Overview
Smith Hill is a district in the northern area in Providence. Only a couple minutes from Federal Hill, Smith Hill provides a sense of entertainment and places to visit. Smith Hill is probably best known for its St Patrick's Parade and Bolivian Festival. Smith Hill has two main streets which are Chalkstone Ave and Smith St.
5 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Smith Hill
Davis Park
Davis Park is a great place for kids. Equipped with brand new playground equipments such as swings and slides, Davis park also has a basketball court, 3 baseball fields, and a track.
Rogers Rec Center
It has a basketball and a swimming pool open in the summer. The basketball court is also known to hold events, volley ball tournaments, basketball tournaments and more. In the summer, the pool is open daily noon - 5PM.
Bolivian Festival
Held on August 15-16, the Bolivian Festival starts at St Patrick's Church and the parade ends in the ice rink downtown. The parade is a dedication to Virgen de Urkupiña. Saturday's time is 2PM through 9PM. Then, on Sunda…
St. Patrick's Parade
A celebration of Irish heritage. It has been celebrated on Smith St. for more than 20 years, and takes up the entire street. The parade starts at noon.
Fargnoli Park
This park offers a playground for the children, a baseball field for local little league team games, basketball courts for all ages, and in the summer time there is even a free water park sponsored by the city of Provide…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Dec. (climate data from nearby Providence)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
- NPT Newport State Airport, Newport — 22 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Davis Park, Rogers Rec Center, Bolivian Festival
- Lunch Newport Creamery
- Afternoon Fargnoli Park, St. Patrick's Parade
- Dinner Mandarin Garden
- Evening The WaterFire Arts Center
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By public transportation
Get around
By bicycle
If you have a bike, you can go up and down Smith Hill with no problem. Everything is close by in Smith Hill, that a bike is perfect if you do not want to use a car.
See
Drink The WaterFire Arts Center
Art studio.
Do
Do Davis Park
Davis Park is a great place for kids. Equipped with brand new playground equipments such as swings and slides, Davis park also has a basketball court, 3 baseball fields, and a track.
Do Rogers Rec Center
It has a basketball and a swimming pool open in the summer. The basketball court is also known to hold events, volley ball tournaments, basketball tournaments and more. In the summer, the pool is open daily noon - 5PM.
Events
Do Bolivian Festival
Held on August 15-16, the Bolivian Festival starts at St Patrick's Church and the parade ends in the ice rink downtown. The parade is a dedication to Virgen de Urkupiña. Saturday's time is 2PM through 9PM. Then, on Sunday, the fun begins at 2PM and lasts until 6PM.
Do St. Patrick's Parade
A celebration of Irish heritage. It has been celebrated on Smith St. for more than 20 years, and takes up the entire street. The parade starts at noon.
Buy
Eat
Eat Mandarin Garden
A Chinese restaurant right in the middle of Smith Hill. Although they do not deliver they serve fine authentic Chinese food. This small family owned restaurant, may get busy at times, so it is better that you call in rather than waiting inside for your food to be done. Cheap prices for big appetites.
Eat Newport Creamery
This location is the only one left in the city of Providence. It has been around for quite a while and offers a friendly, family oriented eating environment. It is an Ice cream shop and grill in one so if you are in the mood for anything ranging from a good burger to fish and chips or a couple scoops of your favorite flavored ice cream all available for a decent price you should consider Newport Creamery. They are also known for their signature shake, the "Awful Awful" which means its awful big and awful good which is available in a variety of flavors. The restaurant also offers an outdoor walk-up window for those interested in enjoying the weather and still having good food or wanting to have their favorite frozen treat.
Drink
Drink Bradley's Café
Located behind Providence College, Bradley's Café, aka Brad's, includes a full menu of beer along with a mixed variety of mixed drinks all at a fair price. This is a College hotspot on Thursdays so if that's not your crowd, Thursday may not be the night for you. Come down and enjoy a drink, watch a game, try the dance floor, or have a bite from the menu and bump elbows with the locals.
Go next
Do Fargnoli Park
This park offers a playground for the children, a baseball field for local little league team games, basketball courts for all ages, and in the summer time there is even a free water park sponsored by the city of Providence. This park is clean, well kept, easily accessible, has convenient parking, and is close to a Dunkin' Donuts, Pizza Shop and gas station. It's on the Ripta bus 57 route.
Nearby
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My experience
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