Top Ten Illuminating Light Festivals of Europe

There is no dearth of electric power in Europe and it is used in abundance to illuminate the cities especially during the festive seasons with the result that there is a sparkling environment throughout, brightening up the entire environment and bringing smiles of appreciation on the faces of the residents and the visitors. Such light art festivals can be seen in various places of Europe and the best way to base yourself at one place is to stay at family rooms London, especially if you are visiting Europe with your family. From your base, you can move around the various cities of Europe to see these top ten illuminating light festivals.

Amsterdam Light Festival, the Netherlands
This light art festival will take place from 27 November 2014 to 18 January 2015 lasting almost two months and it is the only such festival that can be viewed from a boat. The illuminations will encompass shops, cafes and museums besides the other installations and structures so that you do not have to brave the cold weather in order to see the spectacular lights.

Signal, Prague, Czech Republic
The light art festival in Prague will be on from 16th to 18th October, 2014. Signal is the new entrant in this field and it has already impressed people with its fantastic debut last year when its illuminations of Prague’s old town attracted 250,000 people. During this year’s show, patterns will be displayed on to neo-gothic Kostel svaté Ludmily, and the Michna and Kinsky Palaces. An interesting feature will be The Pool, a light art installation by Colorado artist Jen Lewin, on which you will be able to walk.

Licht festival, Ghent, Belgium
The last light art festival in the Flanders city of Ghentin 2012 was a great success with a dazzling set piece of 55,000 LEDs that appeared to be lifted right out of Las Vegas.

Expectations are now high for the next festival which will take place from 29th January 2015 to 1st February 2015 and is expected to be one of the biggest events in Ghent’s cultural scenario this year. It is bound to be appreciated and considered to be one of the best illuminations in Europe.

Glow, Eindhoven, Netherlands
The light art festival at Glow, Eindhoven Ntherlands will take place from 8th November 2014 to 15th November 2014 and it will be a befitting tribute to Philips that had started making lamps and bulbs at this place way back in 1892. The festival is expected to showcase all types of bizarre illuminated sculptures and installations in the city.

Berlin Festival of Lights, Germany
This festival of light art that will take place from 10th to 19th October 2014 is expected to transform the way you will be able to see the various landmarks of Berlin as crazy colours are expected to be used for the illuminations. The festival, which has been going on for ten years, will involve lighting up the Siegessaule, Reichstag, Tempelhof Airport and the Berliner Dom by night. It is also expected that the quixotic TV Tower in Alexanderplatz – affectionately known as the Telespargel (tele-sparagus) will be lit green for a time.

Fete des Lumieres, Lyon, France
France is famous for its Son et lumière which is supposed to be the originator of the modern concept of the festival of light art.

The French are known for their passion for lighting up their chateaux but during this period from 5th to 8th December 2014, they will be busy in a million-bulbed celebration of Lyonnais life reflected by the huge light show centred on the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere.

Illuminating York, UK
From 29 October-1 November 2014, York in Britain will have a bigger and more famous light art festival than what Huddersfield is planning from November 28 to November 30, 2014. A hundred big torches with coloured filters trained on them will illuminate landmarks such as Clifford’s Tower, York Minster and even part of the city walls, with their powerful beams of coloured lights.

Lumina, Cascais, Portugal
From 12th to 14th September 2014, Cascais, a lovely port/beach town west of Lisbon will be illuminated with light beams especially around the harbour and old town. There will be plenty of sound and light displays and lucent installations in the different squares and parks of the town.

Lights in Alingsås, Sweden
Alingsås, near Gothenburg in the west of Sweden, will be illuminated from 26th September to 2nd November 2014 for which it has even set up an Instagram Account to document the installations you can see.

The special features of the festival will include horse and cart rides round the light sites and the chance to design your own scintillating sculpture at a workshop and have it exhibited.

Lux, Helsinki, Finland
From 4th to 8th January 2015, Lux in Helsinki will have a brilliant light art festival that has in previous years been highly appreciated by all those who took the trouble to go to Finland’s capital. The luminous artworks in the city centre and the Cable Factory cultural centre complement the Nordic Vibe immensely. However, you need to be well clad because January evenings can be quite cold.