Portland Winter Light Festival Returns for Ninth Year with Over 170 Light-Based Art Installations
The Portland Winter Light Festival is set to return for its ninth year, promising to illuminate winter nights with over 170 light-based art installations. The festival, starting this weekend and ending on Feb. 10, will feature live events, performances, and interactive sculptures at three anchor sites: Pioneer Courthouse Square, the World Trade Center downtown, and the Electric Blocks in Portland’s Central Eastside.
Founded in 2016, the Willamette Light Brigade organizes this free show, with installations across the city mapped at pdxwlf.com. The festival’s theme, ‘What Glows Under Pressure,’ aims to explore resilience and creativity.
The anchor sites will be activated from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, while pop-up locations will be open at various times throughout the festival. The schedule can be found on the festival’s website.
With numerous family-friendly activities to choose from, here are five events that attendees won’t want to miss:
- LED Drag Show
Experience drag artists performing around LED lights in the Cartblocks, accompanied by local food carts. The show, produced by Rose City Drag and hosted by Sequin McQueen, will have two performances on Feb. 3 and 10 at 770 W. Burnside St. - Illuminated Bike Ride
Join the community bike ride starting at Rose’s Equipment Annex Parking Lot in Southeast Portland and ending at Director Park downtown. The ride will coincide with the Little Luminaries Procession and the LED Hula Hoop Flash Mob on Feb. 3. - Little Luminaries Procession
This family-friendly event invites young ones to join the ‘glowing spectacle’ by dressing up in illuminated costumes and carrying lanterns from Pioneer Courthouse Square to Director Park on Feb. 3. - LED Hula Hoop Flash Mob
Hooping enthusiasts can participate in the second annual LED Hoop Flash Mob, followed by the Glow Jam, on Feb. 3 at Director Park and on Feb. 9 at Salmon Springs. - Fun Luv’n Silent Disco
Attendees can rent a set of headphones to enjoy three different DJs at this silent disco event for $15.
