May News
Dear Park-goers,
May your spring be filled with cherry blossoms and sunny outings at Roger Williams Park! Summer will be here before we know it, signaling the return of free concerts, movies, and even a circus performance! This Friday, May 8, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Hype Crew bring a preview of The Greatest Show On Earth® to Food Truck Friday. Stick around for the first installment of Movies in the Park: Groovin’ Summer Movies later in the evening, featuring The Greatest Showman!
Budding photographers: capture the park at its most verdant by signing up for a free Mobile Photography Workshop this Saturday at 10 AM led by photographer and RWPC Program Manager José Ramirez! All you need is the camera on your phone and a desire to document the beauty of the park (attendance is limited, so RSVP today). Keep scrolling for more RWPC events, and even more programming from our park partners!
So far this season, we’ve already seen a great crowd show up for PechaKucha Providence at (for the first time!) the RWP Botanical Center, and a crafty bunch creating their own headpieces at the Fascinator Workshop last weekend in anticipation of our biennial garden party-themed fundraiser, Rosé in the Roses!
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See you at the Park!
Abbie, José, and Melissa
Upcoming RWPC Events
Rosé in the Roses in Style
Last weekend, fashionistas gathered at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center to craft their own unique fascinators out of faux flowers, sprigs of greenery, colorful ribbon, gems, and more, with the help of art teacher and educator Michelle Carden. These fun headpieces not only dazzled at Derby parties, but will also turn heads at Rosé in the Roses, the biennial garden party fundraiser for the Roger Williams Park Conservancy on June 11! Get your tickets by May 27 to enjoy an evening of mingling in the RWP Botanical Center and Rose Maze, delicious bites by Ellie’s and Morin’s Catering, Mahjong with the Gilded Birds, live entertainment from the Providence Drum Troupe, and more!Special thanks to our event sponsors: Beacon Bank, Beauline Media, Audrey and Ed Clifton, Meredith Curren and Gary Frishman, History and Conservation Associates, Morin’s Catering, Ellie’s, and TEN31 Productions.
People of RWP
Meet Molly Greene!
The Roger Williams Park Botanical Center is currently hosting Greenhouse Yoga with Molly every Tuesday morning at 9 AM (admission: $15). Molly teaches a fairly gentle vinyasa class, encouraging attendees to “take an hour of their day to be present.” She continues, “I cannot imagine a more beautiful place to be able to teach. I always say, this environment does half of my job for me – it’s hard not to walk into the greenhouse and feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and energized by all of these beautiful plants.”
Molly grew up in Rhode Island, and returned to her home state recently. She recalls going to the Zoo as a kid and seeing the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, and her favorite spot at RWP now is the Botanical Center. “It’s been really nice to get to be here more often!”
Programming Spotlight
Roger Williams Park Conservancy and the Nonviolence Institute are teaming up to host Partner Peace Walks every Friday at 12 PM. After a long and challenging winter season, we look forward to welcoming the community to experience the beauty of the park, getting exercise and fresh air while connecting with neighbors and friends. All are welcome to attend! Meet at the Boathouse to join us for this informal walk-and-talk; the first one takes place May 15. Learn more by visiting our calendar.
Out of the Woods at PechaKucha
Thank you to everyone who came out for PechaKucha Night at the Botanical Center on April 29! Partner organizations The RI Freedom Collective and Bloom Rhode Island, and all of the other phenomenal voices, told inspiring stories that showed the way “out of the woods” – both literally and figuratively. Presenters delivered their 20-image stories (20 seconds per image) to a full house. Learn more about PechaKucha Providence by visiting their website.
Happenings in the Park
RWP Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
The Gateway Center
RWP Zoo & Carousel Village
Volunteer at the Park
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. Spring hours: the Museum is open daily 10 AM – 4 PM, with planetarium shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM (tickets online).
The Museum offers a variety of programming, including Outdoor Adventures, Discovery Tykes classes, and other special events.
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: 10 AM – 4 PM. They host programming for all ages, including Greenhouse Impressionism painting sessions in the winter, Wee-One Wednesdays, Storytime with Chris, yoga, Tai Chi, 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. Visit the animals and spend time in the tropical rainforest.
From April 11 through August 9, see the Zoo from an insect’s perspective during A Bug’s World, featuring giant big installations! The Zoo is open daily 9 AM-4 PM.
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park is a thriving public space for all. Watch for art and recreational activities like yoga, bachata, hip hop aerobics, Tai Chi, and more – follow their Facebook page and website to stay up to date on events!
The Gateway Center is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
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.
