Festival of Lights

Pittsburgh’s fourth annual Festival of Lights starts at dusk on Friday and will run every evening until midnight through October 17th in the Cultural District under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, with support from Duquesne Light.

Festival of Lights Director Marguerite Jarrett Marks says U.K. artist Ross Ashton has designed four major installations that form a lighting trail between the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the back of Heinz Hall. "Old Bones" at Mahla Office Furniture echoes the Carnegie Museum's dinosaur collection and "Splendors" on the Convention Center refers to "Vatican Splendors", which opens October 2nd at the Heinz History Center. Ashton has also put a waterfall titled "Cascade" on Heinz Hall and a tranquil piece called “Hope” on the Catholic Charities Building on 9th Street.

Local artists, including CMU drama students, have designed a series of storefront projects along the way.

The concentrated footprint makes it easy to see all the installations on foot, stopping by restaurants and theaters, but there will be pedicabs available, and Molly’s Trolleys is offering a tour.