Waterfire Providence and other groups are staging a three-night holiday celebration, beginning Thursday, Dec. 1, and culminating Saturday, Dec. 3.

Partial lightings take place at Waterplace Park from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Following are highlights of the schedule:

Thursday, Dec. 1

WaterFire’s 24-foot tree will be illuminated at 5:30 p.m. in coordination with the lighting of the fires, kicking off the first day of Three Nights of Lights. Festival Ballet Providence will have the Nutcracker and the Mouse King visiting the basin in Waterplace Park at 6 p.m. to meet visitors and take photos.

Holiday Celebration ArtMart artists will be located on the river walk below the IGT building and in the tunnel connecting Waterplace Park to Union Plaza. Food fairs will open at 5:30 p.m., with vendors in three locations.

Friday, Dec. 2

Fire performers from Cirque de Light will be performing on WaterFire wood boats throughout the night along with illuminated LED displays.

Festival Ballet Providence will have The Dancing Pandas perform on the basin stage in Waterplace park at 6 p.m.

Holiday Celebration ArtMart artists will be located on the river walk below the IGT building and in the tunnel connecting Waterplace Park to Union Plaza. Food fairs will open at 5:30 p.m. with vendors in three locations. 

Saturday, Dec. 3

Before lighting, the Children’s Choir from Children’s Friend will be performing holiday favorites on the basin stage in Waterplace Park at 5:15 p.m.

Santa will arrive by boat at 6 p.m. and will be available for pictures in Santa’s Village on the patio level of Skyline at Waterplace until 8:30 p.m.

A Silent Soapbox’s Holiday Fairy will be visiting Waterplace Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

Fire performers from Cirque de Light will be performing on WaterFire wood boats throughout the night along with illuminated LED displays.

Holiday Celebration ArtMart artists will be located on the river walk below the IGT building and in the tunnel connecting Waterplace Park to Union Plaza. Food fairs will open at 5:30 p.m. with vendors in three locations. 

Public art installations

Throughout the three-night celebration, The Avenue Concept will be illuminating 12 murals and sculptures throughout the downtown. At various exhibits, they will add layers of sound and performance. Visitors can follow the schedule on their own with a self-giuided app, or on Thursday, Dec. 1, they can ride on a trolley provided by Gallery Night Providence. For more on the public art installations, visit: https://theavenueconcept.org/three-nights-of-lights-2022/