FirstWorks Summer Beats: William Cepeda & Elio Villafranca

July 11 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

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Free

FirstWorks Summer Beats Concerts: The William Cepeda & Elio Villafranca Sextet: Merging Roots

July 11 at 6:00 PM 
Artist Up-Close at 5 PM
Roger Williams Park Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn

 

This exciting concert tour unites two renowned musicians, William Cepeda and Elio Villafranca, in a dynamic exploration of the shared African roots connecting Cuba, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans. Both artists are celebrated for blending jazz with the musical traditions of their homelands, highlighting cultural resilience through rhythm, improvisation, and storytelling.

Elio Villafranca is an acclaimed Cuban pianist and composer who leads the group Jass Syncopators, whose repertoire explores the influence of Caribbean rhythms on early jazz. William Cepeda is a pioneer of Afro-Rican Jazz, which fuses traditional Puerto Rican styles like bomba and plena with jazz, creating a sound that is both innovative and rooted in history. The ensemble features core members of Villafranca’s Jass Syncopators – musicians from NYC well-versed in jazz and Afro-Caribbean genres – along with a saxophonist from New Orleans now based in Nashville. Together, this sextet offers a vibrant, cross-cultural soundscape that celebrates the po

wer of music to transcend borders and connect communities.

This concert coincides with Food Truck Friday, an outdoor food truck festival at the Carousel Village located across from the Boathouse Lawn starting at 5:00 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, grab some delicious food – and enjoy an evening outdoors with incredible music and community!

Presented by FirstWorks in partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy and Providence Parks Department.

Accessibility info:
• The Boathouse Lawn at Roger Williams Park is accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities. The area is connected by paved paths. Accessible parking spaces are available nearby, though access isles vary.There are clear pathways leading to the lawn and surrounding attractions. Some seating options are available, including park benches. Concerts take place on the lawn, a mostly flat hard-grass surface. Earplugs will be available on a first come/first served basis.
• Accessible Bathrooms nearby (at the Carousel Village)
• For questions about accessibility, contact Rainy Stanford-Cordaro

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Happy #GivingTuesday2025! Did you know that Roger Williams Park Conservancy, with the help of our many wonderful partners, brought more than 50 programs to the Park this year? Help us offer even more free or low-cost, family-friendly events in 2026 with a donation!

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@pvdfilmfestival
@providencetourism
@providenceact
@cityofprovidence
@pvdparks
@ricommerce
@firstworksri
@rwpzoo
@rwpbotanicalcenter
@rwpgatewaycenter
@rwpmuseum

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Open post by rogerwilliamspark with ID 17984338490761022
Happy #GivingTuesday2025! Did you know that Roger Williams Park Conservancy, with the help of our many wonderful partners, brought more than 50 programs to the Park this year? Help us offer even more free or low-cost, family-friendly events in 2026 with a donation! @pvd_foodtruckevents @pvdfilmfestival @providencetourism @providenceact @cityofprovidence @pvdparks @ricommerce @firstworksri @rwpzoo @rwpbotanicalcenter @rwpgatewaycenter @rwpmuseum

From family picnics in the Rose Garden and concerts at the Bandstand to seeing the cherry blossoms bloom in the Japanese Garden every spring and sled-riding in the winter, Roger Williams Park is the backdrop of so many memories year-round, and even more opportunities to escape into nature, connect with neighbors, and attend events in the future! 🌸☃️🍂🌳

With your continued support this #GivingTuesday2025, and collaborating with @pvdparks , we can’t wait to offer even more free family-friendly programming, make accessibility upgrades and restorations of historic structures, steward critical green spaces, and more in 2026.

Follow the link in bio to donate, with options for one-time or recurring gifts.

Drone footage by @derecola.photo

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Open post by rogerwilliamspark with ID 18070010330599336
From family picnics in the Rose Garden and concerts at the Bandstand to seeing the cherry blossoms bloom in the Japanese Garden every spring and sled-riding in the winter, Roger Williams Park is the backdrop of so many memories year-round, and even more opportunities to escape into nature, connect with neighbors, and attend events in the future! 🌸☃️🍂🌳 With your continued support this #GivingTuesday2025, and collaborating with @pvdparks , we can’t wait to offer even more free family-friendly programming, make accessibility upgrades and restorations of historic structures, steward critical green spaces, and more in 2026. Follow the link in bio to donate, with options for one-time or recurring gifts. Drone footage by @derecola.photo

#GivingTuesday2025 is just around the corner, and we get it – there are so many wonderful local nonprofits seeking support this time of year!

Why include Roger Williams Park Conservancy in your giving plan?

Behind the more than 50 free and low-cost programs hosted every year, the restoration of beloved historic structures still playing a role in the community today, and the expansive green spaces and waterways sustaining humans and wildlife alike, there are crucial partnerships and much hard work that goes into stewarding Roger Williams Park.

As Board Member Chris Lanen shares – and so many families can relate to! – "the Park provides [a] retreat into nature. Individually, it gives me a place to exercise and decompress. As a parent, it gives my child a magical place to play, explore, and learn throughout the year.”

Find the link to donate in our bio, with options for one-time or recurring gifts!

12 1
Open post by rogerwilliamspark with ID 18088780033987512
#GivingTuesday2025 is just around the corner, and we get it – there are so many wonderful local nonprofits seeking support this time of year! Why include Roger Williams Park Conservancy in your giving plan? Behind the more than 50 free and low-cost programs hosted every year, the restoration of beloved historic structures still playing a role in the community today, and the expansive green spaces and waterways sustaining humans and wildlife alike, there are crucial partnerships and much hard work that goes into stewarding Roger Williams Park. As Board Member Chris Lanen shares – and so many families can relate to! – "the Park provides [a] retreat into nature. Individually, it gives me a place to exercise and decompress. As a parent, it gives my child a magical place to play, explore, and learn throughout the year.” Find the link to donate in our bio, with options for one-time or recurring gifts!

To all those celebrating, happy Thanksgiving from RWPC! Don’t forget: our trails and paths are always available for a rejuvenating post-feast walk! 🍂

We would love to hear what you’re thankful for about Roger Williams Park – is it a favorite piece of architecture or a serene place to retreat into nature? A favorite event or family outing that’s become a tradition? Let us know!

19 2
Open post by rogerwilliamspark with ID 18070409843457710
To all those celebrating, happy Thanksgiving from RWPC! Don’t forget: our trails and paths are always available for a rejuvenating post-feast walk! 🍂 We would love to hear what you’re thankful for about Roger Williams Park – is it a favorite piece of architecture or a serene place to retreat into nature? A favorite event or family outing that’s become a tradition? Let us know!
In Partnership with:

1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI 02907

The Roger Williams Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization, and is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal EIN (tax ID) number 47-4414743.
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