Saturday, September 13th, the Downtown Student Experience, an event put on by the Providence Foundation and Downtown Improvement District,  gathered students, life-sized puppets, tiny dogs and skateboarders to the Biltmore Park and the Bank of America Skating Center to kick off the opening of the school year.  Big Nazo puppets danced to the likes of LLOVE, the Jesse Minute, and Innocent Uprising playing live at the Skating Center stage.

Young skateboarders filled the rink for Fountain of Youth’s skateboarding demo, and kick-flipped to spoken word performances by Black Repertory Company.  Local vendors and businesses set up booths with interactive games, sign-ups and samples.  Nothing says welcome to Providence like free iced coffee, local bands and hometown skateboarding favorites!  Let the studying begin.

Goliath and Go-Go greet Big Nazo puppets while students and Owner, Matty Rice look on.