East Providence businesses and organizations have planned a fun and informative day for young and old in "The Square."

This year’s annual Watchemoket Square Day is set for Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 10:00am - 3:00pm. The day-long event is a celebration of Watchemoket Square’s past, present and future. Indoor and outdoor activities will take place on or near Warren Avenue (Rt. 6) and Waterfront Drive in East Providence. The event is open to the public with plenty of free parking and no admission fee. It is a rain or shine event.

The event opens at 10:00am with the tradition of the Watchemoket Square Day Parade. The parade route is under development and will be posted on the Watchemoket Square Day Facebook page. Schools, sports teams, dance troupes, music groups, organizations and businesses are invited to participate in the parade. It will also feature classic cars traveling to the Classic Car Show at Hot Rides at the end of the parade route. Contact Ken Andrade for parade and car show information at 401.435.4444.

Back by popular demand are the free, boat ride tours along the East Providence waterfront. Reservations are not required and it is first come, first serve. The MarketPlace has been expanded and will feature Munroe Dairy giving out free samples, free face painting sponsored by Lighthouse Baptist Church of Rhode Island, free photo opportunities in the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse display and more! If you would like to be a vendor, contact Paul Pliakas at Liberty Tax for details, 401.572.3644 or watchemoketsquarecommittee@gmail.com

New this year! A family-friendly puppet show and Sing-A-Long by Chris Monti and Friends. Live musical performances by the Munroe Dairy Milkman Band. All of this will happen inside St. Mary’s Church. See Schedule of Events for details.

Throughout the day, an exhibit about the history of the dairy business in East Providence will be on display at Tockwotton on the Waterfront. Several presentations about East Providence’s waterfront will take place in the Tockwotton Theater.

The East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Watchemoket Square Day Information Booth. Stop by an event brochure, directions or information about the event or area. Souvenir T-shirts and sweatshirts will be available for sale; along with complimentary East Providence street maps.

2015 Watchemoket Square Day - Schedule of Events

All events are free and open to the public. Visit Watchemoket Square Day Facebook page and Web site for updates: www.watchemoketsquareday.com

Watchemoket Square Day Parade

10:00am – 11:00am Featuring classic cars, music and more! Visit the WSD Facebook page for parade route

St. Mary's Church - 81 Warren Avenue
11:00am – 12:00pm: Performance by Monroe Dairy Marching Milkman Band 
12:00pm - 12:30pm: Chris Monti and Friends: Family Puppet Show
1:00pm - 1:30pm: Chris Monti and Friends: Family Sing-a Long 
2:00pm - 2:30pm: Chris Monti and Friends: Family Puppet Show
Visit the Church Cafe throughout the day to purchase coffee, snacks, bottled water and more.

11:00am and 1:00pm: Walking Tours: "What remains of The Square and why does that matter?" (leaves from the front of the Church on Warren Avenue)
A walk through the old commercial space of Watchemoket Square and ends at the entrance of the first bridges from Fox Point in Providence. Presented by East Providence Historical Society.

Tockwotton on the Waterfront Cafe - 500 Waterfront Drive
10:00am – 3:00pm:Exhibit: History of the Dairy Business in East Providence
Co-presenters: Munroe Dairy and East Providence Historical Society
An exhibit featuring the dairy business in East Providence. 

Tockwotton on the Waterfront Theater – 500 Waterfront Drive
12:15pm / 1:15pm / 2:15pm: East Providence Waterfront Development District
Presented by Waterfront Commissioner chairman, Bill Fazioli. 
What's Planned for the Wachemoket Area and What is Currently Happening?
11:30am / 12:30pm / 1:30pm: 
Mini-presentation about the 24 wrecks found lying underwater off Bold Point by David Robinson, senior marine research specialist at University of Rhode Island, and his research team. Note: Robinson will present a full program in the Tockwotton Theater on Monday October 26th at 7pm as part of East Providence Historical Society monthly public presentations.

Watchemoket MarketPlace 
Across the street from Tockwotton on the Waterfront - 500 Waterfront Drive
Visit The MarketPlace vendors. There is something for everyone! Munroe Dairy cowtruck will have samples of treats. Free Face Painting by Lighthouse Baptist Church of Rhode Island. Take your picture in the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse display. Much more to be announced!

East Providence Yacht Club dock – 9 Pier Road
11:00am / 11:45am / 12:30 pm Boat Tours 
Led by East Providence planning director, Jeanne Boyle, the boat will head south around Bold Point to the new development projects: Village on the Waterfront and Kettle Point area. Then, they will pass over the site of the URI survey of 24 wrecks lying on the bottom of the river in the Bold Point area. No reservations required. First come, first serve.

History of Watchemoket Square
Watchemoket Square (pronounced Watch-uh-Mocket or Watch-Moe-ket) began near Bold Point and was used by the Wampanoag Indians to cross the Seekonk River to what is now Providence. Watchemoket is an Indian word meaning the proximity of the river and the tidal marsh… with the feel and smell of the area.

In the early years of East Providence, which was then known as Rehoboth, Massachusetts, the site was the best place to cross the river. In 1793, John Brown of Providence built a bridge from Fox Point (Providence) to Bold Point. In 1885, an iron bridge was built which led to development in the area; including an inn followed by over one hundred businesses. By 1906, Watchemoket Square became the central business district of East Providence and covered approximately nine acres of land in the central section of the town.

For more information about the Fifth Annual Watchemoket Square Day, visit the Watchemoket Square Facebook page or their Web site: watchemoketsquareday.com or contact the East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce, 401.438.1212 www.eastprovchamber.com.