‘We just can't do it on our own': Without partnership, future of Providence's ‘Rock and Roll Yard Sale' is uncertain

Boston Globe

12-02-2025

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As a result, the organizers are now looking for a new venue or potential location, and noted the 'yard sale' will likely not be a large-scale fair but 'local small scale pop-ups.'
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'What worries us the most is that this has taken income away from people that were expecting for this to keep happening and, you know, our vendors are the core of what we do,' Chris Daltry told the Globe on Tuesday. 'So it's them that we kind of want to find a way of moving forward for.'
The Daltrys, who own the online retail shop, What Cheer?, have stewarded the Providence 'Rock and Roll Yard Sale,' typically held during the first Saturday in May, for more than 20 years. For approximately the last 15, the yard sale has taken over Westminster Street, expanding beyond its roots into something that's now 'part marketplace and part block party,' Chris Daltry said. (The Daltrys also organize a similar event in Somerville, scheduled this year for Sept. 7.)
According to the Daltrys, In Downcity opted to leave the partnership 'because of the amount of grief they were given after last year by the City of Providence, and that is mostly due to public alcohol consumption.'
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'The current PVD mayor appears to have a vendetta against any public event that involves alcohol, and even though everything was done in compliance with the city rules in past years, they still created accusations against the event,' the website reads.
Chris Daltry said alcohol issues at last year's event were 'the main thing' officials complained about, adding that the city doesn't 'want it on the streets.'
'That seems to be their biggest issue with pretty much all outdoor events in Providence,' he said, pointing to the annual
On Tuesday, city spokesperson Josh Estrella pushed back on the notion Smiley has targeted public outdoor events where alcohol is served.
In an email, Estrella wrote alcohol restrictions at events like the yard sale have been in place since before Smiley took office.
'The city has supported a multitude of other events that have followed all guidelines and state laws and provided a safe and exciting space for attendees and neighbors,' Estrella wrote. 'These requirements are enforced to ensure a safe environment for all attendees while maintaining compliance with both state and local laws.'
According to Estrella, there were several regulatory protocols that were not followed at last year's yard sale event, including 'insufficient oversight in the beer garden area, failure to conduct ID checks, and the absence of a clear designated space for alcohol service, which is required at outdoor events like this one.' A food truck also unlawfully served alcohol, Estrella wrote.
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'These violations were immediately addressed on-site and the vendor and event organizer were informed,' Estrella wrote. 'Following the event, a meeting was held to review these concerns and clear steps were outlined with the organizers to ensure compliance with regulations moving forward.'
Joanna Levitt, In Downcity's marketing manager, said concerns from city officials were not just about alcohol, but also about trash and 'the size of the event.'
'They just wanted to make sure that we're doing all of the things that we, you know, agreed to, which we were,' Levitt said Tuesday of the meeting with the city held after last year's event. 'I think we left it with them that, you know, we'd be extra cognizant of anything … related to alcohol or trash or anything like that this year if we were to do it again.'
The conversation with the city, however, didn't really factor into In Downcity's decision to step back from its position as lead partner this year, Levitt said. Rather, the event is 'a capacity issue for us,' she said.
'We're a very small group, In Downcity,' Levitt said. 'There's two of us, and so the event has kind of become larger than we have the capacity to manage in the way we have been in the past.'
Levitt said In Downcity has been hoping to find another partner who could lead the planning effort.
Chris Daltry said, however, he and his wife are now considering locations beyond Providence. (There will soon be small, monthly 'curated sales with rotating vendors' at
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'We're kind of feeling that the city doesn't have enough of an appreciation for the kind of thing that we do for us to stick with Providence,' Chris Daltry said. 'So right now, we're looking elsewhere, unless someone can bring something to the table where there's actually support that would make it feasible for us.'
Christopher Gavin can be reached at