PVDFest 2019: What To Know, Where To Park And More

PROVIDENCE, RI — PVDFest is returning to the capital city this weekend for its fifth year. Over the course of the weekend, more than 1,500 artists will perform across 22 stages and in the streets, alongside nearly 100 food establishments and eight outdoor bars. Several roads in downtown Providence will be closed to traffic and certain items are prohibited from the festival. Not to worry, Patch has your complete guide to PVDFest 2019.

Festival Hours/General Information

• Thursday See schedule
• Friday 5:00PM-11:00PM
• Saturday 12:00PM-12:00AM
• Sunday 12:00PM-6:00PM

PVDFest is an all-ages event. A valid photo ID will be required to purchase alcohol within the festival.

A full schedule of events is available here, while a map of the festival is available here.

What Streets Are Closed?

To accommodate the festival, streets will be closes throughout downtown starting on Thursday. No vehicles will be allowed to drive down closed streets. All of the PVDFest festival area will be vehicle-free from noon to midnight on Saturday. All roads will reopen to traffic at 5 a.m. on Monday.

Thursday (5 a.m.): East Approach between Washington and Exchange Terrace

Friday, June 7:

• Dorrance Street between Washington and Fulton Streets (5 a.m.)
• Eddy Street between Washington and Fulton Streets (5 a.m.)
• Fulton Street between Dorrance and Eddy Streets (5 a.m.)
• Snow Street between Washington and Weybossett Streets (5 a.m.)
• Washington Street between Dorrance and Exchange Streets (5 p.m.)
• Fulton Street between Dorrance and Exchange Streets (5 p.m.)
• Dorrance Street between Westminster Street and Emmet Square (5 p.m.)

Saturday, June 8 (5 a.m.):

• Washington Street between Empire and Exchange Streets
• Westminster Street between Empire and The Turk’s Head Building
• Custom House Street between Weybosset & Memorial Boulevard
• Dorrance Street between Weybosset and Emmet Square
• Aborn between Westminster and Fountain Streets
• Adrian Hall Way between Washington and Fountain Streets
• Beverly between Washington and Fountain Streets
• Mathewson Street between Chapel and Residential Lot before Fountain Street
• Clemence Street between Weybosset and Fountain Streets
• Union Street between Weybosset and Fountain Streets
• Eddy Street between Worcester and Fountain Streets
• Fulton Street between Union and Exchange Streets
• East Approach between Exchange Terrace and Washington Streets
• Middle Street between Union and Dorrance Streets
• Exchange Street between Fulton and Exchange Terrace
• Custom House Street between Weybosset and Memorial Boulevard

Sunday, June 9 (5 a.m.):

• Washington Street between Union Street and Exchange Terrace
• Union St. will be open
• Westminster Street between Dorrance and The Turk’s Head Building
• Dorrance Street between Westminster Street and Emmet Square
• Eddy Street between Westminster and Fountain Streets
• Fulton Street between Union Street and Exchange Terrance
• East Approach between Exchange Terrace and Washington Street

How To Get There/Parking

With so many streets closed for the festival, parking will be a bit of a challenge. Because of this, city officials are encouraging festival attendees to consider alternate forms of transportation such as bicycles, ride-sharing, or RIPTA buses. Bicycle parking is available throughout Providence, and there will be a designated pick-up/drop-off area for rideshare services in front of the Dean Hotel. Amtrak and the MBTA will be running on their usual weekend schedules, and the Providence to Newport ferry will be in service as well. Detours and changes to RIPTA schedules are available online.

Handicap parking is available at the following locations:

• Fountain Street corner of Clemence Streets (Drop off site only)
• Weybosset Street corner of Eddy Streets (Drop off site only)
• Exchange Terrace opposite Burnside Park (Drop off site only)
• Page Street from Weybosset to Pine
• Weybosset from the Arcade to Custom House Street (Drop off site only)

Park Downtown Providence shows where to find parking on garages, lots and streets throughout the city. Street parking will be available everywhere except on the following streets, starting at 5 am.:

Friday, June 7 (Until June 10)

• Exchange Terrace Between Francis & Exchange
• Eddy St. Between Fountain & Washington
• Snow St. Between Washington & Westminster
• Empire St. Between Fountain & Weybosset
• Dorrance St. Between Fountain & Weybosset
• Exchange St. Between Exchange Terrace & Weybosset
• Washington St. Between Union to Exchange

Saturday, June 8

• Weybosset St. Between Empire to Memorial Blvd
• Fountain St. Between Empire to Dorrance (Dean Hotel Side)
• Fulton St. Between Exchange & Memorial Blvd
• Green St. Between Sabin & Broad
• Weybosset St. Between Custom House & Westminster

Accessibility

Wheelchairs will be available, free of charge, at the merchandise area in front of the Alex and Ani City Center. For any accessibility questions, call 401-347-4633.

Prohibited Items

The following items will not be allowed inside the festival.

• Weapons or contraband of any kind
• Outside alcoholic beverages
• Fireworks or explosives
• Illegal or illicit substances of any kind
• Motorized vehicles including dirtbikes, ATVs and scooters
• Laser pointers
• Drones

Reducing Waste

PVDFest is a "Zero Waste" event, focused on reducing the amount of single-use items that end up in landfills and focusing on recycling and composting. 10 recycling stations will be placed throughout the festival, and all attendees are responsible for any disposable items they bring in.

Vendors are banned from using to following items:

• Single-use condiment pouches and plastic ramekins
• Plastic straws and stirrers
• Styrofoam cups or plates
• Plastic bags