Mayor Brett Smiley is planning on ruining PVD Fest, by making major changes to the annual event this year.

Mayor Smiley has said that he will move the fest to September, what is known as a summer festival, is being moved to when kids go back to school, and the weather starts to change to cooler and damper. This completely defeats the purpose of the summer festival we have grown to know and love!

The other proposed change is that open alcohol containers will not be allowed.

This really hits hard, because one of the main and most fun parts of PVD fest for many, were the block parties, grabbing a drink, and walking around the city.

Many local businesses reaped the benefits of this, people stopping places they normally wouldn’t, foot traffic moving because people could take their drinks and weren’t stuck in one establishment. The whole day was built around moving about the city uninhibited and enjoying the local art and performances.

Another change he’s proposed is a venue change, from the middle of the city to the I-95 park, and that absolutely feels like the last straw for a lot of us. 

The point of PVD fest is to move around PVD! To be in the center of our capital city, enjoying the local businesses, art, and performances, all of these proposed changes ESPECIALLY this one, will hurt local businesses in the city who used to see a large uptick in business during PVD fest, it’ll hurt the vibe of the fest, and it will undoubtedly lower interest, until the festival eventually goes away, and I refuse to let another politician ruin a Rhode Island event loved by so many people.  

Mayor Smiley is absolutely out of touch, and this petition is being made in hopes to show him we do not want out PVDFest changed, and for him to reconsider what he’s doing.