This week marks the tenth annual Portland Winter Light Festival, which brings brilliant lights and artwork reminiscent of Burning Man to the metro area during the coldest season.
The most of the action happens on Friday and Saturday evenings, but the event runs from February 7 to 15. At that point, you can enjoy food, beverages, and music at the pop-up Glow Bar. From 6 to 10 p.m., street performances, circus acts, and light shows take over the three primarily outdoor anchor locations at Pioneer Courthouse Square (701 S.W. Sixth Ave.), the World Trade Center (701 S.W. Sixth Ave.), and the Electric Blocks (236 S.E. Clay St.).
A Light for Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future, the topic for 2025, asked artists to imagine the city in 2045.
More than 150 illuminated art works will be spread around Portland and its suburbs from 6 to 10 p.m. during the festival’s nine-evening run. You may get a complete map of the locations at pdxwlf.com/program.
With interactive light-driven art installations and flaming fire-driven performances throughout the city, the ninth Portland Winter Light Festival got underway Friday night, February 2, 2024, at Pioneer Courthouse Square.Graves, Mark/The Oregonian
The event last year had 417 artists, 52 performances, and 159 art installations spread throughout 98 venues. Over the course of the 2024 Winter Light Festival, organizers anticipate that 274,000 people attended.
It can be challenging to know how to organize your light festival experience with so many shows and locations. These are the installations and activities that caught my attention after perusing the festival’s 25 webpages:
The Glow Bar
111 S.W. Columbia St., February 7-8 and 14-15, 6 p.m. to midnight
With light installations, interactive components, a dance floor, and handmade cocktails, Glow Bar has transformed an empty retail space just south of the World Trade Center. The Oregonian/OregonLive sDumpling Week will feature burgers and a trademark dumpling from food vendor Proletariat Butchery. On February 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., you can meet and greet a group of alpacas from Explore Tualatin Valley.
All ages are welcome from 6 to 8 p.m., but from 8 p.m. until midnight, Glow Bar is exclusively for those 21 and over.
Workshops for Crafting
Two dates: February 7-8 and February 15.
Visit Pioneer Place before dark for a family-friendly creative area called the “Glow Up Workshop,” which is open from 3-6 p.m. on February 7-8. Ideal PDX is hosting free workshops where you can make rockets and light-up umbrellas. They are located near to Zara and H&M on the mall’s bottom level.
ComparableOn February 8 and 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., Bling Your Thing workshops will take place in the lobby of Big Pink, located at 111 S.W. Fifth Ave. To improve your radiance, artist Becca Priddy will guide both adults and children in art projects.
With interactive light-driven art installations and flaming fire-driven performances throughout the city, the ninth Portland Winter Light Festival got underway Friday night, February 2, 2024, at Pioneer Courthouse Square.Graves, Mark/The Oregonian
Bike Ride with Lighting
February 8, 7:30 p.m., 125 S.E. Clay St.
Join this ride by wrapping lights on your bike and yourself. It starts at Rose’s Equipment Annex at 7 p.m. and departs 30 minutes later. The path will terminate at Director Park after passing a few of the installations; it has not yet been announced on the Facebook event page.
LED Bike Ride and Drag Show
770 W. Burnside St., February 8 and 15, 7-8 p.m.
On two Saturdays of the event, Sequin McQueen performs this evening drag show at the Cartblocks food cart pod. The Street Trust will lead an illuminated bike ride on February 15 at 5:30 p.m., beginning at Rose’s Equipment Annex and concluding at the food carts in time for the drag performance.
Mothership in INKBUS
3308 S.E. 50th Ave., February 12–15, 6–10 p.m.
One of the biggest indoor venues for the festival, the INKBUS Mothership, which is home to INKBUS mobile tattoo in Southeast Portland, serves as a good reminder that not all of the events are held downtown and promises to be exciting. Come enjoy performances and music by Fox Medicine, IT&I, 11:11 Bellydance, Eel Sallad, and more artists. On February 14, Shady Pines Radio will have a Valentine’s Day dancing segment. Naturally, you may also visit the INKBUS to get a tattoo from one of the visiting tattoo artists.
Green Anchors
8940 N. Bradford St., February 13–15, 6–10 p.m.
This place in St. Johnsis is euphoric throughout the year, but during the Winter Light Festival, the group of artists that use this innovative industrial area go all out. Explore the garden sculptures before congregating beneath the pavilion for live music, food, and beverages.
On February 13, travel a lantern-lit route to Troll Alley, where a melodic doom band called Selqet will play into the night and huge troll puppets created by artist Moni Sears will be on display. The same lantern path will lead to live music and a visual projection by the artist collective artANTICa on February 14.
The Tesseract
401 S.W. Morrison St., February 7–15, 6–10 p.m.
You may see this captivating installation art sculpture on any night of the Winter Light Festival. It was on exhibit at the World Trade Center last year.Artist Nicky Alice’s five-foot infinity mirror sculpture of a four-dimensional hypercube, known as the Tesseractis, made its debut at Burning Man 2023. It is located on the path that runs between the World Trade Center and Pioneer Courthouse Square.
The ninth Portland Winter Light Festival features the Tesseract.Graves, Mark/The Oregonian
Procession of Little Luminaries
Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts, February 15, 6:30 p.m., 1000 S.W. Broadway Ave.
Families are invited to parade across the festival grounds in illuminated costumes, carrying lanterns and flags as part of the second annual Little Luminaries Procession. Participants are expected to show up at 6:15 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the parade starts, and it ends at Director Park, two blocks away.
Flash Mob Hula Hoop
February 8, 8:15–9:15 p.m., Director Park, 815 S.W. Park Ave.
The second annual LED Hoop Flash Mob will bring together flow artists and hula hoopers beneath a large disco ball created by Ivan McLean. Attend as a spectator or follow Bright Heart Circus orHoop With Kendall on Facebook or Instagram to get a preview of the act.
With interactive light-driven art installations and flaming fire-driven performances throughout the city, the ninth Portland Winter Light Festival got underway Friday night, February 2, 2024, at Pioneer Courthouse Square.Graves, Mark/The Oregonian
Here is Oregon and The Oregonian/OregonLive are covered by Samantha Swindler. You may reach her at oregonian.com/sswindler.
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