Portland Winter Light (non)Festival continues February 08 2021
Annual festival brightens cloudy Portland nights; it ll light things up Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13.
The Portland Winter Light Festival had to evolve in its sixth year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and government safety restrictions. It s called the Portland Winter Light (non)Festival this year and includes a series of installations, video projections and more around Portland, in which spectators can be socially distanced.
Photographer Diego Diaz visited many of the sites with lights last weekend and documented them with the accompanying photos.
The largest concentration of installations are in downtown Portland, around Pioneer Courthouse Square. Around the city, lights will come on again this weekend, 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 12-13.
Nights, lights and delights
Portland Winter Light (non)Festival features pop-up installations and video projections while minimizing crowds.
If you re looking for something bright to raise your spirits during these tumultuous times and winter nights, you can find it in the Portland area the next couple of weekends.
The Portland Winter Light Festival, which usually features creative light installations around the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Eastband Esplanade and elsewhere, had to evolve in its sixth year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and government safety restrictions. It s now being promoted as the Portland Winter Light (non)Festival and includes a series of installations, video projections and more.
Portland Winter Light (non)Festival returns with pandemic plans in place
Updated Feb 06, 2021;
Facebook Share
festival.
The sixth annual Portland Winter Light (non)Festival returns Friday evening in a format modified for these pandemic times.
Instead of a cluster of illuminated art displays at OMSI and along the Eastbank Esplanade, the 2021 event will be spread out across greater Portland and take place over two weekends. Though past events have focused on interactive, hands-on exhibits and installations, many of this year’s pop-up light displays will be viewable in storefronts, behind glass or even from the streets outside private homes.
“This past year has demonstrated that we all need art, connection and community more than ever,” the event’s executive director Alisha Sullivan said in a press release. “When we approached local businesses, organizations and artists about moving ahead with this year’s experience, we weren’t sure what the response would be – b
In 2021, the
completely freeÂ
event will be the first in-person event to tiptoe back, a hopeful sign for the days and months ahead, even if this yearâs version wonât look much like its predecessors.Â
For starters, this yearâs eventâwhich
kicks off this coming Friday and Saturday
 from 6 to 10 p.m. and repeats on February 12â13, wonât be clustered around the Eastbank Esplanade and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. That area has traditionally been at its heart, resulting in molasses-slow, bundled-up crowds oohing and aahing at the often-interactive light installations positioned every few feet.Â
Instead, says Alisha Sullivan, the festivalâs director,