Lumière Festival Lights Up Downtown Vancouver This Fall

October 26, 2023
RC
By Rick Chung
3 min read
Person in a reflective silver outfit and white wig holding a glowing hoop inside a geometric light structure, with another person in a suit covered in blue LED lights on stilts in the background.

Lumière Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with an annual five-day program that promises to enliven Downtown Vancouver through light, art, and performances from November 2 to 6. A free series of interactive and accessible public art installations, Lumière brightens the city during the darkest season with over thirty illuminated artworks, light-based projections, dynamic performances, and interactive workshops planned.

Colorful illuminated molecular structure sculpture in an outdoor plaza at night with people and buildings in the background.

Locations

This year, Lumière features activations across the downtown core, West End, Yaletown, and Gastown neighbourhoods. These showcases include works from a diverse, multi-disciplinary collective of local and international artists from France, Poland, and the U.S.

The interactive, light-based pieces will be displayed in more than ten locations, including:

  • Jim Deva Plaza
  • 1800 Davie Plaza / Morton Park
  • West End Community Centre
  • Robson and Cardero
  • šxwƛə̓ nəqXwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza)
  • Lot 19
  • Bentall Centre
  • Helmcken Plaza
  • Bill Curtis Square
  • Maple Tree Square
Outdoor seating area at night with blue illuminated umbrella-shaped lights and metal benches on a wooden deck in a city setting.

10th Anniversary

Join Lumière for its special anniversary opening ceremony at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery on Nov. 2 at 6pm to kick off the festivities with an open-air spectacle featuring dynamic performances by Ember Arts, Elektric Collective, NZR, and more.

According to curator Deb Beaudreau, this milestone anniversary of the festival represents “A decade of artistic expression, community engagement, and the joy of experiencing our city in a new light.”

Colorful illuminated glass panels arranged outdoors at night with autumn trees and fallen leaves around.

Established in 2014, the Lumière Festival Vancouver Society’s mission is to redefine winter as a season of inspiration by uplifting and bringing people together to explore the city through light, art, music, and dance. Now in its tenth year, it aims to create enriching arts and cultural experiences within public spaces that foster important community connections and engage diverse audiences.

To browse all the programming and locations, visit Lumière’s website.

Vancouver beach

Need

ideas

for

family

fun?

Related reads