In 2016, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) joined forces with partners throughout our great city and launched a transformational event for Baltimore. Light City, America’s first large-scale festival of art, music and innovation, is where Baltimore comes together and where the world comes to Baltimore.
Light City reimagines the waterfront into a premier cultural destination: fully accessible, free and open to all. Located along the Inner Harbor’s brick-lined promenade, the BGE Light Art Walk features awe-inspiring art installations, performances, concerts, a fun-filled family zone and special moments including an Opening Night Parade and a Closing Night fireworks finale. The festival’s food and beverage offerings are proudly 100% local, reflecting Baltimore’s burgeoning cuisine scene.
Additionally, Light City touches dozens of Baltimore neighborhoods through BOPA’s Neighborhood Lights, Brilliant Baltimore and Eye on Charlie initiatives. Labs@LightCity, the festival’s social innovation conference, generates a glowing ecosystem of ideas and learning during the day – before the lights and live entertainment make Baltimore shine at night.
In just its second year, Light City 2017 attracted more than 470,000 nighttime visitors, generated $44 million in economic impact and created one billion media impressions for Baltimore. And the Light City effect continues to multiply; BOPA has awarded funds back to local Baltimore artists since the festival’s inception.
BOPA can’t wait for you to experience the Baltimore you’re missing – join us at Light City 2018!
BOPA thanks the Allens as the founding visionaries of Light City.