Portland Winter Light Festival
portland winter light festival annual winter light festival portland oregon year presented local nonprofit willamette light brigade festival open public free attend festival held primarily along waterfront oregon museum science industry oregon rail heritage museum portland spirit across willamette river zidell yard smaller installation throughout city year official theme river star people attended second year artist performer creator participated zidell yard site fire art garden art lantern parade made way along southeast water avenue eastbank esplanade educational speaker held panel every night part light science talk showcase entertainment along mile route included flash bang band misty krewe nimbus covid pandemic festival organizer pivoted socially distanced version event portland winter light nonfestival event held two weekend prevent crowd gathering specific artwork art installation located quadrant city nonfestival ran february february according executive director alisha sullivan “when approached local business organization artist moving ahead year’s experience weren’t sure response would – amazed positive reaction it’s clear everyone craving sense placemaking civic engagement” stephanie yao long oregonian called event playful wondrous martin cizmar willamette week wrote new event make good use new tilikum crossing bridge mention long dark winter night latitude ensures may festival featured opbs oregon art beat television show stated easy walk along eastside esplanade allows visitor take everything elaborate interactive led sculpture largescale projection mapping postapocalyptic firepowered spaceship feature amex essential highlighted portland winter light festival event sole american festival included official website tait courtney january portland winter light festival travel portland