The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) is an annual event hosted by the Willamette Light Brigade, a non-profit arts organization. PDXWLF brings art, technology, and inclusivity together, invigorating Portland in the winter. With free admission, the festival fosters community and showcases captivating light installations, projections, and interactive displays, creating an immersive experience for all attendees.
The Willamette Light Brigade (WLB) established PDXWLF to foster community connections and enhance public spaces through the magic of artistic lighting. Born out of a collective of inspired minds in 2016, the festival owes its existence to the countless dedicated individuals who contributed their efforts.
We commit to ensuring that the Portland Winter Light Festival remains family-friendly, accessible to all, and free of charge. So, bundle up warmly and join us in celebrating the illuminating power of light and the strength of community!
Press kit
Media Assets: This press kit includes press photos and impact reports. For your convenience, each file name includes the art title, artist, and photographer credits. Metadata includes location, captions, and descriptions.
Media Contact – Therese Gietler – Communications Director – press@pdxwlf.com
2025 PRODUCTION TEAM
Alisha Sullivan
Executive Director
Chris Herring
Creative Director
Misty Post
Artistic Director
Brad NELSOn
Operations
Cari Sánchez-Potter
Deputy Director
Therese Gietler
Communications Director
Shireen Press
Performance Coordinator
Kaycia Ogata
Designer
Willamette Light Brigade
Board of Directors
Officers
Zach Suchara
Board Chair
Photon Lighting Design
Don Carlson
Treasurer
Kohel Haver
Board Secretary
Marianne Zarkin
Past Chair
Marianne Zarking Landscape Architects
Directors at Large
Jarrett Altman
Development Chair
Neighborhood Works Realty
Damian Crowder
Port of Portland
Robert Hastings
Bridge Lighting Chair
Oregon, By Design
Chelsea McCann
Walker Macy
Chelsea Rooklyn
Killian Pacific
Jeff Schnabel
Portland State University
Paddy Tillett
Emeritus
ZGF Architects, Retired
Jonah Cohen
Emeritus
Hacker Architects, Retired
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT
The Willamette Light Brigade (WLB) is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential components of the organization and its related programming.
Equity is the pursuit of equal outcomes, a goal WLB can only achieve by identifying barriers to inclusion and creating an environment welcoming to all through intentional actions.
WLB recognizes that people of color and other communities continue to be marginalized and excluded intentionally and unintentionally due to systemic racism and bias. We are committed to fostering an environment of belonging and acceptance by implementing policies/procedures responsive to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, ability (physical and neurological), religion, and other individual identities for all staff, Board members, and community volunteers.
We are committed to being a non-discriminatory organization and providing equal opportunities for employment, volunteering, Board service, and advancement in all areas of our work. Our commitment to place-making through lighting and the arts is to be shared by all segments of the Greater Portland community.