R.I.'s 46th Annual Heritage Festival

46th RI Heritage Festival Flyer

Rhode Island's 46th Annual Heritage Festival 
Saturday, September 21, 2024

WaterFire Arts Center
475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908
12:00 to 5:00 pm

"Explore the world through art and music!"

Join in a lively celebration of our state's rich cultural heritage! WaterFire Arts Center will be filled with culture, music, and dancing from around the world.

This extraordinary festival unites the cultural richness and creative expressions of Rhode Islanders. Explore cultural exhibits, witness visual art, and engage with craft demonstrations showcasing traditions from around the globe. Experience the magic as dancers and musicians from different ethnicities grace the stage throughout the day. Indulge in a culinary journey with food trucks offering a delectable array of traditional foods and drinks for purchase. Families can enjoy free face painting, arts, and crafts in the children's area. 

Discover the world right here in Rhode Island – where cultural connections come alive!

Admission to this family-friendly event is FREE.

Program Schedule:

⭐ 11:50

The RI Heritage Festival kicks off with a Flag Parade around the building.

⭐ 12:00

Opening Remarks: RIHPHC Executive Director Jeffrey Emidy                                    

Welcome: Lt. Governor Sabina Matos

Land Acknowledgment: Silvermoon Mars LaRose

Emcees: Angela Sharkey and Kobi Dennis

Ahlyha Nicole Bright – Singing the National Anthem

Tia Alexi Roberts, Nizhoni Spears, and Jennifer Weston - Jingle Dress Dance 

Fraternidad Folklorica Boliviana - Dance Group

PADAM - Kuchipudi, Indian Classical Dance Group

Lydia Perez and Youruba 2 - Puerto Rican Drum Group

SGTV Applebaum Bavarian Folkdance Group

⭐ 1:00

Nazeli Armenian Dance Group - Dance 

Rhode Island Black Storytellers 

Dance BFF - Bollywood Dance   

Arte Latino of New England - Storytelling  

Azama Dance Group - Middle Eastern Dance

French American School of Rhode Island - Singing   

⭐ 2:00

The Colombian American Cultural Society – Dance 

RI Swedish Heritage Association – Swedish Folk Songs  

Quisqueya In Action Folklore Dance - Dominican Dance 

Rhode Island Tamil Sangam and School - Dance Group

Medalit Scott and Luis Paredes - Carnaval of Arequipa Dancers

⭐ 3:00

Aftab Dance Group - Iranian Dance 

Arte Latino of New England - Storytelling   

Kelley School of Irish Dance - Dance  

Morenada Boliviana San Bartolome - Dance Group

Seoyon Kim - Korean Harp  

⭐ 4:00

Napua O' Polynesia - Dance  

Rhythm Nation Dance Company - Filipino Dance Group

Ecuador Sumag Llacta - Dance and Musical Performance  

India Association of Rhode Island - Dance 

Falun Dafa Association of New England - Meditation Instruction

Please contact Donna Alqassar (401)222-4133 for details.

View our event Accessibility Statement.

The 2024 festival is made possible in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  

We would also like to thank our sponsors, United Way of RI, Amica InsuranceCoastal1 Credit Union, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Women and Infants/ Urogynecology, Navigant Credit Union, and Tri-County Community Action Agency for their support.  

 

RI's 46th Heritage Festival Participants List

festival collage of performers

The Rhode Island Heritage Festival is coordinated by Donna Alqassar, RI Heritage Commission Coordinator, in conjunction with the support of Jeffrey Emidy, RIHPHC Executive Director, Kobi Dennis and Angela Sharkey, Festival Emcees, ATR Treehouse, Luminous Creative Agency, Let's Party RI, and WaterFire Arts Center.  

The RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission would like to thank the following sponsors, people, and groups for their help and support: 

Rhode Island State Council on the Art for awarding us a Project Grants for Organizations through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  

RI's 46th Heritage Festival Sponsors 

⭐ Platinum Sponsor

United Way of RI

⭐ Gold Sponsor

Amica Insurance

Coastal1 Credit Union

Neighborhood Health Plan of RI 

Women and Infants/ Urogynecology 

⭐ Silver Sponsor

Navigant Credit Union

Tri-County Community Action Agency

 

Supporters 

Governor Dan McKee

RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

RI Office of Library & Information Services  

RI State Council on the Arts

Preserve Rhode Island   

Troop 55 Riverside

 

Food Trucks 

Angkor Boba Tea House

Cultro PVD

Eat Village Greek

The Luxe Lemon

 

Special Guests Speakers 

Governor Dan McKee

Silvermoon Mars LaRose

 

Participants 

Aftab Dance Group

Ahlyha Nicole Bright

Andean Cultural Center of Rhode Island 

Arte Latino of New England (ALNE)

Azama Dance Group  

Books Are Wings

Cape Verdean Museum

Center for Southeast Asians

Colombia in RI

Colombian American Cultural Society, Inc 

Dance BFF  

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

Ecuador Sumag Llacta

Falun Dafa Association of New England   

Fraternidad Folklorica Boliviana 

French American School of Rhode Island

Greater Providence YMCA

India Association of Rhode Island 

India Museum & Heritage Society

International House of Rhode Island 

Iranian American Cultural Society of Rhode Island 

Kelley School of Irish Dance  

Korean American Association of RI 

Lady Elfreda H. Thorpe and Williametta Thorpe 

Medalit Scott and Luis Paredes representing Peru

Mitad del Mundo representing Ecuador

Morenada Boliviana San Bartolomé 

Na Pua O' Polynesia

Nazeli Armenian Dance Group

PADAM

Peace Flag Project 

Puerto Rican Institute for the Arts and Advocacy, Inc

Quisqueya In Action Folklore Dance 

Retablos Palomino Jiménez

RI Black Heritage Society 

RI Black Storytellers

RI Day of Portugal

Rhode Island Office of Attorney General 

Rhode Island Department of Health

Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency

RI Swedish Heritage Association

RI Tamil Sangam and School

Roger Williams Park Zoo  

Rhythm Nation Dance Company

Seoyon Kim 

SGTV Alpenblumen Bavarian Folkdance Group

St Andrew's Society of RI

Tomaquag Museum

Turkish American Cultural Society of Rhode Island 

United Way 211 RV