FIESTA DEL RIO: Summer Wellness Kick-off at Riverside Park

The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) alongside Providence Parks is excited to launch the 2026 Summer Wellness Series with a community celebration along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway. Taking place on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 4 PM to 8 PM at Riverside Park, this free kick-off event will bring together neighbors, families, and community partners for an evening of outdoor recreation, wellness, music, and environmental connection. The first 100 kids eat free at Championship Melts, offering a grilled cheese, snack, and drink for each kid who has checked in to the event thanks to Providence Parks and WRWC.

This Summer Wellness Launch showcases the variety of free programming and performances happening at Riverside and many other Providence parks in the months to come! The event will also celebrate the official launch of WRWC’s Free Community Paddles program, offering welcoming, guided river experiences with bilingual support and opportunities for residents to build new connections to the river and each other.

The kickoff celebration will include free dance lessons in salsa/bachata, line dancing, and step aerobics; a Riverside Park Friends Group garden club meet-up (4-6pm); lawn games like bocce and cornhole; face painting; chalk art; snacks and refreshments; and tables hosted by local community groups and organizations sharing resources and information about their work across Providence.

The event is designed to create a fun, welcoming, and community-focused atmosphere while encouraging environmental stewardship and active living along the Greenway. Residents of all ages are invited to stop by, meet neighbors, enjoy the riverfront park, and celebrate the start of a summer filled with outdoor adventure and community connection.

From 6-7:30PM Contessa Brown willl facilitate a workshop by the blue fish ladder called “Pause for the Planet: A Community Cleanup & Healing Experience"

This event is sponsored by WRWC, The City of Providence, AARP Rhode Island, REI, and Cox Communications Foundation