WaterFire

WaterFire is a feast for the five senses that is no small feat to pull off, requiring great effort and planning, and logistical gymnastics in order to yield a memorable experience that is pure magic.

It's an event that is in its 15th season in Providence. And finally, this past Saturday night, I got to experience some of that magic myself.

Barbara received an invitation to celebrate the festivities at the V.I.P. tent of one of WaterFire's corporate sponsors.

While there were plenty of food and beverage venues at WaterFire, there was nothing like free food and being waited on hand and foot.

The food was sinfully excellent ~ succulent jumbo shrimp cocktails that just kept coming at us, piquant empanadas with a pleasantly spiced dipping sauce, gourmet pizzas of all sorts, fresh juicy berries, salmon and capers hors d'oeuvres, an assortment of favorable cheeses and spreads, cucumber finger sandwiches, oozing honeycombs, decadent desserts, etc.

And there was an unlimited open bar.

We got there at around 7:30 PM. The sun had not gone down yet.

One of the popular attractions at WaterFire are the gondola rides along the river.

WaterFire is in the heart of downtown Providence,

which comes alive when the sun goes down.

Barbara enjoyed her virgin WaterFire experience as much as I did.

From where we sat at the V.I.P. tent, we could see the flames of WaterFire flickering through the legs of the folks viewing it from the bridge that crossed College Street. (The V.I.P. tent was right in the middle of College Street.)

Leaving the confines of the V.I.P. tent I was treated to this spectacular view from the College Street Bridge.

In addition to the flaming braziers on the water, there was a procession of flaming torches.

The torch-bearers marched passed us as they crossed over the bridge to the other side.

What was to be their final destination?

WaterFire was truly a feast to the five senses.

There was the visual display of the fire on the water ~ the artful combination of two opposing elements ~ and the bright blue illuminated stars that hung from trees and dotted the landscape.

The sense of smell was engaged by the pine and cedar burning in the braziers as well as the whiffs of tasty aromas from the tent caterer.

Beautiful music, piped in from over 2 miles of heavy audio cable to the 60+ installed speakers, and the crackling of wood-burning fires stimulated the sense of hearing.

The sense of taste was represented by the many delicious foods and beverages that Barbara and I sampled at the V.I.P. tent.

And the sense of touch was all around us ~ from the cool breezes that gave relief to the warm and clingy humid air to the feel of the wine glass in my hand.

The beauty that is Providence at night truly came alive with WaterFire.