Northern Lights Art Walk returns to the Luther Burbank Center
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced the return of Northern Lights, its winter lights art walk, where last year 25,000 visitors came to view a dazzling seasonal lights display and the illuminated works of local artists. This year, LBC will expand the attraction with the winning bridge design selected in its community challenge earlier this month, as well as more lights, extra scenic experiences, and new sculptures by local artists.
With lead sponsorship from Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, LBC’s Northern Lights is free and open to the public every evening from dusk to 9:30 p.m., Nov. 17 through Jan. 16, 2024.
LBC also invites the community to a “sneak peek” of Northern Lights on Nov. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Center’s campus at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. Guests will be the first to see the new display, while enjoying free warm cocoa (while supplies last) and, weather permitting, a visit from Clover Sonoma’s Clo the Cow. The event will take place rain or shine.
“We are delighted to open up this positive, family-friendly arts experience to the North Bay community for a second year,” said Rick Nowlin, President & CEO. “As a free event, Northern Lights is another way the LBC can support local artists, while expanding access to the arts for families and fans attending performances and locals who want to benefit from the arts. We hope to see families come back again and again throughout the season.”
Northern Lights is a free, self-guided art walk through LBC’s outdoor Sculpture Garden, transformed to provide a safe, festive place for locals and visitors to enjoy the magic of early winter nightfall. It will feature a sparkling illumination of the Sculpture Garden’s new exhibit, Geometry in Art, a collection of 14 sculptures by nine local artists. It also will highlight new lighted sculptures by student artists from Santa Rosa Junior College under the direction of Artist and 3-Dimensional Arts Instructor Michael McGinnis. Expanded whimsical scenes, bridges, and tunnels bedecked in twinkle lights will finish out the LBC Northern Lights 2023 Sculpture Garden’s transformation.
This year, Northern Lights also will incorporate a walk-through Gingerbread Winterland, based on the winning design by local 11th grade student, Nadiya Fish, in its community bridge design contest, held in late September and early October.
With the Center’s ample, free, on-site parking, all visitors can walk safely to and from Northern Lights and enjoy a leisurely nighttime stroll through the Sculpture Garden. For the safety and comfort of all visitors, all pets need to be on a leash and remain on the path in the Sculpture Garden.
About Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary visual art, and many popular events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California’s top performing arts presenters.
Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 230 performances in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers and comedy; provides education programs serving more than 50,000 children and adults; and hosts more than 800 community events a year. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission – to enrich, educate, and entertain. For more information, visit lutherburbankcenter.org.
