Portland's Winter Light Festival is Here!
Installations are up in PBOT Plazas and event organizers are ready! Portland's 10th Annual Winter Light Festival, beginning this Friday, is sure to inspire and bring joy to residents and visitors alike. This year PBOT Plazas host three installations and a multitude of community events.
It's worth a special mention that the festival wouldn't be possible without the support of Portland in the Streets’ Community Event Team, which helped permit these large-scale installations and events. Read on for the full scoop and discover more exciting ways Plazas and Portland in the Streets is elevating Portland's street life.
Upcoming Events
Here is what's on our radar for the month. New events from our partners are also regularly re-posted on the PBOT Instagram page.
Need help finding a PBOT Street Plaza? Check out the Plaza Directory!
Friday, February 7th
- Analogue Dreams at Ankeny Alley, 6-10pm: Analogue Dreams presented by The Actual Portland is a showcase of improvised electronic music and soundscapes created live through digital and analogue sound creation methods. The live performances will tie into the integrated art in the alley for a cohesive and immersive experience.
Saturday, February 8th
- The Mochipet Catbus & Friends Block Party at Ankeny Alley, 3-10pm: With over 10 DJs and a bus straight out of My Neighbor Totoro, join Mochipet and friends for an unforgettable block party of bouncy beats at Ankeny Alley.
- LED Drag at the Cart Blocks, 7-8pm: The LED Drag show is back for its 3rd annual show produced by Rose City Drag and hosted by the very talented drag queen Sequin McQueen. Come watch a selection of Portland’s brightest queens perform at the Cart Blocks. Food carts will be open for those who come hungry.
Tuesday, February 11th
- Play DJ Pop-Up: Haute Toddy at Montavilla Plaza, 6-8pm: Come out and dance to the tunes of talented local DJs! Hosted by 2025th Street, their illuminated pop-up DJ truck is sure to delight.
Wednesday, February 12th
- Play DJ Pop-Up: Tom Kay at Ankeny Alley, 6-8pm: Come out and dance to the tunes of talented local DJs! Hosted by 2025th Street, their illuminated pop-up DJ truck is sure to delight.
Friday, February 14th
- Sync Up Takeover at Ankeny Alley, 6-10pm: The Sync Up Collective of electronic audio and visual artists will be taking over the plaza for a night of their block rockin’ beats - inviting one and all to come shake their bodies and move their feet while they enjoy the greater installations in the alley and downtown area.
- Play DJ Pop-Up: Shy Hulud at St Johns Plaza, 6-8pm: Come out and dance to the tunes of talented local DJs! Hosted by 2025th Street, their illuminated pop-up DJ truck is sure to delight.
Saturday, February 15th
- The Mochipet Catbus & Friends Block Party at Ankeny Alley, 3-10pm: With over 10 DJs and a bus straight out of My Neighbor Totoro, join Mochipet and friends for an unforgettable block party of bouncy beats at Ankeny Alley.
- LED Drag at the Cart Blocks, 7-8pm: The LED Drag show is back for its 3rd annual show produced by Rose City Drag and hosted by the very talented drag queen Sequin McQueen. Come watch a selection of Portland’s brightest queens perform at the Cart Blocks. Food carts will be open for those who come hungry.
Want to Throw a Free Event in a PBOT Plaza?
Plazas are for Portlanders and we love to see them thrive! Want to throw a performance, dance party, craft market, seed swap, game night, neighborhood meet and greet, or something else? Reach out and email us at PortlandStreetPlazas@portlandoregon.gov and we can help you navigate throwing an event.
The Small Plaza Activation Process is intended to remove barriers for small-scale neighborhood-based activities that build social and community connections in PBOT plazas. Best of all, permits under Small Plaza Activation are 100% FREE.
Academic Brilliance: PSU's Montgomery Plaza Welcomes Back a Student Favorite
As night falls, Montgomery Plaza on PSU’s campus transforms into a vibrant display of color and movement. From now through March 19, a stunning light show by Steve Harper of Indigo Design will illuminate the plaza.
Supported by Portland State's Planning and Sustainability Office, The immersive installation casts colorful patterns onto the street from the skybridge above. Students were excited to see the new installation.
"It was such a surprise to stumble upon the plaza lit up. Definitely one of the coolest things I've seen on campus lately! I live on campus and I've seen lots of students strolling through. I recently moved here am still adjusting to Portland winters so I think these kind of initiatives are a great way to brighten the darker months of the year."
-PSU first year student
A Quirky Curiosity at Pride Plaza
Last Friday morning, supporting artists J’aime laCiel and Connor helped set up Quirk at Pride Plaza, where it will remain through March. The striking steel and paint sculpture by artist Fez BeGaetzstands 13 feet tall, featuring glowing concentric rings stacked along curved pipes.
Local businesses owners were excited to see the new attraction and have hopes for it driving traffic to the Downtown plaza.
"Art installations like this have been incredible for driving foot traffic, drawing people in to take photos, explore Downtown, and experience Portland’s vibrant public art scene. When this program launched with Nautilus Deep Sea, it generated a lot of excitement. Building on that momentum, we’re continuing our collaboration with PBOT, the Portland Environmental Management Office, and the Winter Light Festival to bring even more art to Pride Plaza. Our goal is to make this plaza a lively hub for community and creativity while supporting local businesses. We hope to see people coming out to enjoy the art, then staying to grab dinner and drinks."
Red Turner, General Manager of McMenamins
Make sure to stop by at night for the full experience and enjoy this exciting addition to Pride Plaza.
Nautilus Deep Sea, a Keystone to The Ankeny Alley Experience
As featured in last month's newsletter the businesses of Ankeny Alley have united to create an immersive celebration of light, art, and community. In collaboration with the greater Old Town/Chinatown area, the project reimagines the historic Great Light Way—originally built by 3rd Avenue merchants in 1914—into a modern showcase of creativity and culture.
On Tuesday, artists dedicated hours to assembling Nautilus Deep Sea at Ankeny Alley, where it will remain at the entrance through April. Created by Heather Dawn Sparks, this 12-foot-tall aluminum and steel installation casts mesmerizing prismatic patterns of shadow and light, evoking the mysteries of deep-sea life. A standout favorite of the festival, Nautilus Deep Sea is sure to draw visitors to Ankeny Alley and the greater Old Town neighborhood.
The overall Ainitiative, supported by PBOT and the Portland Environmental Management Office, allows visitors to explore the Ankeny Alley Experience anchored by Nautilus Deep Sea. Thanks to a $70,000 Prosper Portland grant, this initiative is helping revitalize Downtown and support local businesses while celebrating Portland’s innovative artistic spirit.
More than Plazas: Portland in the Streets Celebrates a Successful Year of the Play Streets Program
Did you know that Plazas are part of PBOT’s larger Public Realm and Street Activation team? This team works to brings Portland’s public streets to life, transforming them into vibrant, welcoming spaces where people come together to play, connect, and celebrate. We’re excited to shine a spotlight on the fantastic work of Portland in the Streets, the group responsible for permitting community events, neighborhood block parties, and organizing Play Streets. This month, we’re showcasing their incredible efforts with the Play Streets Program!
What is a Play Street? A Play Street transforms neighborhood streets into recurring pop-up community hubs for socializing, play, and physical activity by closing the street to vehicle traffic. They create a fun, active space, especially in places where recreational areas are scarce. Play Streets are free and open to everyone.
In 2024, PBOT worked with six amazing local non-profits to make Play Streets happen across Portland. With a one time $5,000 grant award and access to two Park and Play trailers stocked with supplies, these non-profits turned streets into beautiful events filled with performances, games, snacks, art, and so much more. According to our survey, 80% of organizations are either very likely or likely to host an event again. Thank you to all who participated!
If you’d like to learn more, two of our amazing event hosts, Kate and Sahar, were interviewed on OPB’s Think Out Loud program. You can listen here.
In the coming months, we'll be featuring more exciting work from Portland in the Streets including large community-led events and neighborhood block parties. Stay tuned!
Do you have a great Public Plaza or Street Life Photo?
We'd love to feature it! Share your best PBOT Street Plaza photo with the world by tagging @PBOTinfo on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly Twitter). You can also email them directly to our team at PortlandStreetPlazas@portlandoregon.gov.
Where can you find PBOT's Street Plazas?
PBOT has numerous active plazas that are ready for you, your friends, and family to enjoy. They are great places to grab a bite to eat, relax, enjoy live music, meet up with friends, and so much more. Check out our directory to find out about plazas near you!
What is the Portland Public Street Plaza Program?
Originally started during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist businesses and Portlanders, PBOT's Public Street Plaza program-built partnerships with community and local businesses to transform select streets into public spaces for cultural events, street fairs, pop-up markets, and more. The program uses PBOT's Livable Streets Strategy, adopted by Portland City Council in 2017 as its policy foundation to turn streets into inclusive public spaces that foster public life.
What started as a temporary solution is now becoming a permanent fixture in our city. The Street Plaza program reflects PBOT's commitment to climate action, mobility for all, and community building by creating spaces that everyone in Portland can use and enjoy.
Contact Us
Feedback, suggestions, partnerships, photos or event ideas? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at portlandstreetplazas@portlandoregon.gov.
Portland Public Street Plazas Funded by the American Rescue Plan
This project is funded by the American Rescue Plan, a federal economic stimulus bill designed to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. The City of Portland is receiving $208 million of local recovery funds. Investments focus on three key priorities: houselessness response and household stabilization, business and commercial district stabilization, and community health and safety.
