'Everything I could have asked for': PVDFest makes its triumphant return to downtown

PROVIDENCE — It may not have been the same freewheeling, somewhat lawless event that it was in the early years, but this year's PVDFest was considerably more dynamic and fun than last year's disappointing flop, according to attendees.

"Compared to last year, the flow of people and the energy is much better," said James Fallon of Stolen Tomb Media, who was selling his mixed-media collage art on Washington Street, where a group of toddlers were learning to break dance in the shadow of City Hall.

The key difference: Moving the event back downtown.

"It’s just more of the big, old-school block party vibe," Fallon said.

Chaotic weather, confusing layout hurt last year's festival

Under the administration of former Mayor Jorge Elorza, PVDFest was a giant three-day party that took over downtown Providence in June and felt like the city's unofficial kickoff to summer.

But after Mayor Brett Smiley took office last year, he imposed a slew of unpopular changes — including prohibiting open containers, banning most block parties, moving the festival to a new location along the Providence River and changing the date to September.

Last year's festival was widely perceived to be a bust: Jonathon Kirk, owner of Masa Taqueria, summed up the mood when he described it as "a shell of what it used to be."

Food trucks and vendors were on one side of the river, while music and entertainment was on another, leading to less foot traffic and depressed sales. On the final day of the festival, a heavy storm blew through Providence, sending attendees running for cover and forcing the city to hastily cancel the rest of the event.

After facing widespread criticism for "ruining" the popular festival, Smiley's administration compensated vendors who lost money and reversed some of the changes this year. There were still limits on block parties, and you couldn't freely wander around with a drink in hand — but PVDFest once again took over the city's downtown.

"This one, so far, seems very well organized," Vicky Olivo, who works for Thrive Cakery, said on Saturday afternoon. "As a vendor myself, it’s been pretty steady. So, it’s wonderful, I would say."

'Everything I could have asked for'

Last year's PVDFest was a disaster for Sky Tanner of EyeSky, who sells candy-colored jewelry and stickers with nostalgic designs from the 2000s. (They used a less printable word.)

Tanner was stuck in a parking garage "literally watching my stuff wash down the river" when the squall tore through the festival. They lost a pop-up tent and "a decent amount of merchandise" to the storm, and "considered not even reopening the wound" and returning to PVDFest this year.

But the weekend delivered ideal weather ? not too hot to stand on a shadeless city sidewalk and dance as the Extraordinary Rendition Band paraded by, but not too cold to purchase a scoop of Big Feeling ice cream or a Del's. The rain held off until about 9 p.m. Saturday night, an hour after the festival had officially ended.

"Honestly, this year has been everything I could have asked for," Tanner said on Saturday afternoon. "There’s been a great turnout, everyone has been super friendly. ... It’s just been a great vibe."

Tanner credited Haus of Codec, which organizes LGBTQ+ art markets, for partnering with PVDFest to make space at Burnside Park available to vendors at low cost. That allowed smaller businesses and creators to have the opportunity to participate, they said.

Bringing life back to downtown

This year's PVDFest was compressed into a tighter time frame ? Friday night and all day Saturday ? in order to leave Sunday open as a rain date.

Attendance numbers weren't immediately available, but one of the biggest draws appeared to be Italian aerialists eVenti Verticali, who performed while suspended by a 60-foot crane above Kennedy Plaza.

"I did PVDFest last year, and it’s definitely a different vibe," said Hannah Hallett, of Canvas Elevation, who was selling foil-printed stickers and prints with tarot and astrology designs, and said it was exciting to see the community come together downtown.

"It’s really nice to see Providence activated in such a collaborative way," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: PVDFest attendees praise festival's return to downtown Providence