6000 origami cranes will be distributed in collaboration with the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence. Salsa lessons on the ballroom stage, then dancing. Martial arts demo at Waterplace Park, Mixed Magic Theater performs a scene from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Also, Starry Starry Night. Go here for schedule of times and locations. Weather not an issue.

WaterFire, Saturday, ignition 7:47pm, downtown

Special WaterFire treat tonight at Turk’s Head Plaza — the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Francisco Noya will perform an evening of orchestral music inspired by the flaming, floating extravaganza that is. . . WaterFire.

Approximately 2,500 chairs will be placed in the Plaza for audience members . . . The program includes Smetana’s The Moldau, Mahler’s Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 and Pärt’s Fratres.

Plus doughboys. The music will be miked and broadcast along the river for all to hear. Also performing — dancers from the Festival Ballet of Providence and soprano Diana McVey will sing music by Puccini and others. According to the ProJo there will be 5000 chairs. Anyway, lots of chairs. Further,

Noya said it’s music that “connects on a deeper level,” pieces like Barber’s Adagio, which was used in the soundtrack of the movie “Platoon.” He said that he and Evans picked a program with the “WaterFire vibe,” selections chosen to “support the ambience and the mystique of WaterFire.”

Ignition at 8:04pm, concert 9pm to 10:30pm, WaterFire, Saturday, downtown

Saturday — Sidewalk sale today for the stores in Wayland Square, 10am to 5pm. (Our friends at What Cheer Antiques open at noon and have a bunch of cool stuff out on the hot sidewalk.)

Hasbro is hosting the 8th annual Strawberry Shortcake Convention at its headquarters in Pawtucket from 9am to 6pm.

Saturday night 8:18pm Full WaterFire downtown.

The East Providence Heritage Festival runs both days this weekend ending Sunday night with Kissnation.

Sunday noon to 4pm — Whole Foods Neighborhood Block Party. They will be closing down Waterman Street in front of the store. Music (the Ricecakes and Formal Action) games and food. And wrestlers (free range I hope).

Join MERI to protest the NOM people at 1:30pm, Smith Street side of State House. Wear Red.

(To the best of our knowledge, none of these events involve hula hoops.)

Fire good. Full WaterFire Saturday night.

8:25pm to midnight, Saturday, downtown

The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theater presents Henry VIII at the Roger Williams National Memorial tonight.

Free admission, 8pm, Saturday, RW National Memorial Park, 282 North Main Street

Meanwhile a full WaterFire lighting is scheduled for up and down the river with luminaria, gargoyles, oracles, Spogga. The WF website warns that there may be some sprinkles, bring an umbrella. It shouldn’t be enough to cause a change of plans. They update the weather conditions all day.

Full fire lighting at 8:21pm, Saturday, WaterFire, downtown

Head downtown tonight for a full lighting of the river, complete with oracles, gargoyles, luminaria, and Spogga the Fire Dancer! There seems to be a new line of merch with t-shirts, bags and such. Pictured here is a bumper sticker which also comes in black & white. Booze and food is also for sale.

WaterFire, Friday, 8:16pm to midnight, downtown, follow the smoke

There will be a partial WaterFire tonight sponsored by the Brown University Office of Alumni Relations. The circle of braziers will be lit in Waterplace Basin and on down to Steeple Street. Two luminaria stations will be set up along the river near the Exchange Street bridge. Light a candle for remembrance or congratulations. There will be some new items for sale in two merch locations: Waterplace Park near the basin tunnel; and Citizens Plaza at Steeple Street.

Saturday, WaterFire, 8:10pm to midnight

Nice work by Leland Creative, the Massachusetts firm that came up with this design.(And thanks to Jef at GCP who first brought this to our attention.) Friday night’s special WaterFire is being sponsored by area Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners as part of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Dunk, which has apparently jazzed things up downtown. Lord knows we need a boost. The first round starts today — four matchups start with Villanova vs. Robert Morris at 12:30pm, ending with the last start at 9:55pm for the Tennessee vs. San Diego game. (Tickets are scarce.) So downtown will be hopping all day and into the evening with increasingly enthusiastic and completely lost out-of-towners. Be nice and helpful.

Men’s NCAA Basketball — The Dunk, 1 LaSalle Square, Thursday, Saturday’s schedule tba

Partial WaterFire, Friday, 7:30pm to 11pm, Waterplace Basin

WaterFire Providence would like you to see some photos from their New Year’s Eve 2009 Masquerade Party (held at the Old Stone Bank on S. Main, a beautiful building inside and out). The party celebrated not only the end of another brilliant year for WaterFire it kicked off their 15th year of public art in Downtown Providence.

First there is the final and special WaterFire of the season. The fourth annual “Flames of Hope” lighting will help mark ‘breast cancer awareness month’ and purchases of pink ribbons of light and pink glow necklaces will help support the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Research Foundation and WaterFire. A torch ceremony begins at the State House (which will be bathed in pink) at 5:30pm.

You may also be interested in the Hot Tub Blowout Expo at the RI Convention Center today (until 8pm) and again tomorrow. This sure sounds like a tough sell; in this state? in this economy? Talk about a nonessential budget item. Then again I have a real problem with sharing big steaming tubs of hot water with other peoples’ feet . . . and their junk . . . and their business.

WaterFire lighting, Saturday night 6:18pm (to 12:30am), Downtown

There are several happenings tonight in addition to the usual fabulousness of the flaming floating braziers: Maker Faire is taking over the Sovereign Plaza at Weybosset and Westminster Streets from 2pm to 10pm; the author and the illustrator of the new children’s book WaterFire Duck will be signing their work from 6pm to 10pm by the stage in Waterplace Basin; the staff of Roger Williams Park is mounting a pumpkin preview with carved jack-o-lanterns to whet your appetite for their upcoming Halloween event; and there will be a Clear Currents installation involving canoes and paper fish. (Today’s details at WaterFire)

Lighting 6:51pm, Saturday, downtown

If you have ever wanted to have an up close, water-level view at WaterFire, now is your chance. WaterFire is looking for experienced paddlers to navigate canoes decorated with glowing fish among the braziers during the September 19th lighting. Canoe enthusiasts can get more information at the WaterFire website about how to be a part of the magic.

Flaming rivers of flaming flames — 100 braziers, atmospheric music, fried dough, Oracles, Fire Dancers, Origami Guy, and swing music at the Sovereign Plaza Ballroom with a free swing dance lesson at 7pm. Venetian carnevale masks will be available for $3 (at the Amica tables) with proceeds supporting Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island.

WaterFire 7:38pm to midnight, Saturday

The weather will be perfect for WaterFire or anything else for that matter. Head downtown at sunset for the lighting. Scheduled for the Plaza Ballroom at the Turk’s Head building, “a night of Latin rhythm featuring the Latin Heartbeat Orchestra, the Masacote Dance Company, and The East Side Edition.”

7:56pm, Saturday, downtown

Pretty nice weather for a stroll downtown — fried dough, oracles, glow sticks, music, people watching, beer. And you know what else summer in the city has going for it? No damn mosquitoes. Lighting at 8:07pm Saturday. More info at WaterFire.

With a special performance by Spogga and the Spogganauts. It looks like they start playing at 6pm on the stage at the Waterplace Park Basin and according to the announcement “at 8:30pm we set SPOGGA on FIRE!!! (It’s kind of a one time trick so you should be here)”. Fun for the whole family.

Also, the WaterFire website has the details of a special walking tour starting at the Roger Williams National Park.  Join Park Ranger John McNiff at 6:30pm at 282 North Main Street or call 521.7266.

And there is a concert at India Point Park at 7:30pm followed by fireworks tonight at 9:15pm. (Other events and fireworks at ProJo).