Many bars, restaurants will host outdoor parties. People can carry drinks in plastic cups from place to place within the zones downtown and on Federal Hill.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Dunk will be dry, but there will be drinking in the streets.

While NCAA rules prohibit the Dunkin' Donuts Center from selling alcohol at its March Madness basketball games Thursday and Saturday, Providence is temporarily suspending its open-container law to create a pair of zones where drinking is allowed outdoors, one downtown and one on Federal Hill.

People may walk on the street with alcohol downtown, from Dorrance to Empire streets between Fountain and Washington streets, Thursday and Friday from 3-11 p.m. and Saturday from noon-11 p.m., according to mayoral spokeswoman Emily Crowell. Open containers will also be allowed on Atwells Avenue between Acorn Street and Garibaldi Square from 3-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

"These are good people coming in throughout the country for the NCAA, and alcohol consumption is part of the festivities," Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré said. "Our experience talking to other municipalities and cities that have hosted the NCAA is, it's a crowd that is respectful of law and doesn't over-consume alcohol."

The city has not publicized the law's suspension, Crowell said. Its purpose is to contain partying, not promote it.

"We're trying to put a perimeter on it," she said.

Some — but not all — of the streets in the open-container zones will be closed to traffic.

Paré said the areas will be clearly marked, and the police will make sure people do not wander beyond them.

More than 20 establishments will host outdoor parties, Crowell said. Patrons will be able to move from bar to bar within the designated areas with drinks in hand, as long as they use plastic cups. Glass and metal containers are banned.

"It's something that I've never really seen happen before, for people to be able to walk around with drinks like that," said Trinity Brewhouse manager Kim Allin, who has worked at the Fountain Street brewpub since 1999. "I have no precedent to set it on, so I'm not really sure what to expect."

Thursday also is St. Patrick's Day, always a busy day for Trinity and other Providence bars.

"I feel that St. Patrick's Day is psychologically the end of the winter, and people are just dying to get outside," said Ruth Ferrazzano, owner of Murphy's Irish pub, also on Fountain Street

Garry Williams, co-owner of the Rosendale, has been preparing his Union Street block party for months. His bar-restaurant has a capacity of 100; tenting will let him accommodate more than 2,000.

He's bringing in bands, big-screen TVs, and grills for burgers and hot dogs. And thousands of plastic cups.

"It shows confidence in the city, that we can put on an event like this and keep everything under control," Williams said.

Suspending the open-container law was a joint decision of the city licensing board, Mayor Jorge Elorza and city law enforcement, at the request of a group of downtown bar and restaurant owners, mayoral spokeswoman Crowell said. The idea was tested in June, she said, when open containers were permitted in a smaller area as part of the Providence International Arts Festival.

"There were very few incidents" then, said Brendan Chipley Roane of Local 121, on Washington Street. "We're hoping it's going to be the same this time."

The action won't just be downtown. On Thursday, the Federal Hill Commerce Association is holding an NCAA welcome event with music, food and a beer garden in Garibaldi Square. On Saturday, it hosts a St. Joseph's Day block party on Acorn Street between Atwells and Spruce streets.

While locals may attend Thursday's event, association executive director Rick Simone said it was created to market the area to out-of-towners.

"We want to welcome them with open arms, and hopefully push them down the Hill to our restaurants and bars," said Simone. He added that Federal Hill might be a good place to find parking near downtown.

Outside the designated zones, the police will be increasing their patrols for drunken drivers, Paré said. Drinkers should use a designated driver or public transit.

"Or get a hotel room," he said. "I know they're going to be tough to come by ... because there's going to be a lot of people visiting."

—jpelletier@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7281

On Twitter: @jennampelletier