The Portland Winter Light Festival is an annual winter light festival in Portland, Oregon. Each year has been presented by the local nonprofit Willamette Light Brigade. The festival is open to the public and free to attend. Past events 2016 The event, first held in 2016, featured over 40 light-based art installations, performances by the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, Circus Luminescence and Flamebuoyant and took place around OMSI, The Oregon Rail Heritage Museum and the Portland Spirit. Over 33,000 people were in attendance. 2017 Between the river and the stars. The 2017 festival was held primarily along the waterfront by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, The Oregon Rail Heritage Museum and the Portland Spirit and across the Willamette River at Zidell Yards, and had smaller installations throughout the city. This year had the official theme of "Between the River and the Stars". Over 48,000 people attended in its second year and over 70 artists, performers, and creators participated. Zidell Yards was the site of the Fire Art Garden, and the Art Lantern Parade made its way along Southeast Water Avenue and the Eastbank Esplanade. Educational speakers held panels every night as part of the Light Science Talks showcase. Entertainment along the 1.5-mile route included the Flash Bang Band and Misty Krewe of Nimbus. 2017 also marked a collaboration with the Portland Streetcar transit system which offered free rides to everyone during the event. 2018 The Light of Progress. The 2018 festival was held on February 1–3, 2018. Art installations were held along the Willamette River and various locations throughout Portland. Artists included the Portland Opera, Ivan McLean and BodyVox. There were over 100 public art installations, 73 performers, and 12 educational speakers and workshops. Over 142,000 people visited the festival in 2018. 2019 Forward. From February 7-9 2019, over 156,000 attendees visited the 2019 festival sites. 2020 Into the Dreamscape. Taking place February 6-8 2020, the festival saw over 210,000 attendees visit the sites along the Willamette River and other locations throughout Portland. There were nearly 100 public art installations, 78 performances, educational speakers and live events, and 380 volunteers. 2021 (non)Festival. During the COVID-19 pandemic, festival organizers pivoted to a 'socially distanced' version of the event with the "Portland Winter Light (non)Festival". The event was held over two weekends to prevent crowds from gathering at any specific artworks, and art installations were located in each quadrant