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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A friendly heads up to Park-goers: Maple and Pine avenues at Cladastris Avenue are temporarily closed for approximately 4-6 weeks, limiting vehicle access to Park Avenue via FC Greene Memorial Boulevard.

This temporary closure makes way for boardwalk construction at Cunliff Lake, a public access project that will enhance recreational opportunities at Roger Williams Park!

During this period, traffic will be detoured to park entrance and exit locations at Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue and Elmwood Avenue. Drivers using the Elmwood Avenue exit will follow Cladastris Avenue to FC Greene Memorial Boulevard to Linden Avenue to Elmwood Avenue south to Park Avenue east. Those using the Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue exit will follow Cladastris Avenue to Montgomery Avenue to Broad Street south to Warwick Avenue south to Park Avenue west.

Pedestrian and bicycle access will remain open. However, visitors are advised to follow posted signage and respect all barriers, as a crane will be active weekdays from 7AM to 3PM.

For updates and more information about the project, follow @pvdparks

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Open post by rogerwilliamspark with ID 18386967754183245
A friendly heads up to Park-goers: Maple and Pine avenues at Cladastris Avenue are temporarily closed for approximately 4-6 weeks, limiting vehicle access to Park Avenue via FC Greene Memorial Boulevard. This temporary closure makes way for boardwalk construction at Cunliff Lake, a public access project that will enhance recreational opportunities at Roger Williams Park! During this period, traffic will be detoured to park entrance and exit locations at Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue and Elmwood Avenue. Drivers using the Elmwood Avenue exit will follow Cladastris Avenue to FC Greene Memorial Boulevard to Linden Avenue to Elmwood Avenue south to Park Avenue east. Those using the Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue exit will follow Cladastris Avenue to Montgomery Avenue to Broad Street south to Warwick Avenue south to Park Avenue west. Pedestrian and bicycle access will remain open. However, visitors are advised to follow posted signage and respect all barriers, as a crane will be active weekdays from 7AM to 3PM. For updates and more information about the project, follow @pvdparks

Thanks to everyone who came out to the RWP Winter Wonderland this past Saturday! From cookies and hot cocoa to a visit from the big man in red, there was much merry-making to be had! Bundle up and swing by Roger Williams Park any evening this month to see all the twinkling lights. 🎄

Shout out to all of our Park partners for putting on the festive event:

@pvdparks
@rwpmuseum
@rwpbotanicalcenter
@rwpgatewaycenter
@rwpzoo

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Open post by rogerwilliamspark with ID 18095677276897050
Thanks to everyone who came out to the RWP Winter Wonderland this past Saturday! From cookies and hot cocoa to a visit from the big man in red, there was much merry-making to be had! Bundle up and swing by Roger Williams Park any evening this month to see all the twinkling lights. 🎄 Shout out to all of our Park partners for putting on the festive event: @pvdparks @rwpmuseum @rwpbotanicalcenter @rwpgatewaycenter @rwpzoo

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

48 1
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
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.
© 2025 Roger Williams Park. All Rights Reserved.
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