5 Reasons to Attend the Hope Street Spring Block Party

The East Side of Providence’s lively spring festival returns with live bands, family fun, street entertainment, vendors, food trucks and a beer and cocktail garden.

May 17, 2023

Kaitlyn Murray,

The Hope Street Block Party Stage in 2019. Courtesy of the Hope Street Merchants Associations / Ampersand Creative Co.

Editor’s Note: Due to heavy rain forecasted for Saturday, May 20, the Block Party has been postponed until Sunday, August 6.

After a three year hiatus, the Hope Street Spring Block Party is back and ready to celebrate the season on Sunday, August 6. The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and extend across several blocks on Hope Street in Providence. Vehicle traffic will be prohibited from Rochambeau Avenue to Fifth Street to allow for a quarter-mile of uninterrupted fun, including pop-up vendors offering a wide variety of artisan, vintage, and hand-crafted goods; food trucks; roving entertainment; interactive demonstrations; a beer and cocktail garden and more.

The Hope Street Merchants Association (HSMA) originally debuted the block party in 2012 and since then it’s only grown bigger and better each year — 2019’s event drew in more than 5,000 visitors alone. This year, the Association has partnered with local community event organizers, Ampersand Creative Co., to help plan and curate vendors and entertainment. They also have tapped into the beloved Providence music venue, Askew, to schedule a robust lineup of exciting acts to take the Spring Block Party stage. The HSMA are also grateful for financial assistance from the Miriam Hospital Community Investment Grant and the Rhode Island Commerce Placemaking Initiative Grant, both in support of street beautification and community programming.

“We’re excited to finally bring back our annual Spring Block party! This event is an excellent opportunity for us to come together and celebrate our diverse community,” says HSMA President, Estela Hernandez. “We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there and having a great time with our friends, family, and neighbors. This block party is going to be one to remember.”

Need more convincing? We went straight to the source: see below for Ampersand Creative co-owner Bj Mansuetti’s top five reasons to come hang out at the Block Party on Saturday.

Shop more than 150 small businesses. The Good Trade Makers Market and Little City Thrifty Vintage Market are providing more than 135 pop-up vendors from Rhode Island and beyond, in addition to all of the great shops and restaurants that Hope Street is already known and loved for. See below for the full vendor map.
Enjoy food from more than twenty-five local restaurants and food trucks. In addition to beloved Hope Street staples like Wara Wara, Ivy Tavern, Hope Street Pizza, Seven Stars Bakers and so many more, the event will also feature local pop-up favorites like Basil & Bunny, JA Patty, Diego’s East Side and Matilda, just to name a few!
On-street bars that support the Hope Street Merchants Association and Ballet RI. You’ll be able to purchase drink tickets that you can redeem for beers and hard seltzers from Narragansett Beer and Moniker Brewery, as well as craft cocktails from the Industrious Spirit Company, Fever Tree and Topo Chico. Because this event is open container, you can take your beverage with you while you shop!
Live performances on the Askew Main Stage. Jewelry District music venue, Askew, will be providing great local performances throughout the day on their stage by the corner of 5th Street and Hope Street. Performers include the Greg Sherrod Band, the Dan Blakeslee Trio, Swampbirds, Maddie McGill, Funky Submarine and the Hope Street Fashion Show. The full schedule can be found at hopestreetpvd.com/spring-block-party.
Family-friendly street performers and activities. We’ll have street performances by ERB, Big Nazo, the Providence Drum Troupe, the Blackout Drum Squad, Project 401, Providence Deep Underground, RI Kung Fu Club’s Lion Dance and more. The New England Revolution MLS soccer team will be on the street with their mascot, Slyde and a giant accuracy-kick game for kids and adults of all ages; Ricky Rainbow Beard and Drum Group Services will provide interactive activities for kids; and Renegade Wrestling Alliance will even have a wrestling ring in the parking lot of Citizen’s Bank. Meanwhile, Vintage Pet Rescue will have dogs that you’ll be able to meet who are available for adoption, Gather Glass will be hosting live glass blowing demonstrations and Rochambeau Library will be giving away free children’s books, too!