Celebrate Independence Weekend In Providence!

Photos: Michael Christofaro

Providence, RI - Mayor Angel Taveras, Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and Bank Rhode Island are pleased to announce The City of Providence Independence Weekend Celebration on July 1 and July 4 at India Point Park and the Bank of America Skating Center at 2 Kennedy Plaza. All events are free and open to the public.

It will be a family-fun weekend filled with live music performances from the United States Air Force Band of Liberty and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops, culminating with a spectacular fireworks display set to music that will be broadcast on Lite Rock 105.

On July 1, the United States Air Force Band of Liberty kicks off the weekend celebration at 7:30pm in the Skating Center. This group of professional military musicians from Hanscom Air Force Base just outside Boston has been touring regularly throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey for more than 25 years. No matter your musical tastes - from the classics to pop, Broadway to swing - this talented group of musicians led by Commander and Conductor Captain Dave Alpar will certainly delight and entertain. The musical program will include light classical selections, a march or two and a tribute to Broadway past and present, featuring the band's vocalist, Technical Sergeant Michele Harris. It's a high-energy celebration suitable for the entire family.

On July 4 at 7:30pm, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra Summer Pops kick off the Bank Rhode Island Independence Day Celebration. The program will include America the Beautiful, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Stars and Stripes Forever and more. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops is conducted by Francisco Noya. Mr. Noya began his career in the United States in 1979 and has guest-conducted with the Baltimore, San Antonio and Omaha Symphony Orchestras, among others. He was Music Director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra in Albany, New York for ten seasons and was Music Director of the Longwood Symphony in Boston for 12 seasons. He is currently on the Conducting Faculty of the Berklee College of Music and is the Music Director of the Berklee College Symphony Orchestra. A native of Venezuela, Mr. Noya served as Assistant Conductor of the Caracas Philharmonic and Assistant to the Music Director of the Teatro Teresa Carreño. He has appeared as guest conductor with orchestras in Brazil, Venezuela, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy and Russia.

On July 4 at 9pm, the weekend comes to an awe-inspiring conclusion when the sky lights up over India Point Park with a spectacular fireworks display set to music that can be heard in the park and on Lite Rock 105.

The City of Providence Independence Weekend Celebration is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Mayor Angel Taveras and the City of Providence's Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, Bank Rhode Island, Providence's Department of Parks & Recreation, Rhode Island Monthly, Providence en Español, Lite Rock 105 and the Providence Convention & Visitor's Bureau.