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!

2024 Impact Video

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. 

W.A.G.E. Certification