Baltimore Light Festival Gets An Illumination Upgrade
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The very popular Light City Festival in Baltimore is improving on success and expanding next year.
This past spring's first light city festival produced a warm afterglow for Baltimore.
"Light City Baltimore has exceeded everyone's wildest expectations," said Laurie Schwartz of the Waterfront Partnership.
The event drew 400,000 visitors, who generated nearly $34 million earlier this year.
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"There was a lot of magic at the Inner Harbor, but the heart and soul of Light City is spreading that magic beyond the downtown district," said Kathy Hornig, Baltimore Director of Festivals.
Organizers call that expansion "neighborhood lights."
This year it included the Coldstream, Homestead, Montebello, Hampden, Greater Mondawmin, Little Italy and Station North.
Next year the Hamilton-Lauraville, Waverly and Sandtown-Winchester neighborhoods will be added.
The festival is not only increasing the number of neighborhoods; it's also upping the grant money.
"From ten thousand dollars to fifteen thousand dollars, so they can really go bigger and better out in the neighborhoods as well next year," said Hornig.
That's $15,000 for each neighborhood to light up a little more night.
Next year's city Light Festival will also be held in early spring (March 31- April 8) to draw visitors during what is normally a slow time of year for Baltimore.
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