Redmond Lights returns on Dec. 2 in celebration of the city’s diverse winter traditions, cultures and faiths. In addition to traditional light displays, this year’s event will continue to incorporate public art. New temporary artist-commissioned light installations in addition to installations by Redmond Poet Laureate Shin Yu Pai and Redmond Artist in Residence Maja Petric will be featured. More installation details and locations are listed below beginning with the City Hall Campus and closing at Redmond Town Center.

“Our winter tradition of Redmond Lights welcomes and celebrates the many cultures that make our community unique,” said Mayor John Marchione. “I invite everyone to enjoy the musical entertainment, public art installations and all the activities that make Redmond Lights a favorite event.”

The day’s events begin at the Redmond Senior Center’s Redmond Lights Holiday Market from noon to 6 p.m. At 4 p.m., the Redmond City Hall Campus will come alive with activities including a lantern craft, a homeless care kit making station, and a trail mix station. While on campus, guests can enjoy a number of light features, as well as the Ignition fire dancers, and collecting their signature Experience Redmond light blinkers (while supplies last). At 5 p.m., Mayor Marchione, along with special guests, will light the campus oak tree, before viewing the brand new Redmond Lights Fireworks Show beginning at 6 p.m. Unlike previous years, City Hall campus will remain open until 8 p.m.

Once Redmond Lights has officially begun with the tree lighting, guests are invited to depart on the enchanting luminary walk to Redmond Town Center any time after 5 p.m. During the luminary walk, visitors will take in the sights and sounds of returning favorites such as Japanese Taiko Drummers, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band and Islanders Steel Drum Band, and enjoy eye-catching new light installations by four featured local artists. There will also be a participant art installation inside the Heron Rookery.

Art comes alive

Pai’s exhibition, “Animating Archives: Contemporary Chlorophyll Prints,” will be on display at the Redmond Senior Center during the event and features a chlorophyll print collaboration with artist Megan Bent.

On the municipal campus, the Seattle Design Nerds will feature their illuminated interactive installation Plushcadia. This installation returns from So Bazaar and incorporates a new community mural that the visitors can help create.

Installed below the Northeast 85th Street bridge along the luminary walk, Jennifer Szabo’s installation will emulate the night’s sky, illuminating the Sammamish River below. Further down the luminary walk, Beth Gahan’s lanterns will be suspended above the Sammamish River Trail. Different shapes and patterns with moving and projected lights will create an eye-catching installation.

Suzanne Tidwell returns to Redmond Lights with two installations. Let it Snow will be installed near the intersection of the Redmond Central Connector and the Sammamish River Trail, an installation of larger-than-life snowflakes. Another installation by Tidwell, Ornaments, features a whimsical series of 3D spheres along the Redmond Central Connector.

Big Sassy, the friendly neighborhood Sasquatch, returns to Redmond Lights with a new addition, Baby Sassy, along the Redmond Central Connector trail. Sassy was designed by Eastside artists Kristie Smith and Vikram Madan.

Petric, will create a site-specific light art installation I Saw My Birth, Love, and Death in the Sky in the Heron Rookery. Visitors will be guided into the clearing between the giant trees of this urban forest where they can look up at the sky and be immersed in the constellation of projected stars. The number of stars will equal the population size in the United States. Whenever a baby is born somewhere in the United States, a star will appear in the sky. Whenever a person dies, a star will disappear in an audiovisual depiction of a supernova explosion.

Redmond Town Center

At the end of the luminary walk, the entertainment continues at Redmond Town Center. Enjoy the outdoor skating rink, kids’ activities, free holiday carousel rides, holiday music and more until 8 p.m.

Redmond Town Center will feature holiday activities for the entire family, extended shopping hours and special events all season. Visit redmondtowncenter.com.

More center highlights on Dec. 2 and throughout the holidays:

• Holiday train

• Springfree trampoline

• Santa photos/visits

• Santa Storytime Tuesdays at Brick & Mortar Books

• Princess Storytime Thursdays at The Painted Palace

• Friends of Youth Giving Tree

• Hometeam Harvest

For more information about Redmond Lights, visit www.redmondlights.com.

Redmond Lights parking is available at Redmond Town Center or the City Hall Parking garage. A free shuttle runs the day of the event between both locations from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

People enjoy Redmond Lights on the City Hall Campus last year. Courtesy of James McDaniel