(9.7) This year PVDFest returns to the pavement where it belongs. City streets, sidewalks, and parking lots will become unfamiliar in many wonderful ways, filling with music, art, light, food, and happy dancing people in various states of dishabille. And it’s free. One of this year’s special acts is eVenti Verticali who you may remember from 2019.
Now the gravity-defying Italian aerialists return with Sphere, a thrilling new 30-minute spectacle delivered by five aerial dancers suspended from a crane some 60 feet above the ground. The performance begins with the “stage,” a transparent sphere, deflated and shapeless with one aerialist suspended inside. The sphere is raised high overhead by the crane, becoming a gigantic, fully inflated and stunning globe, transforming into a place where everything comes alive.
But the question on everyone’s mind: What about the alcohol? Will attendees be herded into the Smiley drinking pens as in the past? Or did he even get rid of those? From the FAQs section: Can I buy beer or wine anywhere?
Many bars and restaurants along the festival footprint offer alcoholic beverages that may be consumed at the establishments selling them.
Good to know. Festival hours:
Friday, September 6 — 5pm to 9pm.
Saturday, September 7 — noon to 8pm.(Rain date: Sunday, September 8.)
Go to the PVDFest site for links to the schedule, stage locations, and the musical acts and artist projects.
Where to find all those happy dancing people? On Friday night, the City Hall stage will feature Lulada Club, an all-women salsa band, starting at 7:30pm.
Starting at 4:30pm on Saturday check out the Afrika Nyaga Drum and Dance Festival, a ground-shaking celebration of West African music and dance. And the Haus of Glitter will be holding a dance party on the Snow Street stage, Saturday 5pm to 6pm.
A parade kicks off at 3pm Saturday at Washington Street and Empire including the high-energy Providence Drum Troupe.
The visual arts can be pretty dynamic as well: A mural Art Battle takes place from 2pm to 5pm, Saturday on Kennedy Plaza.
Thoughts about the music and the fun: Clearly Mayor Smiley’s vision of this event is different than mine, more family friendly. I don’t have anything against families, but there are festivals and street faires and holiday strolls all year long — this one was for the 21+ crowd. This year the whole thing closes down at 8pm on Saturday.
In the past, local bands played on little stages tucked into parking lots all around downtown, many after sunset. This year the acts lean heavily into hip hop which I suspect the Mayor likes for the ease with which they can get on and off the stage — not so many amps and drums — allowing organizers to keep to the schedule so he can get home in time for “Matlock.”
For those looking for an actual band, Dred Buffalo do have amps and drums, and they will be playing in Burnside Park, Saturday evening from 7pm to 7:30pm. And they’re pretty damn good.
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This is what I miss. This gal.
