PVDFest/FirstWorks

The People’s Festival for Arts, Music, and Culture PVDFest, Providence’s premier music, arts, and cultural festival, returns September 5–6, 2025, transforming Downtown into a dynamic hub of creativity and community. A partnership between the City of Providence and FirstWorks, this signature event attracts thousands of attendees with world-class performances, immersive art, and diverse cuisine.

FirstWorks is a Providence-based nonprofit organization with a mission to enrich the social, educational and economic fabric of Rhode Island by engaging diverse audiences with world-class performing arts experiences. Our cultural initiatives catalyze partnerships that foster equitable access to the arts.

Our commitment to inclusive programming brings audiences together with exemplary artists as diverse as our community, performing on local (and virtual) stages and in classrooms for fruitful intercultural exchanges. This provides audiences a global approach to understanding our shared world. FirstWorks’ performances, education, and community engagements have been recognized as ones that “expands our community’s horizons through the arts” (Providence Business News)