The view of Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland is filled with a wide array of events, from concerts to cultural celebrations. But on Feb. 6-14, when the sky dims and the street lamps flicker, more than just the familiar yellow glow will illuminate Portland’s sky.
From ginormous metallic behemoths shooting flames into the skyline to neon-fluorescent structures that match the Electronic Dance Music heartbeat of the city, the Portland Winter Light Festival is the perfect place for performers to use their unique talents to highlight their wacky energy, fueling our signature phrase, “Keep Portland Weird.”
However, Portland’s 11th annual winter lights festival didn’t start because people wanted to show off their talents. In fact, there’s an even richer history behind this monumentally “strange” event.
The inspiration for this festival came to the creative director and founder, Chris Herring, in 2007 when he attended the Fête des Lumières, aka the Festival of Lights, in Lyon, France. When he returned to the United States, he and Jeff Schnabel, a Portland State University architecture professor, came together and pitched it to the city council.
“I think it was 2015, maybe 2016, when it was established. I remember hearing about them through the Willamette Light Brigade. It’s been really cool to see them grow, though, from what started as a collection of illuminated artwork on, like, the Eastbank to Pioneer Square has been pretty insane,” says Harry Hill, an Ida. B Wells High School alumnus of 2007, and a frequent attendee of the festival.
Since its founding, it’s become an iconic seasonal event. “Someone said to me that the festival acted as a stepping stone into Spring with all the brights and stuff, I couldn’t agree more,” adds Hill.
The lights aren’t the only thing captivating the visitors’ senses; the eccentricity of the performers and music is the real hook that keeps them coming back.
“I think I’ve been performing here for like the last five years. When we took a break due to the pandemic, we weren’t sure if this would come back. Sure enough, in 2022, we came back even stronger,” says Spencer Sprocket, a routine performer for the event.
The music often matches the electric vibe of the performers. “Oh man, when I perform with [Electronic Dance Music], most parents are hesitant at first ‘cause of the clubbing stereotypes and whatnot, but when I start performing with that as my backing music, the kids love it,” says Sprocket. “They’re jumping around and moving their body which makes the parents love it as well. What really makes me laugh about that notion is that they’re moving their body exactly like they do at the clubs.”
Portland’s Winter Light festival not only highlights the inclusive history of the city but its resiliency as well. It started as a fragment of an idea from a college student who went to France, and became a Portland wintertime highlight. “I really enjoy seeing everyone’s creativity and passions out on display—especially when they get paid for it,” adds an anonymous bystander to Sprocket’s show.
