- Imagine the lights off, the light coming only from floating bonfires in a river.

(gentle music continues) - We went on a wonderful canal trip in Paris and this is very, very similar to that.

- I know it's about fire in the water.

That's all I know.

That's all I know.

(gentle music continues) - It's not very French to say, but the joint's gonna be jumping.

The whole city will be.

(relaxed melodic music) This energy is contagious and it spreads to every bar, to every restaurant, to every table, to every person, you know, who comes down.

Even people who don't know about WaterFire, on a night that they're coming here, walk in and ask right away, "What's going on?"

(relaxed melodic continues) They can feel it in the city.

They can feel it in the air, that there's a life and excitement and anticipation.

- Water is the most powerful element there is.

And to combine that with fire is truly a magical experience.

So WaterFire nights in Providence are magical.

- I think what WaterFire really means is it's become a tourist attraction.

(relaxed melodic continues) And it's a tourist attraction that not only brings people from out of state, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, but as far away as California, because it's a true experience.

(relaxed melodic music continues) - I'm just like in a trance watching them on the boats, like, spinning the fire and lighting it.

I just feel the community here.

It's really cool.

- I like this.

I like those future shows.

I like those.

I love those.

It's kind of a dance of flames to me.

At Brazil, we have similar spectaculars just like that.

It's called Festa Junina.

(gentle music) - WaterFires are providence's mini little Super Bowl that we have every few weeks during the summertime.

(gentle music continues) - WaterFire's a powerful economic driver, not only for the city but for the state.

So people come in just for it.

I get people starting in January begging me for the schedule, and they're staying in our hotels, they're eating in our restaurants they're shopping in our shops.

So really it is the key draw when we're looking at particularly Providence.

- Some people know exactly what they're getting themselves into and they've been to it before and it's just coming back for a second time, a third time, and just enjoying it.

Other people, when it's just their first time coming to a WaterFire, first of all they typically screw up the name and say, "I'm here for that fire water thing that goes on in the river."

So then just kind of explain everything to them.

(gentle music continues) - We have the good fortune of having this large public event that has high visibility, creates tremendous economic impact for the state, $114 million a year and and supports 1,294 jobs in the community as a result of the visitors coming to WaterFire.

- Without WaterFire, we couldn't recover last year in Providence.

Last year, because we were able to bring WaterFire back, we were able to see signs of recovery.

- All right, where you headed?

- Restaurant.

- All the restaurants are full to capacity.

Five o'clock, seven o'clock, nine o'clock seatings.

But traffic's a little hectic.

- I talked to this woman, she lives on the east side of Providence.

She's like, "Where do I go to WaterFires?"

I'm like, "You live on the east side?"

She goes, "I've never been to WaterFires."

I said, "Are you serious?"

I thought she was kidding with me.

Just walk right up the street.

Smell that beautiful fire, that wood burning.

(gentle music continues) - WaterFire has brought in a lot of people to this town that never been to Providence.

(gentle music continues) - Getting 'em running, very busy.

It's a great time.

And up here some broccoli and cheese bites and just getting 'em running.

About 5:30 we get busy and it's crazy busy.

(gentle music continues) - On WaterFire night, you know, it's a lot of preparation throughout the week, making sure that we have all the food ready.

Making sure you have enough enough staff.

It's basically a hundred feet that way is where they light the fires.

So it's just a constant in, out, it's very fast paced.

(gentle music) - One of the things I really love about WaterFire is that it's democratic.

You don't have to pay anything.

It's free.

So you can go out for an expensive meal and go to WaterFire or you can just come and experience it yourself.

(gentle music continues) - All right, gang, here we are.

First WaterFire night of the season.

You guys know the drill on WaterFire nights.

We split everything tableside.

Try to keep everything straight to the menu.

We know it's gonna be crazy.

Well, the preparation starts the day the schedule comes out.

The phone is ringing.

We become like ticket master for those people that want to get the tables outside as early as possible.

(gentle music continues) (indistinct chatter) - The event itself for WaterFire, which I'm in charge of, and one of my top concerns is the safety, not only of my staff, but of our patrons.

You know, so we work with the police, we work with the fire department.

(gentle music) - PK and the WaterFire, they call me way in advance, let me know.

I already know kind of the schedule, but they let me know how many torches they're gonna have.

And then I gotta coordinate with my captain, Captain Semino.

- We have WaterFire employees stationed with fire blankets and extinguishers.

- Be mindful of the stairs.

Two hands please.

We want everyone to have a great time but safety's number one.

- So we review the documents that WaterFire submits to us for their flame effects, for their vessel documents, as far as their safety concerns.

And we combine our efforts with the police department in order to ensure the public safety during these events.

(gentle uplifting music) - Everybody's gonna be on channel 10.

Make sure you guys coordinate the section on the water basin.

We focus on having a safe event.

This event is a safe event.

Overall, I think in its history we haven't had a major incident and it's because we've been around.

We have the police presence.

- This work of art is something that people come from around the world to see.

And there's a sense that of pride, I think, with that.

And there's also, it's an awful lot of fun to be... You know, if you're in a tug of war and your hands are on the rope, it doesn't matter whether you're at the front with Barnaby or the back with us, you know, blowing out the candles at 11 o'clock.

We're all feeling on that rope and we get that great sense of energy from it.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) (no audio)