Labor Day Weekend at Slater Mill

Celebrate Labor Day weekend at Old Slater Mill. Free music, tours, talks, and activities will be offered throughout the weekend.

Thursday, August 29:

6:30 PM – Ranger Walkabout/Music Workshop

Join Park Rangers for a free guided tour of Old Slater Mill. The tour will focus on the musical connections with textile mills. Immediately following the tour, join Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame musician Mark Cutler for a free songwriting workshop. Participants will write a song with Mark that will debut at the festival during his set on Saturday, August 31. All are invited to perform. People of all ages and abilities invited.

Friday, August 30:

6:30 PM – River Bend East Songwriters Festival Kickoff Event

Welcome performance from Christ Monti

Headline – Jeff Byrd & Dirty Finch with David Lawlor, Run of the Mill

Music Video Debut – J. Michael Graham & Run of the Mill

Saturday, August 31:

River Bend East Songwriters Festival

12:00 PM – Mark Cutler
1:00 PM – Allison Rose
1:45 PM – Tribute to Mary Lee Partington, Caroline Vitale & Bob Drouin
2:00 PM – J. Michael Graham
3:00 PM – Christian and Annie from High Planes

Bell Tower Talks

Join a Park Ranger for a free talk about Labor History in the historic Slater Mill Bell Tower.

Program offered hourly on Saturday, August 31 at 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM

Specialty Tours of Old Slater Mill

Please note: Although these tours are FREE, tickets are required. Tickets can be acquired at Old Slater Mill’s front desk starting at 10:00 AM the day of the tour

10:30 AM – The American Working Class

12:30 PM – The Cotton Economy

2:30 PM – Not Child’s Play: The Story of Slater Mill

Sunday, September 1:

Labor History Talks

11:30 AM – Radicals in Providence 

Lecture by Park Ranger Jillian Forrester

Learn about the rise of radical labor politics in and around Providence, RI, before the Red Scare during this 45-minute lecture and discussion.

1:30 PM – The Strike in Saylesville 

Lecture by Park Ranger Mark Mello & Multimedia by Christian de Rezendes

Hear about the historic massacre that took place in the Moshassuck Cemetery in September 1934 during a critical period of strikes in New England. See footage of the labor battle in Saylesville, RI, with filmmaker Christian de Rezendes, the creator of Slatersville.

(Note: Research and production of “Slatersville” has been supported by several grants from Rhode Island Humanities.)

Specialty Tours of Old Slater Mill

Please note: Although these tours are FREE, tickets are required. Tickets can be acquired at Old Slater Mill’s front desk starting at 10:00 AM the day of the tour

10:30 AM – The American Working Class

12:30 PM – The Cotton Economy

2:30 PM – Not Child’s Play: The Story of Slater Mill