‘Why not give it a try?’: Providence residents react to changes to 2023 PVDFest

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Several changes are in store for 2023 PVDFest. Previously, it was announced by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley that PVDFest would be moved from June to the weekend of Sept. 8.

Since then, the mayor has also announced it will have a totally different look and feel to it, as it will be moved from downtown Providence to the I-195 Innovation Park.

Some other changes will include a Waterfire lighting being incorporated, and possibly the most controversial among people that ABC 6 News spoke with around Providence, the city will no longer allow open containers.

“My feeling with the open containers is I wonder what caused it?” asked Providence resident Zac Olivadese. “I’ve only been living in Providence for about a year and I haven’t seen any issues [with open containers],”

Meanwhile, others were happy to hear about the more family-oriented style of the festival.

“I think it’s great actually,” Alyssa Woodruff said. “I think alcohol brings a negative environment depending on the person or people around and I think it’s great to have more of a focus on family.”

On Monday, Smiley commented on the changes coming to this year’s PVDFest and said he wanted to put focus on the art and performances going on throughout the weekend.

“This is an opportunity to create an audience to highlight the incredible local talent that we have here in Rhode Island and that’s what we’ll be centering on for this year’s festival,” Smiley said.

The mayor also clarified that while you won’t be able to carry your own drink at PVDFest this year, you’ll still be able to stop into the many businesses around the festival for one.

“That’s not to say there won’t be local restaurants that will be happy to serve you a drink,” Smiley said. “But the festival itself will be much more centered on the arts and the festivals this year and less on a street fair vibe.”

While some of the residents expressed their frustrations with the changes around this year’s festival, most still said they’re looking forward to it with its new look, and will hope the city will evaluate afterward if they should continue with this style, or go back to the old version of PVDFest.

“Why not give it a try? Especially if they listen to feedback afterward, I feel like it’s perfectly fine,” Olivadese said.