WORCESTER – The Festival of Lights, the first night of Worcester’s winter light installation, kicks off on Friday, Dec. 5, with a family-friendly event that includes ice skating, food vendors, community organizations, and performances from 4:30 PM to 9 PM.
The event features a joint performance by Ricky Duran, the runner-up on season 17 of NBC’s “The Voice,” and the Blue Light Bandits, a four-piece rock group with over 5 million streams. Both acts have roots in Worcester.
The tree-lighting ceremony, on f the highlights of the event, takes place at 6 PM.
A “Making it Public” grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) supports the light installation for 2025. Worcester is one of 10 Massachusetts municipalities selected for NEFA’s public art training and grant initiative. The initiative included months of training and selecting national and international artists for the seasonal lighting displays. They include:
- “Kinetic Perspective” — Inspired by the Optical Art illusions of the 1960s and designed by Studio JF Creative, this activation features a row of sixteen abstract, immersive geometric shapes, playing with the perspective of visitors by giving the impression of movement.
- “Waves” — An immersive light art installation inspired by the energetic beauty and geometry of the sea. Innovative movement and light produced by designer Studio JF Creative generates new shapes and perspectives for viewers.
- “Allium” — A light-art sculpture, designed by Everything Good Studio, made of recycled bottles inspired by allium flowers, produces a larger than life, 10-foot-tall glowing cluster. Two interaction points allow participants to activate a unique light show by interacting with the artwork.
- “The Snowglobe” — This larger-than-life inflatable 3D projection snow globe, by performance-based artists of Fractaltribe, provides 360 degrees of festive fun on the festival night.
- Glow Park and Interactive amusements — An illuminated playscape for youth and adults on the Common as well as a variety of amusements and carnival games on Franklin Street for the night of the festival.
- Roving circus and fire acts by Cirque de Light.
- Interactive light displays and Tree Uplighting — LED-lit holiday decorations and tree lighting display throughout the season with snow people, hearts, and other fun offerings that can be used for photos.
- The Create 508 Fall Cohort will be offering youth-designed public art activations and a craft making station.
The event also includes 15 food vendors, a beer garden hosted by Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company, community organizations, a visit from Santa, face painting, and interactive roving circus and fire acts. Performances by the Burncoat High School Quadrivium Chorus, Jo Ann Warren Studio, Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers, Midland Street Elementary Youth Choir, and North High School are also part of the event.
Ice skating on the Worcester Common is free during the event. Skaters can bring their own skates or rent them for $6.
Parking is free at both the Pearl-Elm garage at 24 Pearl St. and the McGrath Parking Lot at the main branch of the Worcester Public Library, at 3 Salem Sq.
The library’s main branch remains open until 8:30 PM during the event. Its hosts a hot cocoa station, small family crafts, giveaways, a family picture-taking area, and a Friends of the Library pop-up holiday sale.
The light installations remain on display until March 1.
