Editing Pawtucket, Rhode Island (section)

==Arts and culture==
{{See also|List of Registered Historic Places in Pawtucket, Rhode Island}}

The City of Pawtucket has been supportive of the arts community since 1975. On September 2, 1977, [[the Beach Boys]] performed a concert at [[Narragansett Park]] attended by 40,000 people, the largest concert audience in Rhode Island history. In 2017, music historians [[Al Gomes]] and Connie Watrous of Big Noise were successful in getting the street where the concert stage stood (the corner of 511 Narragansett Park Drive) officially renamed as "Beach Boys Way".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWiTYLXubaM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/NmXws4O0mhE| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=The Beach Boys RI Concert Commemoration|via=YouTube |date=August 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Markgraf|first=Diandra|date=September 5, 2017|title=Pawtucket celebrates Beach Boys Way|newspaper=The Valley Breeze|url=http://www.valleybreeze.com/2017-09-05/pawtucket/pawtucket-celebrates-beach-boys-way}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170808/in-77-beach-boys-headlined-ris-largest-concert|title=In '77 Beach Boys Headlined R.I.'s Largest Concert|last=Smith|first=Andy|date=August 8, 2017|newspaper=The Providence Journal}}</ref>

In January 1999, [[Herbert Weiss|Herb Weiss]], of the Planning Department, was hired to oversee the city's newly created Arts District. Through the support of then Mayor James E. Doyle and Planning Department Michael Cassidy, Weiss brought significant recognition for Pawtucket-Arts oriented development strategy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=P.B N.|date=2007-06-02|title=Pawtucket's success is not an accident.|url=https://pbn.com/pawtuckets-success-is-not-an-accident25768/|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Providence Business News}}</ref> Mayor Doyle and Weiss hired researcher Ann Galligan, of Northeastern University, to create an arts and cultural plan. Over the years Pawtucket has become a center for arts and culture.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zezima|first=Katie|date=2004-08-10|title=Artistic Enclave Gets Its Footing In Rhode Island (Published 2004)|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/10/arts/artistic-enclave-gets-its-footing-in-rhode-island.html|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Several experimental/indie rock bands have recorded albums at Machines with Magnets, a recording studio and art gallery in Downtown Pawtucket. Bands that have performed or recorded here include [[Battles (band)|Battles]], [[Lightning Bolt (band)|Lightning Bolt]], [[Brown Bird]], and [[Fang Island]].

One hub for arts and culture in the city is Lorraine Mills, a repurposed mill building on the eastern side of the city, which houses institutions including [[Mixed Magic Theatre]], Wage House (comedy club), Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, and Crooked Current Brewery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nerej.com/lorraine-mills-a-hub-for-creative-activities-by-donald-grebien|title=Lorraine Mills: A hub for creative activities|author= Donald Grebien|website=nerej.com|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref><ref>Salit, Richard. "Neighborhood of the week Fairlawn." ''The Providence Journal'', sec. RI News, 11 Dec. 2016, p. 1. ''NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current'', infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/161364A90CF76988. Accessed 26 Oct. 2019.</ref>
[[File:Pawtucket St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025.jpg|thumb|right|Saint Patrick's Day parade]]
Each September, the city, in conjunction with the Pawtucket Arts Festival Board of Directors, members chosen from the community, produce an annual citywide Arts Festival. The city has hosted an annual Saint Patrick's Day parade since 1982.<ref>{{cite web | title=Rhode Island's Blackstone Valley's Post |author1="Rhode Island's Blackstone Valley" |url=https://www.facebook.com/TourBlackstone/posts/throwbackthursday-to-all-the-past-pawtucket-st-patricks-parades-in-pawtucket-ri-/1185805403546990/ |website=Facebook |publisher=Blackstone Valley Tourism Council |access-date=2 March 2025 |location=Central Falls, Rhode Island |quote=Since 1982, the Pawtucket St. Patrick’s Parade has been a yearly tradition that celebrates the Irish heritage of the city.}}</ref>