It's Gaspee Days Weekend!

This weekend marks the 49th annual Gaspee Days celebration in Pawtuxet Village and organizers of the three-day event, which includes a parade, fireworks, road race, and much, much more, are ready.

Are you?

"It's such a tradition in Rhode Island," said Erin Flynn, a member of the Gaspee Days Committee. "People are getting excited. It's a family tradition that goes on every year, people come home to see their friends and family — and that's just a cool byproduct of of planning a parade."

Gaspee Days is a celebration about the spark that ignited the American Revolution and the firecely independent spirit that defines the American psyche. 

The H.M.S. Gaspee was a British ship used as part of Britain's crusade to tax the colonies and intercept the smuggling trade that was flourishing in Narragansett Bay and other inlets and waterways. Its commander, Lt. William Dudingston, was an elitist and arrogant Navy officer who garnered little mercy when he was shot in the groin by a group of angry colonists who ambushed the ship after it was stranded on a sandbar in pursuit of the Hannah, a colonial boat en route to Providence that had no intention of stopping for British tyrants.

The ship was set on fire and its powder kegs exploded. The event did much to tip the colonies into war with Britain and is increasingly being recognized as a pivotal moment in the American Revolution.

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Here's a breakdown of the weekend's events:

Saturday, June 14

Ecumenical: Head to Trinity Episcopal Church, 139 Ocean Avenue, for a non-denominational service with music performed by the West Bay Chorus. It has been called "an outstanding tribute to the faith of America."

Road Race: At 9:45 a.m., the Allan and Edna Brown 5K Gaspee Days Road Race kicks off. It's s popular and widely-participated race through the area along Broad Street in Cranston to Narragansett Parkway in Warwick and rerun. For details, click here.

Parade: At 10 a.m., the much-anticipated Gaspee Days Parade begins. The parade features Colonial fife and drum corps, Civil War era units, modern drum and bugle corps, community groups and much more. The Mummers are the grand finale. 

The Gaspee Project at WaterFire
For the second year Gaspee Days is being celebrated as part of Providence's WaterFire event. There will be events starting at 5:30 p.m. through midnight all along the WaterFire route. A great list of events in Providence can be found here: http://gaspee.waterfire.org/

Sunday, June 15
Sunday in the Park: Enjoy food, music, dancing and family activities in Pawtuxet Park off Narragansett Parkway. Music will be performed by Shady Grove from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Picnics are welcome. Bring your own food or eat from a vendor. Raffle: The raffle that will run the entire weekend is drawn on Sunday in the park. 

Children's Encampment:  at 2:30 p.m., children are led through the Colonial Encampment for staged tour. Colonial attire is encouraged. Get a look at colonial life, cooking, and what people did for entertainment during the era. Pirates and Royal Navy crews will also be on hand.

Fashion Show: At 3 p.m., Pawtuxet Park becomes to site of a colonial fashion show. Watch military maneuvers between "those pesky Redcoats and the Patriots" after the fashion show which features Revolutionary War era uniforms.

Burning of the Gaspee: At 4 p.m., the symbolic end of Gaspee Days festivities occurs with the burning of the Gaspee, the ship that sparked the American Revolution. 

For a history of the Gaspee Affair, check out Dan Neal's piece here.

Directions:
From the south: From Interstate 95 northbound, take exit 14 (Route 37, Warwick) to Post Road (Route 1A) North. Follow the road about 3 miles to Pawtuxet Village.

From the north: From Interstate 95 southbound, take Exit 16 (Route 12) to Park Avenue. Follow 1.2 miles straight through to Broad Street and turn right towards Pawtuxet Village.

From the west: From Interstate 295 take Route 37 East (Warwick) to Route 1A. Follow Post Road until reaching Pawtuxet Village.

For maps of all Gaspee Days events including directions, click here.

More information is available at the Gaspee Days Committee website.

Parking:
Parking is available in Warwick at the Pilgrim Senior Center, Pilgrim High School and Wyman Elementary School.

In Cranston, free parking is available at the William Hall Library on Broad Street.