The 2nd Annual GFree Fest
GFree Fest is Rhode Island's fully gluten free festival, and is celiac owned/operated.
Location
The WaterFire Arts Center
475 Valley Street Providence, RI 02908Refund Policy
About this event
GFree Fest is a fully gluten free festival held annually in Providence, Rhode Island, showcasing gluten-free products and gluten-friendly restaurants with a full day of eating, drinking, and shopping on March 22nd and 23rd, 2025 at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, RI.
Founded by a celiac and long-time festival planner, it is the perfect opportunity for gluten-free food lovers to explore new products, meet gluten-friendly businesses, and have a gluten-free cocktail, mocktail, or beer.
GFree Fest is brought to you by the events team at Ampersand Creative Co.. Be sure to check out other Ampersand events like, RI VegFest, Little City Thrifty, The Good Trade Makers Market, and our partner event, Bloom Flower and Home.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
We recommend reading the list of FAQs below and reviewing our website to learn all about GFree Fest. This event is a fun and educational fully gluten free indoor event featuring restaurant popups, local and national food and beverage brands, gluten-free/celiac makers, and more. Restaurants will have full meals for sale, and some may offer samples. Our bar will be fully stocked with gluten free beer and gluten free cocktails and mocktails.
DRINKING:
Bring your ID if you plan on having delicious gluten free cocktails and beer at our bar! Coffee and mocktails will be available, too. We recommend bringing your reusable water bottle, as the venue has several water bottle filling stations.
OMG, A BOOK SWAP!
Bring your gently used books (cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction, whatever you like!) to the event and swap them at our book swap table. At the end of the event, we will donate whatever isn't claimed. Please, no bibles, dictionaries, encyclopedias, or text books.
SHOPPING:
We recommend bringing your reusable tote bag! Most vendors will accept cash, cards, and cash app payments, but please be aware that there is no ATM on site.
NOTICE OF FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY:
Our events are documented by professional photographers and videographers, as well as local media and members of the press. By attending GFree Fest, you are entering an area where filming and photography occur. By attending this event, you understand that you may be photographed, filmed, or videotaped and you hereby give GFree Fest/Ampersand Creative Co LLC the unqualified right to take pictures and/or recordings of you and grant the perpetual right to use your likeness, image photo (collectively, “image”), without compensation, for broadcast or exhibition in any medium and to put the finished pictures/recordings to any legitimate use without limitation or reservation. You hereby waive, release and forever discharge GFree Fest/Ampersand Creative Co LLC from and against any and all claims or actions arising out of or resulting from any use of your image.
In the event that GFree Fest 2025 needs to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 or any other reason, tickets will not be refunded and will be valid for a rescheduled date in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Tickets to this event are non-refundable, but you can give them to a friend if you are unable to attend, via email or screenshots work, too - so long as we can see the QR code at check-in. Tickets cannot be transferred to a different date, time slot, or a future event.
The WaterFire Arts Center and this event are accessible to those with mobility aids, though the event does get busy. If you use a mobility aid, please look for our security guard outside so that he can direct you to enter the venue and wait in a reserved seating area.
Children under 4 are welcome to attend at no cost, but anyone 4 years old and older requires a ticket for entry. Strollers are welcome, but please be careful of our vendors and other attendees, as this event does get busy.
Parking is free and plentiful in the WaterFire Arts Center on-site parking lot. There are many handicap parking spots available. Please do not park in a handicap spot unless you are legally authorized to do so - you will be towed.
This event is not pet friendly, per the Department of Health. This includes pets in carriers, strollers, and bags. Service dogs that are specifically trained to assist with medical needs are welcome, but emotional support and/or therapy animals are not permitted.
This event is held indoors and will take place rain or shine. There may be a short wait to get in, which we will work through quickly, but plan to be outside for a bit and dress accordingly just in case!
Yes. All vendors sign contracts stating that they will bring ONLY gf items to the event, and all will have table signage indicating how/where their food is prepared. Please ask vendors questions, to ensure you're making the right choices for yourself and your family.
It is very likely to sell out - plan ahead to avoid missing out! We are unlikely to have tickets available at the door.
Due to extensive fraud, we can’t ever guarantee that tickets bought on the re-sale market are valid. We recommend buying tickets directly from Eventbrite.
There is no ATM on site. Most vendors accept cash, cards and Venmo/Paypal/Cash App.
Organized by
GFree Feest is Rhode Island’s first large-scale fully Gluten Free festival. The event is founded by celiac, BJ Mansuetti, and 25+ year vegan, Robin Dionne, at Ampersand Creative Company. These two long-time professional event organizers are well familiar to food allergies and restrictive diets, be it by choice or due to medical reasons.
It’s not always easy to find a gluten free safe space for food lovers, and GFree Fest is excited to showcase some of the best gluten free products and celiac-friendly restaurants with a day of eating, drinking, and shopping in Providence, RI.