Since its creation in 1985, the Blackstone Valley has created hundreds of events, attractions, development and promotional projects to build a much stronger Blackstone Valley. Thanks to the efforts of the Tourism Council along with its many partners and collaborators, the region has not only increased visitors, but become a place where a growing number of people wish to live and work.

The Tourism Council’s accomplishments appear below: (Items below were created and operated by the Tourism Council unless otherwise noted).

Note that items in bold represent ongoing programs and projects.

Events & Attractions

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council led the creation of and in many cases operated several longstanding events and attractions that have drawn tens of thousands to the region and raised necessary funding for other programs. Events and attractions include the following:

Boat Tours

40-passenger Blackstone Valley Explorer that was built by Blount Marine in Warren. Conducts public tours, school tours, sunset tours, fishing tours and charter tours on the Blackstone River
Samuel Slater Canal Boat that was built in England. The canal boat offers day cruises and nighttime accommodations
Glass bottom boat cruises
Blackstone Valley Tourism One 16-foot rubber raft
Interpretive canoe trips
Spirit of the Blackstone Valley pontoon boat tours
Bay Queen cruises and Vista Jubilee cruises from Pawtucket
Haunted cruises
Hope and Renaissance European-style ferry boats shuttled commuters and tourists between Pawtucket and Providence round-trip that was operated by Water Cruises

Train Tours

Blackstone Valley Polar Express attracts over 22,000 passengers to downtown Woonsocket to share a Polar Express-themed tour to the North Pole and back.
Fall Excursion Train Rides through Blackstone Valley on the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad
American Girl Train ride
Easter Bunny Express train ride
President Abraham Lincoln train trip
Organized Special Polar Express Event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the movie, featuring: author Chris Van Allsburg, Warner Brothers, Rail Events, Lionel Trains, and artist Patrick Kinkade.

Other Tours

Blackstone Valley Culinaria Food Tours that promote area restaurants
DeTours provide tour maps of similar attractions
Leisurely Bike Tours along the back roads of the Valley
Group tours including Tour Rhode Island, Tour SNE and Family Guy Tours
Interpretive bus tours, canoe and train trips
Historic church tours in Cumberland (self-driving)
Banner tours – self driving tours of Blackstone Valley Communities
Blackstone Valley Passport Sample Tour Packet
Double Decker bus tour thru all nine Blackstone Valley Communities
Blackstone Valley Trolley tours to various sites in the Valley
Conway/Grayline Tours
Created and operated the Blackstone Valley Canoe Trail
Elderhostel Bus Tours
Christmas Light tours on the Blackstone Valley Trolley
Tour Your Own Backyard
Blackstone Valley Surrey
RI Whistlestop Bus Tours (RI Tourism Week)
RI Bed and Breakfast Bus Tour

Annual Festivals and Events

Helped create, initially ran and continues to support the Pawtucket Arts Festival
Promotes and assists with the RI Music Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies
RI Dragon Boat and Taiwan Day Festival
Co-Sponsors of the Levitron Music Festival in Woonsocket
Blackstone Valley Heritage Golf Tournament
RI Cherry Blossom Festival and Cherry Blossom Princess
Supported the Blackstone Valley Running Festival
Pawtucket International Steamboat Muster
Helped create the Rhode Island International Film Festival New England Music Festival
Helped create the Rhode Island Film Forum
Promoted the Annual Burrillville Arts Festival
Promoted Central Falls local heritage, cultural and recreational programs (Central Falls Cyclovia, Colombian Festival, Central Falls Community Festival).
DOT AIR and Louisiana Nights concerts by the Pawtucket River Bridge
Cupid Ball

Museums & Historic Sites

Created the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame
Created and promotes the Hachiko Monument
Primary sponsor of the Museum of Work & Culture
Created and gives tours of Chocolate Mill Overlook
Promoted historic preservation efforts to enhance historic sites and museums throughout the Valley
Historic cultural interpretation
Operated the 200th Slater Mill Anniversary Celebration Tour
Ghost Army event at Stadium Theatre

Dining

Blackstone Culinaria Secret Ingredient Food Tours
Promotes Chicken Family-Style Restaurants
Created and promotes the Blackstone Valley restaurant listing
Helped create and supports Pawtucket Restaurant Week and Central Falls Restaurant Week
Promoted Taste of the Valley event
Blackstone Valley Dynamite, Salsa and other food contests
Guide to International Food in the Blackstone Valley

International

Signed Blackstone Valley/Amber Valley Compact with a 25th anniversary celebration in 2019
Built ongoing international relationships (Japanese, Taiwanese, etc.)
Co-ordinated Thornton Brass Band visit from England
Brought two English soccer teams from England to compete in the Blackstone Valley
Sent Mr. Potato Head to England

Theatre Related

Created the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Promotes local theatre programs and events
Supported the Gamm Theatre with office space and administrative help
Supported the Mixed Magic Theatre with management assistance

Community, Environmental and Economic Development

Efforts to improve the Blackstone Valley, through environmental cleanup efforts, infrastructure revitalization, and assistance to communities have been important to the success of the Council and its positive impact on Blackstone Valley. Project highlights include:

Led the effort to have parts of the Blackstone Valley declared a National Historical Park
Leading early and continuing efforts to clean up the Blackstone River, to the point that it’s accessible for boating and fishing and a major part of attracting visitors to the Blackstone Valley
Promotes development of the Blackstone Valley Bike Path and completion of the state bike path system
Supporting waterfront development projects including Central Falls Landing, Festival Pier in Pawtucket, Woonsocket Landing, and the Pawtucket River Bridge
Created and supports Paths to Progress RI to advocate for completion of the statewide bike path
Organized development of Chocolate Mill Overlook and support of the Central Falls River Island Campground
Partnered with the Luke Charitable Trust in 2018 and 2019 to create the annual Rev. William Blackstone Scholarship to deserving high school seniors in Blackstone Valley schools in Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland and Woonsocket
Proposed and supported the successful Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Proposed and supported the Blackstone River being named an American Heritage River
Initiated and developed the Blackstone Valley/Amber Valley Compact and Pawtucket/Belper Compact
Helped create and manage the Broad Street Regeneration Initiative
Organized development of Chocolate Mill Overlook
Assisted with developing the Central Falls River Island Campground
Supported Burrillville Geotourism Project to help promote tourism in Burrillville
Waterfront development projects
Burrillville Geotourism Project
Glocester Main Street Plan
Central Falls Bridge lighting
Supported the Pawtucket River Bridge Lighting and Dedication
Supported development of Pawtucket Festival Pier
Assisted Central Falls with overcoming bankruptcy
Supported Great Road Historic Site
Provided direct consulting assistance to communities and attractions
Sold 1st edition, Cumberland by the Blackstone – 250 years of Heritage by Dave Balfour and Joyce Hindle Koutsogiane on behalf of the Town of Cumberland
Assisted with development of the Central Falls Landing Project

Environmental Cleanup, Beautification and other Activities

Cleanup of the Blackstone River
Manages Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful and runs Great American Cleanup and beautification programs throughout the Blackstone Valley
Organized Blackstone Valley Chapter of Keep America Beautiful and conducting local environmental cleanup efforts
Promotes Recycling education programs
Created and promotes Cherry tree planting as an urban beautification project
Ongoing promotion of local Bike Path development
Central Falls River Island Campground
Boat launches in Pawtucket, Central Falls and Woonsocket
Created and promotes RiverClassroom environmental education on the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat – offers history, ecology and wildlife education to students
Blackstone Valley in Bloom competition
Partnered with the Blackstone Valley Conservation Commission
Promoted sharrow marking system to connect bikeways
Blackstone River Watershed Council
Assisted with the Project Zap the Blackstone 30th Anniversary
JASON Project partnership with Mystic Aquarium on the Explorer (past)
Preserve America grant and projects
Blackstone American Heritage River recognition
Recycling Along the Blackstone brochures for adults and children
Blackstone River and Canal Navigations and Transportation System
Blackstone Valley Watershed Council
Rhode Island Rivers Day
Promoted Statewide Green Bond for funding state bikeways
Published Rhode Island Green Visitor Guide

Promotion, Education and Information

General promotion and educational activities include the following:

Managing Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in Pawtucket and Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center in Lincoln
Producing and distributing many brochures, flyers, and promotional materials throughout the state and beyond
Promoting stipends for Blackstone Valley tourism assets and programs to assist with their marketing and publicity.
Developing and managing several websites, videos, electronic newsletters and social media

Websites

Tourblackstone.com
Blackstonevalleytourismcouncil.org
Rivertourblackstone.com
Cycleblackstone.com
Paddleblackstone.com
Dragonboatri.com
Keepblackstonebeautiful.com
Hachikousa.com
Mybroadstreetri.com
Blackstonevalleypolarexpress.com
Golfblackstone.com
Blackstonevalleyamericangirl.com
Pawtucketriverbridge.org
Footstepsinhistory.com
Tourrhodeisland.com
Creativeblackstone.com
Dineblackstone.com
Toursne.com
Centerbytheblackstone.com

Social Media

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Flickr
YouTube
Constant Contact newsletters

Other Media

Conducting many workshops, forums, conferences, labs and networking events, including the annual luncheon
Creating and operating a RiverClassroom program that educates students about the Blackstone River on the Blackstone Valley Explorer
Sustainable Tourism Lab helps spread sustainable tourism principles and promote the Blackstone Valley throughout the world
Blackstone Valley/Amber Valley Compact to celebrate the “twinning” of Blackstone Valley and Amber Valley England, and Pawtucket and Belper England.
The Blackstone Shop
Video series of attractions within each community
Travel Experiences trade show in conjunction with Conway Tours
Introduced 8-foot tall William Blackstone character
Blackstone Valley Canoe Trail civic art projects
Group tour promotion with package tour companies
Brochure development and distribution including historic sites, Holidays in Pawtucket, Holidays in the Blackstone Valley, Historic Mills, Springtime in the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Summer Guide, Christmas in the Valley, Fresh Water Fishing Guide, Comprehensive Tourism Guide, Christmas Trolley Tours
Released “The Fiber That Wove America’s Spirit”, with soundtrack by Pendragon, a promotional videotape of the Blackstone Valley
3 wheel bike as portable visitor information booth
Drone video of the Valley
Websites and social media
Travel Experiences trade show

Public Relations

Yankee Magazine 15-page spread
Created and present various awards including induction into the William Blackstone Society, ARISTA and other awards
Developed and ran the Travel Experiences Trade Show with Conway Bus Tours for over 25 years
Received many prestigious international and local awards.
Footsteps in History
Events of the Week media release

Conferences/Networking/Education

Hosts educational Sustainable Tourism Lab workshops
Student tourism education (interns)
Hosted the Annual Civic Tourism Conference II in the Blackstone Valley
Coordinated the World Canal Conference in 1997
Conducting of seminars, workshops and conferences through the Sustainable Tourism Lab and other programs
Tourism networking events
Turn It Around with Tourism conference at Bryant College with Dr. Pat Manheim of Johnson and Wales University
World Canal Conference
Tourism business networking events
Rhode Island Sustainability Conference
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Tourism Economic Impact study
Received world-wide publicity in Dubai, UAE, by the World Travel and Tourism Council, winning top Tourism for Tomorrow Destination award
Civic Tourism II Conference

Other

Developing William Blackstone monument
William Blackstone Society Induction
Rev. William Blackstone inducted into the RI Heritage Hall of Fame – recognized as the first European settled
Development of the RI State Society based in Washington, DC
Cupid Ball
“Achievement in Rhode Island Sustainable Tourism” Award (ARISTA) acknowledges the efforts of qualified non-profit organizations incorporating sustainable practices

Accomplishments