You are at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and see large goldfish swimming inside a car. You walk along a little further and now see lighted figures along the grass and amidst the water. You continue along your trek, and now see a huge illuminated cocoon emblazoned with colorful flowers. You are not seeing things. You are at Light City, the nation’s first large-scale light, music and innovation festival.
Presented by The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA), the electrifying festival returns for its second consecutive year, and runs Friday, March 31, 2017 through Saturday, April
8, 2017. Light City transforms Baltimore into an interactive playground of light art installations. The family-friendly event also includes concerts and performances.
Last year, the inaugural festival drew more than 400,000 visitors and generated $33.8 million in economic impact to Baltimore. Building on last year’s success, organizers promise that Light
City 2017 will be even bigger, bolder and brighter with brand new installations and experiences.
“If you liked last year, you will love this year,” said Kathy Hornig, festival director for the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. “We have worked hard over the past 12 months to ensure
than this year’s event is even bigger and brighter than last year’s event. We thought we would come out this year in an even more newer, brighter, and bolder way. This includes running the festival for nine nights, which will give people more time to enjoy the displays. One of the biggest things people requested was that the event be open more nights.”
The Baltimore Office of Promotion &The Arts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, which serves as Baltimore City’s arts council, events agency, and film office. By producing large-scale
events such as Light City, Artscape and the Baltimore Book Festival, and providing funding and support to artists, arts programs and organizations across the city, BOPA’s goal is to make Baltimore a more vibrant and creative city.
“Last year, the event also provided a big boost to the Inner Harbor from the huge crowds of tourists and citizens,” said Hornig. “Many of them had not visited the Inner Harbor in a while. Once again, the heart of the festival will be the BGE Light Art Walk. We will also be bringing back last year’s favorite exhibits.”
The BGE Light Art Walk, is a 1.5-mile trail along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor featuring illuminated artworks, performances, music, locally sourced food concepts, a children’s area and maker
tents. Of the 23 light installations on display, 21 are brand new to Light City with ten brand new commissions making their debut at the event.
The two “crowd favorites” that are returning for 2017 are The Peacock by Tim Scofield and Kyle Miller and The Pool [Reflect] by Jen Lewin. This year’s Light City also includes a new line-up of
performances and concerts, and nightly themed kickoffs called “Nightly Moments.”
Festivities include fireworks on the final night, parades, a themed food and beverage program, and Neighborhood Lights, an immersive community artistin- residence program that will feature light installations in eight Baltimore City neighborhoods, which includes Coldstream Homestead Montebello, Greater Mondawmin, and Sandtown-Winchester.
“There is so much talk about what divides us, but Light City is a great way to celebrate what connects us, and what we all have in common,” said Hornig. “Last year, folks met new friends and shared with others. They loved the art, and the concerts, but they really loved the vibe and positivity that was at the Inner Harbor.”
She added, “I am so excited. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have put together. It’s like Christmas for me.”
For more information on Light City, call 410-752-8632. You can also visit www.lightcity.org for a listing of the
events and other details, and to download the Light City Baltimore App.