PROVIDENCE, R.I. — For more than three decades, the lighting of Nibbles Woodaway, Big Blue Bug Solutions' iconic termite that overlooks Interstate 95, has served as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season in the Ocean State. The 33rd annual lighting, featuring Rhode Island’s own Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jeffrey Osborne as the celebrity lighter, set a new viewership record for the multimedia event.
Between media coverage and social media impressions, this year’s event was viewed by a record 1,591,060 people in Rhode Island and around the world. Viewership was split evenly between traditional broadcast and print media impressions (based on available Nielsen data) and social media and online impressions. In addition to standard media coverage, the lighting is simulcast on Facebook Live and covered live by Rhode Island social media influencers.
“We are both grateful for and amazed by the impact Nibbles has had in Rhode Island and the region,” said Big Blue Bug Solutions CEO Brian Goldman. “The coverage the event receives really helps the many charities we have invited to the lighting over the years as a way to give back to the community that has served us so well over the past 90 years.”
The annual lighting has always included a charitable component, highlighting organizations throughout the region that work to improve the lives of Rhode Islanders. The 2025 lighting honored the Boys & Girls Club of Providence and the AccessPoint Rhode Island Glee Club for their contributions to the community.
Nibbles is believed to be the world’s largest artificial bug at 928 times the size — by length — of an actual Eastern subterranean termite. The structure stands 9 feet tall, 58 feet long and weighs 4,000 pounds. It was constructed over four days from wire mesh and fiberglass in late 1980 and has been featured in major motion pictures, some of the largest newspapers in the world, several books, comic books and television programs including “Today,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Family Guy.” Over the years, Nibbles has become arguably the most recognizable landmark in Rhode Island.
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