Fiesta del Río: Summer Wellness Series Kick-Off Brings Music, Movement, and Community to Riverside Park
On Wednesday, June 10, Riverside Park came alive for the very first Fiesta del Río, kicking off WRWC’s Summer Wellness Series with an evening full of music, movement, and community along the Woonasquatucket River.
Neighbors, families, and partners gathered from 4–8 PM to explore everything the summer series has to offer, from free paddles, dance lessons, and hands-on stewardship opportunities along the Greenway. Summer on the river is officially here!
This celebration would not have been possible without the incredible partnership of the Providence Parks Department, and a huge thank you goes to Rachel Colaiace Seasonal Projects Supervisor for her dedication and hard work in helping bring this event to life.
We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors—AARP Rhode Island, Cox Communications Foundation, REI, and the City of Providence—for making free, accessible programming like this possible for our community.
A full park, full celebration
Fiesta del Río showcased what the Summer Wellness Series is all about: getting outside and celebrating with our neighbors.
The park was filled with activity all evening long, including:
- Free salsa and bachata dance lessons
- Line dancing and step aerobics sessions
- Family-friendly lawn games, chalk art, and face painting
- Community tabling and local resource sharing
- A vibrant pop-up neighbor market featuring Nuevas Voces graduates and participants
- Free canoe paddles launching from the riverfront
- Wellness and movement workshops throughout the space
A special shoutout to all of our incredible instructors and facilitators who kept the energy high all evening!
Big Nazo brings the magic
One of the most unforgettable parts of the night came courtesy of Big Nazo, whose larger-than-life creatures roamed, danced, and delighted visitors of all ages. Their presence turned Riverside Park into something between a performance, a parade, and a joyful river-side dream.
Mindfullness in Nature
We also want to thank Contessa Brown, who led a powerful workshop near the Blue Fish Ladder titled “Pause for the Planet: A Community Cleanup & Healing Experience.” The session offered space for reflection, environmental care, and collective action—grounding the celebration in the deeper work of river stewardship.
Yay, Neighbors!
Thank you as well to everyone who staffed tables, shared resources, supported activities, and helped create a welcoming space for all. And a special shoutout to everyone who stopped by the pop-up market and supported local vendors and community leaders.
What’s next
Fiesta del Río is just the beginning.
The Summer Wellness Series continues all season long with free community paddles, hikes, bike rides, yoga, dance classes, and stewardship events across the Greenway and Providence Parks.
If you joined us, thank you for bringing the energy. If you missed it, there’s still plenty of summer ahead to get involved.