Three Light Festivals You Have to Visit Before You Die
Main photo and Amsterdam photo courtesy of Getty; other photos as labeled.
When you think of public art, the chances that you picture a statue in a park are probably pretty high. But, light installations are becoming a popular medium and are a wildly imaginative way to reinvent and see a city. The Festival of Lights in Zagreb, the Amsterdam Light Festival and the Murten Light Festival in Switzerland are all incredible spectacles that locals and travelers alike enjoy. For some around the world, it’s an unofficial start to the tourism season, while for others it is simply another fun and colorful event and a growing trend among artistic and culturally-rich cities. Visit one of these three light festivals to celebrate public art in a new way this year.
Festival Svjetla
In Zagreb, the Croatian capital, Festival Svjetla takes over the scenic Upper Town or Gornji Grad starting on March 18. From the Strossmayer Promenade to the World War II underground, Tunel Gric, the light installations take over the city. There are illuminated forms like statues, suspended pieces that resemble graphic art, and projections onto buildings to play video and a kaleidoscope of patterns. If there is one stop you shouldn’t miss, it’s the fresh take on the Hall of Mirrors, which includes a few dancing characters in a suit of reflective armor. When you’re done dancing under the disco ball, follow the raindrops through the streets to find other exhibits inside courtyards farther from the city center and large crowds.
Amsterdam Light Festival