Looking for something to do outside? Friday parade kicks off Tacoma winter art festival
The Tacoma Light Trail, Tacoma’s free winter art festival, kicks off a series of live events on Friday, starting with a light parade at 5:30 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to bring their light-up gear — tutus, umbrellas or flashing shoes if you have them — to the parade. The parade will start at the University of Washington Tacoma campus and end at the Tacoma Art Museum parking lot.
In addition to the parade, people can enjoy a circus act on a 30-foot crane, musicians, poets and community art from 6-8:30 p.m. at a covered venue at the Tacoma Art Museum parking lot.
More live events will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Jan. 8, 14 and 15 at the Tollefson Plaza.
Each night will feature outdoor performances, community art-making, shadow-play, fire pits for warming and free hot tea. Attendees over the age of 5 are asked to wear masks and keep a 6-foot social distance.
In its second year, Tacoma Light Trail was started by Rosemary Ponnekanti, a musician, writer and former art critic for The News Tribune who also organizes the annual Ocean Fest in Tacoma.
“This year, we invite everyone to ‘be the light’ on the Light Trail,” said Ponnekanti. “It’s so powerful when the whole community comes together as part of the light. The goal of the Tacoma Light Trail is to bring light to dark times, and to unify our community through things we all need – hope, truth, understanding, justice, peace – that are symbolized by light.”
The Tacoma Light Trail first opened Dec. 31 and features illuminated sculpture, painting and video projections at around 40 venues in Tacoma. The art is visible from 5-9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 16.
For more information on the live performances and a map of the art installations, visit tacomalighttrail.org.
Tacoma Light Parade
▪ 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7: Light Parade starting at the University of Washington Tacoma steps.
▪ 6-8:30 p.m. Jan. 7: Live events undercover at the Tacoma Art Museum parking lot.
▪ 6-8 p.m. Jan. 8, 14, 15: Live events at Tollefson Plaza, 1548 Commerce St., Tacoma (rain or shine).
