PVDFest

Name: PVDFest
Address: 25 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903, USA, Providence, RI, US
Price range: $$
Rating: 2.3

25 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903, USA

Overview

Category:Fall Festivals

Location:Providence, RI

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

PVDFest offers a vibrant atmosphere with skilled musical and dance performances, alongside a unique 2-hour live graffiti competition. Visitors can explore a marketplace of beautiful, one-of-a-kind, reasonably priced products from local vendors and enjoy diverse food truck options.

Key Highlights

✓Skilled musical and dance performances.
✓Engaging 2-hour live graffiti competition, where artists create masterpieces from blank canvases.
✓Vendors offering beautiful, unique, and reasonably priced handmade products.
✓Specific mention of Italy’s eVenti Verticali aerial dance show as an enjoyable highlight.
✓Plenty of diverse food truck options available.

Standout Features

⭐High-quality, skilled musical and dance performances.
⭐Interactive and visually impressive 2-hour graffiti competition.
⭐Unique, one-of-a-kind products available from vendors.
⭐Extensive variety of food truck options.
⭐Visible security presence with many officers surveying general areas.

Perfect For

Teens & Adults: The live graffiti competition and skilled artistic performances (musical, dance, aerial) are highly engaging.

School-age children: Can appreciate the performances and the visual art creation process. No specific activities for younger children mentioned.

Ideal For

Families or individuals interested in live artistic performances (music, dance, aerial arts).

Art enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy watching live creation processes (graffiti competition).

Shoppers looking for unique, handcrafted items and supporting local vendors.

Anyone seeking a festival atmosphere with diverse food options.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

→Allocate at least 4 hours to experience the festival fully, as one reviewer spent this time exploring alone.
→Be mindful of personal belongings, particularly in crowded vendor areas, due to perceived lower security presence in those specific spots.
→Check the festival schedule in advance to catch specific, highlighted performances like the aerial dance show.
→While crowded, navigation is generally smooth; you should be able to find space.

Things to Consider

⚠Disorganized stage management, with no hosts or segues between performers leaving awkward gaps.
⚠Perceived lack of visible officer presence *inside* crowded vendor areas, raising concerns about potential theft.
⚠Festival duration significantly cut down to only a day and a half, ending early, which disappointed visitors expecting a longer event.
⚠Inconsistent or limited representation of various cultures throughout the festival, failing to offer "something for everyone" daily.

Price & Value

Vendor items are described as "reasonably priced." No mention of an entry fee, suggesting it might be free to enter or included in a general festival experience. Food trucks provide "plenty of options," indicating a range of price points for food.

♿Accessibility & Special Needs

•No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

•"Plenty of options from food trucks" are available on-site. No explicit mention of outside food being allowed or disallowed.

🚗Parking Info

•No information about parking availability or cost.

👥Crowd Levels

•"Definitely crowds" but described as "relatively smooth to get round and find space." Generally manageable crowds.

🛡️Safety Features

•"Officers were surveying the areas and there were a lot of them," contributing to a general sense of safety.
•A concern was raised about the perceived lack of officers *inside* crowded vendor areas, specifically for theft prevention.

⏰When to Avoid

• If you expect a multi-day festival experience, as it has been shortened to 1.5 days and ends early.
• If you prioritize extensive, consistent daily multicultural programming for all attendees.
• If you are highly sensitive to crowds, even though they are described as manageable.

Pricing/Package/Events

Events & Schedule

Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)

PVDFest Parade

Saturday, September 6, 3:00PM

Not specified (assumed free)

Parade route starts at the intersection of Greene Street and Washington Street, proceeding down Washington Street to Kennedy Plaza. Features Grand Marshalls (Agonza, Ramona Bass-Kolobe, Chip Douglas) and various community groups, bands, and performers including Providence City Council + Tina from RAMP, Extraordinary Rendition Band (ERB), Galactic Roller Disco, RI Kung Fu & Lion Dance Club, Providence Drum Troupe, and more.

🍎Food Policy

• Food trucks are available at the Food Truck Village on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6. Vendors on Friday include: Cultro, Matilda, Kona Ice of Warwick, FYR Grill, Turner Bros, Chicked Out Nuggz, The Burrito Bowl, Angkor Boba Tea, Gonzalez, Ali & Eli’s Freshly Squeezed, Tolia Food Truck, Binge BBQ, A&K’s Food Truck, Hometown Poke, JA Patty, Antojitos & Delicias, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Amano Pizza, Wally’s Wiener Wagon, Cluck Truck, La costa, Wally’s Hot Dog Cart.
• Additional vendors on Saturday include: The Daily Grind, BerrySweets, The Grub Guru, Del’s, The Rolling Italian, La Guaguita del Sabor, Rhode Rage, Friskie Fries, Atomic Blonde Ice Cream, in addition to many of Friday's vendors.

🚗Parking Information

• Road Closures are mentioned as a menu item, indicating potential traffic and parking impacts, but no specific parking details or recommendations are provided.

Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Oct 1, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Marg Ser

7 months ago

First time attending PDV Fest hadn’t heard real peoples reviews but based on the digital flyer and local news, it appealed my interest. I spent a good 4 hrs walking the area alone. The performers were skilled in musical, dance, and entertaining talent. The venders all carried beautiful one of a kind products. I didn’t shop much but the couple items I stopped to look at were reasonably priced. The 2 hr graffiti competition was the high light for me - watching 4 people start with a blank canvas to work through and create a master pieces is dope. There was plenty of options from food trucks.There was definitely crowds but relatively smooth to get round and find space. I didn’t sense any danger. Officers were surveying the areas and there were a lot of them. The only 2 things I’d like to see improve is having officers inside the crowded areas, especially near vendors. They deserve to not have their items stolen. Second, assigning 2-3 people at a stage with that stages agenda to host for the entirety of the events. It was kinda disorganized. When a performer was done, the mic was dropped and no one in charge to segue. Look forward to seeing improvements and new talent next yr!

T M

7 months ago

I enjoyed Italy’s eVenti Verticali aerial dance show. It was nice but I didn't like how the festival was cut down to a day and a half and ended so early. I also didn't like how many cultures weren't represented throughout the festival. I feel it should have been multicultural everyday so there would have been something for everyone. That aspect was completely disappointing. I was underwhelmed by this festival!