Providence, Rhode Island, has long integrated the arts into its urban design, economic development, and public programming, setting an example for the events industry to emulate when it comes to public activations. Providence is no stranger to experiments in pop-up dinners, an espresso bar operating out of a ramen shop, or an eight-seat bar built into the garden of a bakery. A public art program commissions murals and sculptures citywide. A community arts nonprofit runs a number of venues and galleries. A writing center lives a block from the farmers' market, a coffee roastery, and a metal fabricator and maker space. But what can the events industry learn from these local doers?

Participation!
In 1950, I-195, one of Providence's main thoroughfares, cut a dividing line through the city until 2011 when the original structure was relocated, creating a 26-acre redevelopment and public engagement opportunity. “It's become a gathering place,” said Caroline Skuncik, executive director of the I-195 Redevelopment District, a quasi-public state agency that has managed the sale and development of the land. “It's a physical connection between parts of the city that draws every demographic.”

Anchored by a wooden pedestrian bridge that connects either side of the Providence River, the waterfront park opened in 2019. Skuncik noted that designing the area for foot traffic invites exploration. “Everything needed to be holistic, allow flow from one space to another, and work together,” she said.

The District regularly invites local creators to suggest programming, awarding grants for those selected. “Inviting the community's ideas results in programming that feels authentic,” said Skuncik. For the city's 2026 New Year's Eve celebration held in the park, the events included a K-pop performance, a salsa dancing takeover, and bonfires after dark. Seasonal installations welcomed a beer garden and locally made ice cream. Earlier activations included a maker fair, aerial acrobatics, children's puppetry, and film festivals.

“We've got so many creative people, and it's been really fun to see what the local artists and makers and organizations here want to do. It's the difference between saying you're committed to their interests and actually being committed to their interests.” The takeaway for events professionals? Co-creation with local talent, foot-traffic-conscious design, and a mix of experiences are key to sustained public engagement.

Inflation!
There's a reason inflatables make crowds stop, stare, and play. They're unexpected. As Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) undergraduates, Matthew Muller and August Lehrecke discovered the potential of inflatables to create spaces that blur the line between environment and object. Today, their company, Pneuhaus, designs installations that spark interaction, in scenarios from public play to public activism.

“When you inflate, there's just a wow factor,” said Kip Reinsmith, designer and strategist at Pneuhaus. “People are drawn to it like moths to a flame, and it's also really low-touch in terms of event management.”

Pneuhaus offers both premade and fully custom inflatable environments: squiggly wrap-around benches, geometric entry domes that go up and down in hours, and mirror-laden ice cream cones that double as vending kiosks. “We've done everything from music festivals in the U.S., where people acted like drunk babies, to a light festival in Dubai where we were trying to get them to be more aggressive,” said Pneuhaus cofounder Levi Bedall in discussing how to engage different audiences. “Inflatables are very ephemeral and lightweight so you can play with color and light. You don't see a lot of inflatables while walking around, so there's a lot of innovation that can be done in the space.”

The magic shows up spontaneously. At a winter festival arranged by Pneuhaus in downtown Providence, as temperatures dropped well below freezing with forceful winds, a bundled-up toddler bounded between colorful benches as parents joined in on the playfulness. “You never know what's going to come up,” said Reinsmith about the need for problem solving when working in the events industry. “That's not a lack of planning. It's just what happens in the wild.” Pneuhaus proves that flexible, playful, and visually striking installations can draw crowds and encourage interaction without overcomplicating logistics for planners.

Amplification!
Unless you're hosting a meditation retreat, there's little need for silence in the events industry. Sound and movement can be just as impactful as visuals. The Providence Drum Troupe makes a case that a collective of funky musicians, artists, and dancers, with supersized puppets for good measure, can turn streets into stages that draw people in and keep them engaged. Founded by executive director David Lee Black, the group features an LED-lit drum line alongside flow artists from jugglers to fire spinners who prove, as Black says, that “living in harmony is not an antiquated notion.”

In the early days of COVID, when venues were shuttered, the group began to perform free weekly public performances outdoors, including in neighborhoods often overlooked by other programs. In the years since, the troupe has partnered with local tourism, arts, and government bodies to get community members spontaneously dancing in the streets.

The group's allure comes not from their volume as much as from the rhythm, movement, and unexpected sights they present. Over the summer, a dance party broke out during a regular performance as children, adults, and a ragtag swarm of aliens shimmied together, with the puppet performers of another local troupe joining the festivities showing that visually surprising performances can transform any public space into a playground for participation.

Caffeination!
As any event manager knows, specialty coffee is more than a drink - it's an irresistible engagement tool that sparks interaction. In Providence, Nitro Bar and Bolt Coffee use that magical brew to draw crowds and encourage sharing.

Before becoming social media sensations, Nitro Bar cofounders Audrey Finocchiaro and Sam Lancaster pedaled a coffee cart around Providence, gaining word-of-mouth buzz with nitrogen-infused cold brews. Their first cafe opened inside a bicycle shop in 2018, followed by two more locations south in Newport. Playful TikTok videos featuring dramatic pours and brief barista interviews have racked up more than 65 million likes, proving that a fun offering that resonates with audiences can capture attention in person and online.

Local roaster Bolt Coffee also illustrates how coffee can integrate seamlessly into events. When the band Goose played two carnivalesque holiday performances known as Goosemas, Bolt dished out a customized commemorative Goose coffee bag design developed with Philadelphia artist and concert poster designer Andrew Sax. The custom design filled with a delicious favorite gave attendees a keepsake that carried their experience beyond the venue. These brewmasters' focus on creating shareable, high-quality moments translated directly into social amplification and memorable, lasting impressions.

These activations show that the most successful public experiences combine creativity, flexibility, and a deep understanding of your audience. The key is to make participation effortless, immersive, and memorable. Engagement thrives when you design for people. E