Corporation through the RI Rebounds Placemaking Initiative.
Spanning nearly 200 feet in length and over 20 feet tall, Long Wave conjures an awe-inspiring presence in Roger Williams Park with its geometric spiral form and sense of fluid motion suspended in space. At night, light pulses along the spiral path in programmed rhythms, suggesting orbit, momentum, and passage. See it now through October 2025. Read more about it on our website.
Check out the installation while you’re in the Park for all kinds of events happening this month, including the iconic Summer Pops Concert at the Temple to Music this Wednesday, August 6! Catch a PVD World Music performance, enjoy Food Truck Friday every week, and pay a visit to the newly opened Boathouse Café & Bar. Keep scrolling for even more August highlights!
Summer is still going strong at the Park – see you there!
Upcoming RWPC Events
Boathouse Café & Bar
The much-anticipated Boathouse Café & Bar officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-July! Follow the colorful flags outside the historic Dalrymple Boathouse to visit this hidden gem of a cafe situated right on the water. Whether you get hungry during an afternoon stroll, or you’re looking for a romantic date night on Pleasure Lake, the Boathouse Café is a dreamy seasonal destination right in Providence’s backyard serving pizza and snacks, ice cream, beer and wine, and refreshing non-alcoholic beverages. They’re open daily, Sunday-Thursday: 12-7pm; Friday-Saturday: 12-8pm (weather permitting). Follow on Instagram to learn more!
People of RWP
Meet Cynthia and Allen Days!
We have longtime park partners Cynthia and Allen Days to thank for the new Boathouse Café & Bar! Prior to the cafe’s opening, the industrious couple has long been known for running the Swan Boats and constructing the floating tunnels for the Illuminated Swan Boat nights in the fall.
Their nautical contributions to the City extend back to 1997 when the couple launched the Venetian Gondola business on the Providence River, making Allen PVD’s original gondolier. The idea was inspired by the waterways and canals in Marco Island, Florida, and Allen learned the trade from a master gondolier in Venice, Italy. Read more about their contributions to the Park in our news archives!
Inspiration
The weather last week had us all appreciating the abundant shade the trees in Roger Williams Park offer! This month, we’re inspired by Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource, by Sam Bloch, an interesting nonfiction read about the role shade plays in protecting health and enhancing life, and how innovators are seeing the potential of shade in a new light. Order a copy of the book from your favorite local bookstore, or find it online here.
More Happenings in the Park
Volunteer
Park Partners
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
The Museum of Natural History is Rhode Island’s only natural history museum and is home to the state’s only public planetarium. Summer hours are 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM, daily; Planetarium shows daily at 1pm (purchase tickets online).
The Museum has many events including monthly walks (Plant Walk on August 23 and Sunday Stroll on August 31), Discovery Tykes classes, and other special events.
The museum will be closed Monday, August 11.
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
New England’s largest glasshouse display garden, the Botanical Center is a wonderful place to enjoy and explore, with so much to see inside and outside this magical space.
The RWP Botanical Center is open Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 4pm. They host programming for all ages, including Wee-One Wednesdays, Storytime with Chris, Ask a Hort, Open Paint Fridays, soil testing, Greenhouse Jazz, and more!
Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel
It’s always an adventure at Roger Williams Park Zoo, which is home to over 100 rare and fascinating species from around the world. Come visit the animals and spend time in the Zoo’s tropical rainforest.
Be sure to get tickets to Return of the Dinosaurs, through August 10. Food Truck Fridays are every Friday at Carousel Village.
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park
Have you visited the Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park? It is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM.
The Gateway Center is a thriving public space for all. Follow the website link below and their social media to keep up to date.
The Roger Williams Park Conservancy is a nonprofit partner to the City of Providence Parks Department and works to boost, amplify and support all of Roger Williams Park and the park venues. The Conservancy’s mission is to sustain and enhance Roger Williams Park as a vibrant public space for all.
