The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) is an annual event of the Willamette Light Brigade, a non-profit arts organization. PDXWLF is presented to guests for free and builds community by bringing art and technology to inclusive audiences while invigorating Portland in the winter.

The Willamette Light Brigade (WLB) founded PDXWLF to propel forward its mission of connecting the community and enriching the public realm through artful lighting. The festival began as a coalescence of ideas in 2016 and was propelled into existence by dedicated community members too numerous to mention.​

We are committed to keeping the Portland Winter Light Festival family-friendly, free to attend, and open to everyone. So bundle up and celebrate the power of light and community with us!

Press kit

Media Assets: Press photos, high-resolution maps, and impact reports.​

Media Contact – Therese Gietler – Communications Director – [email protected]

PDXWLF 2022
PRODUCTION TEAM

Each year, the Portland Winter Light Festival is brought to you by a dedicated team of creative Pacific Northwest residents united in their love of the Rose City.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Alisha Sullivan

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Chris Herring

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Misty Post

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Therese Gietler

VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR
Jeremy Reynolds

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Sean Batson

GENERAL MANAGER & SITE LEAD, WORLD TRADE CENTER
Cari Sánchez-Potter

​PRODUCTION MANAGER
Arianne Means

TECH LEAD, WORLD TRADE CENTER
Jonathan Wright

FIRE/TECH LEAD, PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE
Shireen Press

SITE LEAD, PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE
Brad Nelson

GRAPHIC DESIGN
James Guy Hill

MAP DESIGN
Mayer/Reed, Inc.
Cooper Williams / Lucy Angell

Willamette Light Brigade
Board of Directors

Jarrett Altman

Don Carlson, Treasurer

Jonah Cohen

Damian Crowder

Bob Hastings

Kohel Haver, Secretary

Ed Slavin, Past Chair

Zach Suchara

Paddy Tillett

Marianne Zarkin, Board Chair

Jeff Schnabel

Chelsea McCann

Special Thanks to:

Jerry Abdie, Sam Adams, Taaj Armstrong, Andy Batt, Kristin Calhoun, Cary Corker, Michelle David, Sumhandi Fox, Phil Guzie, Jason Hill, Kenny Hamlet, Tim Horn, Thalia Martinez, Sydney Mead, Katie Meyer, Billie Moser, Adam Murdoch, Berk Nelson, Jonathan Oliveria, Jennifer Parks, Jennifer Polver, Chelsea Rooklyn, Charlene Zidell, Ness Zolan

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.