Alaska Airlines

A Little Lift Goes a Long Way

Every year, it takes an extraordinary amount of teamwork, creativity, and community support to bring the Portland Winter Light Festival to life. And for several years now, Alaska Airlines has been one of the partners helping us make it all happen.

As a general sponsor, Alaska Airlines plays a steady, meaningful role in supporting the Festival’s mission: keeping the event free, accessible, and full of wonder for everyone. But last year, they added something extra that changed the game — and the ripple effects were bigger than any of us expected.

When a Giveaway Becomes a Catalyst

By offering a handful of round-trip tickets (valid for travel anywhere in North/Central America or Hawaii) for artists, volunteers, and festivalgoers, Alaska created a spark that lit up all corners of the Festival:

• Artists traveled here who otherwise couldn’t have
• Volunteers signed up earlier and in higher numbers
• Survey responses surged— giving us invaluable feedback from across the region

For the first time in festival history, we were able to gather a truly representative snapshot of how the event impacts people’s lives. That insight has helped us plan smarter, serve better, and shape the festival’s future with real data rather than guesses.

Community Impact That Keeps Going

One of last year’s ticket winners, Richard Rochet, started as a volunteer… and then kept showing up long after the festival ended. Today, he’s part of the heartbeat that helps keep things running behind the scenes. That’s the kind of impact a simple incentive can have — it turns one moment of excitement into a year-round contribution

Why This Partnership Matters

The truth is: our needs are real. We rely on volunteers to staff nine glowing nights across the city, and we depend on community feedback to grow responsibly. Alaska Airlines helps strengthen both of those pillars while also supporting the broader creative ecosystem that defines Portland.

Their sponsorship isn’t flashy. It’s steady, heartfelt, and genuinely meaningful — exactly the kind of partnership that keeps a community-driven festival thriving.

To Alaska Airlines: thank you for lifting up the artists, volunteers, and festivalgoers who make this event shine. We’re grateful for your continued support.