Join a celebration of water, science, and art at the fifth annual Rain Harvest Festival hosted by the Stormwater Innovation Center and City of Providence Parks Department this Sunday, Sept. 29, in Providence. The free community event (from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) in Roger Williams Park will feature environmental activities and workshops, performing artists and musicians, a rain barrel raffle, a mural unveiling, animal encounters, arts & crafts vendors, free food, games, and more. All ages are welcome.

Performances by Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS), Circus Dynamics, and folk musicians Atwater-Donnelly will engage and entertain audiences throughout the festival. 

Environmental scientists, educators, and stormwater experts will share their knowledge and encourage public participation with tours of stormwater projects, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, walks, tours, and more. 

These science-based programs and workshops will be led by experts from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, The Nature Conservancy, Save the Bay, Below and Above Collective, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, 15 Minute Field Trips, Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, Roger Williams Park Natural History Museum, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence Streets Coalition, Dwell Lab Augmented Reality, and others.

Festival attendees will have a chance to win painted rain barrels for their homes and explore a “Vendor Village” comprised of local arts & crafts businesses. Encounters with both land and aquatic animals will be offered by the Roger Williams Park Zoo and Save the Bay. An environmentally centered mural designed and painted by artist Savonnara Alexander Sok will be unveiled to attendees.

Explore the park on a guided walk led by staff from the Roger Williams Park Natural History Museum or hop on your bike for a ride led by the Providence Streets Coalition.

Food from local vendors will be available to all attendees free of charge.

The City of Providence Parks Department’s investment in more than 40 projects to clean polluted stormwater runoff within Roger Williams Park has inspired this yearly event, which highlights the importance of clean water and climate resiliency.

For more information and a complete schedule of the Rain Harvest Festival performances, workshops, and tours, visit:

https://www.stormwaterinnovation.org/rainharvestfestival