Greater Kennedy Plaza is a partnership of private and public sector organizations that have come together to transform the downtown Providence area (including Burnside Park, the Bank of America Skating Center, Biltmore Park and Kennedy Plaza) into a lively public square, rich with activity.
For up-to-the-minute information on events happening now, check out our Facebook page, which can also be glimpsed on the lower right-hand side of this site.
Wed 15 May 2013
Time: Friday, 7-10am; Mayor Taveras will speak at around 8:15am
Location: Burnside Park, rain or shine!
With spring in the air, the City of Providence and the RI Bicycle Coalition invite you to celebrate Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17th as part of National Bike Month. Mayor Taveras urges everyone to bike to work or try cycling for fun, fitness or transportation. Free coffee and food will be provided to all participants at Burnside Park. Other activities include demonstrations, bike repair, and a raffle. Mayor Taveras will also announce the 2013 Providence Cyclovias!
Local sponsors include: City of Providence’s Healthy Communities Office, RI Bicycle Coalition, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Dash Bicycle Shop, Greater Kennedy Plaza, Whole Foods, New Harvest Coffee Roasters, Legend Bicycle, Zipcar and RIPTA.
Following are some tips that will help you enjoy biking to work:
• Have your bike checked over by your local bike shop
• Always wear a helmet to protect your head in the event of a crash
• Ride in the right-most lane that goes in the direction that you are travelling
• Obey all stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings
• Look before you change lanes or signal a turn; indicate your intention, then act
• Be visible and predictable at all times; wear bright clothing and signal turns
Wed 8 May 2013
Did you know that asthma is the #1 chronic illness in children AND that RI has one of the highest asthma rates in the country?
Now you can be part of the solution AND have a fantastic time THIS SATURDAY when you join the Environmental Justice League for the 1st Annual Green DRIVE Bus Pull Challenge. As part of Asthma Awareness Month, teams will compete to pull the 29,000 pound, eco (and asthma!)-friendly Green DRIVE bus across the rink. Winners will receive great prizes - but everyone can join the fun with family-friendly activities including YMCA inflatable obstacle course, fitness games, live DJ, open mic, and local vendors.
The Green DRIVE Bus is not your usual bus – this eco-friendly machine runs on recycled used cooking oil and locally produced biodiesel, which improves air quality and reduces asthma triggers. The EJ League’s youth programs use the Green DRIVE bus travel and host workshops about asthma and air pollution, training young people to teach other young people about asthma and improving air quality. The Bus Pull Challenge will raise awareness about these issues and support programs for youth, the environmental, and public health.
Event details below!
Who: Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island in partnership with The Avenue Concept, Greater
Kennedy Plaza, RI Asthma Control Coalition, and RI Department of Health
What: Teams competing to pull the 29,000 pound Green DRIVE bus across the skating rink the fastest, plus
family-friendly activities including YMCA inflatable obstacle course, fitness games, live DJ, open
mic, vendors, and information tables about related environmental and health issues.
When: Saturday May 11th, 12 – 4pm (Rain Date: Saturday May 18th, 12-4pm)
Where: Bank of America Skating Center, Greater Kennedy Plaza, Providence RI
Why: Asthma Awareness Month event to raise money for youth asthma outreach and education
Sponsored by: Green & Healthy Homes InitiativeTM, Coalition for Transportation Choices, CrossFit, Shape Up, Social Venture Partners Rhode Island, RI Nursery and Landscape Association, RIPTA Riders Alliance, and Walgreens.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information visit: http://ejlri.wordpress.com/bus-pull-challenge/
Wed 10 Apr 2013
Dust off your your vintage, your tweed or your most dapper or daring wear – tune up your bike and get ready for the first Tweed Ride PVD!
The RISD Museum has partnered with Greater Kennedy Plaza to bring our fair city a Tweed Ride of its own. As part of the opening of Artist/Rebel/Dandy: Men of Fashion a new exhibit at the museum celebrating the dandy spirit in all its many forms- the tweed ride will bring the spirit of the show into the streets as part of this bike parade/high tea/celebration event!
Tweed Rides are an international phenomena that began in London in the early 1990′s and now take place in cities across the world (pictures!). Tweed Ride PVD will be our time to celebrate all that is craft/fashion/bike with a grand parade through the streets, a high tea at the Steel Yard and a old-timey, full fashion celebration at the RISD Museum. Full schedule below:
9:30AM Tweed Ride PVD registration begins in Burnside Park by the statue of the stately General Burnside. Coffee available from the wonderful Joedega truck
10:30AM- Take to the streets! Bike parade through Providence.
11AM- High tea at the Steel Yard
1-5PM – Celebrate at the RISD Museum with cocktails, music, bike displays, celebrity judges + contests, food trucks, fun, and free entry to the Men of Fashion show.
Open to all ages and abilities! Tickets to ride are $10 each (and include tea & treat); $5 for students with valid ID. To register: https://
Exhibition information: http://tinyurl.com/
Sponsors and Partners: The Providence Tourism Council, Legend Bicycle, Circle A Cycles, Spiffy Gents, Recycle-A-Bike, Cleverhood, East Coast Greenway, New England Bike-Walk Summit, New England Builder’s Ball and more to come!
Thu 14 Mar 2013
Come savor the final days of winter with an extra week to enjoy outdoor ice-skating in downtown Providence! The season will end Sunday, March 24th, completing the 18-week season of ice-skating that was enjoyed by more than 50,000 skaters.
Special Weekday Hours Monday, March 18 to Friday, March 22: 4pm to 10pm
Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 hours: 11am to 10pm
With only one week to go there are still so many events to look forward to! Don’t miss your last chance to enjoy the rink this year and stop by for one of the following great outdoor activities.
Thursday, March 14th: Art in Ice ice-sculpting feature from 6pm to 9pm.
Friday, March 15: High School Night special 7pm to 10pm.
Saturday, March 16th: Girl Scout cookies for sale!
Sunday, March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day celebration with City Girl Cupcake 12pm to 4pm
Monday, March 18th: New weekday hours from 4pm to 10pm
Saturday, March 23rd: Open 11 to 10pm
Sunday, March 24th: Open 11am to 10pm. Closing Day
The end of the ice skating season drawing to a close- but don’t fear! The Providence Rink at the Bank of America City Center will transform into a premier programming and event center from April to October! The Providence Rink is a perfect location to host all types of summer programming and events with over 14,000 square feet of space available in the heart of downtown. Event applications are still being accepted for the upcoming 2013 summer and fall season.
For additional information, please visit www.providenceskating.com or call 401.331.5544.
Fri 22 Feb 2013
ATTENTION ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT RHODE ISLAND!
FRIDAY, MARCH 1st for our rescheduled HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT from 7 to 10pm. Special rates for high school students with valid ID – $3 admission or $5 for admission + skate rental. DJ Josh Soares and DJ JR Mackenzie will be spinning great tunes through the night! Get your friends together and come on out to The Providence Rink at the Bank of America City Center!
Mon 18 Feb 2013
Lunch and after-work specials do not apply during school vacation week so we have 2 terrific opportunities this Thursday, Feb 21st to save on ice-skating while school is out!
8am-10am: The Rhode Show will be broadcasting at the rink. Free admission for ice-skating between 8am and 10am ($4 skate rental rates apply). Will Gilbert & Michaela Johnson will be broadcasting on The Rhode Show live from the Skating Center from 9-10am. NiRoPe from Cardi’s will also be at the show with additional guests to be announced.
10am-2pm: The CW28 is once again hosting Skate with 28 at the Bank of America Skating Center! The CW28, the Bank of America Skating Center and Neighborhood Health Plan Of Rhode Island present a free family skate at the Bank of America Skating Center in downtown Providence during school vacation week on Thursday, February 21st from 10am to 2pm. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank…and your skating admission is covered (only fee incurred is for skate rental)! Brought to you by CW28, Bank Of America, Neighborhood Health Plan Of Rhode Island, Courtesy Auto Group, and hot chocolate will be on hand keep you warm thanks to our rink-side Subway.
Thu 14 Feb 2013
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!! A spectacular day for skating and boy do we have an terrific event planned for those on the rink tonight from 6 to 10pm! Not only will the ice be perfect for gliding with your love (or like!) but with super-fresh oysters on the half shell from Walrus and Carpenter, delicious cupcakes from City Girl Cupcake, custom photos by Missy M Photography, and roses to offer to your special one, your romantic evening will always be one to remember! The traditional heart will be aglow to add even more ambiance to the night. Have a favorite love song? Bring it along and we’ll be happy to be your DJ! Love songs are on all day long at the Skating Center!!
Fri 8 Feb 2013
The Skating Center WEATHER CLOSURES Friday 2/8 and Saturday 2/9
Due to the impending blizzard, we anticipate that the ice skating rink will CLOSE BY 2:00PM ON FRIDAY 2/8, and after working through the night, REOPEN ON SATURDAY 2/9 BY 4:00PM and remain open until 10PM.
Stay up-to-date on Skating Center weather closures with our new message notification – call 401.331.5544 x4 to hear the daily details.
Mon 4 Feb 2013
High School Night!
Friday, February 8th
7 to 10pm
ATTN all RI High School Students! We have a night just for you! $3 admission or $5 admission & skate rental with ID. Skate all night to tunes by DJ Josh Soares and DJ JR Mackenzie.
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| Photo by George Ross |
PROVIDENCE ROLLER DERBY IS BACK AT THE RINK!! No bouts tonight but a mix of Providence Roller Derby league members will be at the City Center for College Night to add a ton of personality and high energy! Don’t know about Derby? Come on down and you’ll see why they are a favorite for so many – they’ll be on the ice, rink-side, and on the mic. Go Mob Squad, Old Money Honeys, and Sakonnet River Roller Rats! Got a favorite league? Don’t forget to pick up some rockin’ fab swag to show your team spirit! Want to know more? Check out the Providence Roller Derby site.
We also have Zipcar hosting their member party making this an all-out bash! Zipcar Providence is hosting its 1st annual Skate & Date this February 13th from 6-10pm at the Bank of America City Center Ice Skating Rink in Downtown Providence. Warm your hearts Zipsters, with this cool night out, full of love songs and dedications, a kiss camera and delectable local treats all to help set the mood this Valentine’s Day. So lace up, grab a hot beverage and don’t forget your shnookums – for a night on the ice with us. We’ll even spot you on the bill. All Zipsters and their dates skate for free on us. Don’t forget free skate rentals, too. Now that’s a dreamy idea.
And remember, College Night is each and EVERY WEDNESDAY from 6-10PM! Bring your college id and skate for cheap – with special events each week! Next up, skate to a mix of vintage hip hop and soul with the DJ’s of Brown Student and Community Radio this coming Wednesday, February 6th.
Thursday, February 14th
6 to 10pm
Not only will the rink be decorated for the romantics, but we will have specialty items that will make the night ever so memorable! City Girl Cupcakes and Walrus and Carpenter Oysters will be serving their savory delights. Want to preserve the night? Missy of Missy M Photography will be sure that you always have a keepsake. Present a rose to that special someone and skate the night away! We may have additional special treats to tempt you and your special someone…
Skate with 28!
Thursday, February 21st
10am to 2pm
The CW28 is once again hosting Skate with 28 at the rink! CW28, Bank of America and Neighborhood Health Plan Of Rhode Island present a free family skate at the Bank of America Skating Center in downtown Providence….school vacation week…Thursday, February 21st from 10am to 2pm. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank…and you’ll skate for free! Brought to you by CW28, Bank Of America and Neighborhood Health Plan Of Rhode Island, Courtesy Auto Group, and hot chocolate will be on hand keep you warm thanks to our rink-side Subway.
School Vacation Week
February 18th through the 22nd
Yeah!!! It’s school vacation!!! Time to go to the rink for some fun skating and energy release. Please keep in mind that our weekly Lunch and After Work specials are not in effect this week, but the College Night special rate still applies. We’ll see you on the ice!
Weekend Prize Drawings
Skate and win every Saturday and Sunday! Ridiculously easy! Fill out a super small form at Skate Rental to enter to win a gift certificate from the Skating Center for 2 adults free admission and skate rental, Roger Williams Park Zoo for free admission or Cruise Planners toward a sailing cruise.
Mon 28 Jan 2013
We welcome the Providence Bruins Fan Club to the Skating Center today. They will arrive at 2pm to skate with the public until 3pm. From 3-3:30 the rink will be temporarily closed to showcase their exhibition event.
Weather may become inclement later today causing the rink to make a change in hours of operation. Please visit our FB page at Greater Kennedy Plaza for updates or call 401.331.5544.
The City of Providence
Cornish Associates
Crossroads RI
The Dept. of Art, Culture + Tourism
Downtown Improvement District
General Packet
Johnson & Wales University
Parks Department
Providence Biltmore Hotel
Providence Center
Providence Foundation
Providence Tourism Council
Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
RIPTA
RI State Council On The Arts
Shop Downcity
Skate For Joy
The Bank of America City Center
Trinity Repertory Company
Young Voices
and area property owners, businesses and interested individuals
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Copyright 2008 - 2012
Greater Kennedy Plaza, Bank of America City Center, 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence RI 02903
Fax 401.331.5588 | Phone 401.331.5544 ext. 5 | info@kennedyplaza.org