Celebrate the Season of Light at Georgetown GLOW

By Kim Humphrey
Posted Dec 24, 2018 Things to Do Just For Fun Holidays

Georgetown GLOW, the Washington, D.C. area's only curated exhibition of outdoor public light art installations, is back again this holiday season illuminating the streets and alleyways of one of D.C.'s most historic neighborhoods with free visual entertainment and family fun. 

"Light" by Robin Bell, Washington, D.C. in Cady's Alley

The fifth installation of Georgetown GLOW does not disappoint, taking you on a whimsical, light-filled scavenger hunt (complete with map) up and down M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, skipping down to the Georgetown Waterfront and jutting over to Meigs Park where a life-scale, translucent representation of an antique and thrift store stands. The store's shelves are lined with 500 hand-assembled lanterns -- each a reproduction of an actual object relating to Washington, D.C. -- which are slowly lit and turned off one by one each evening.

We began our annual Georgetown GLOW pilgrimage with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Filomena. A treat any time of year, this old-school Italian institution on Wisconsin Avenue is always decked out big for the holidays, both inside and out.

After filling our bellies with (too much) delicious homemade pasta, it was time to get walking! We started our journey out of order at installation #5, descending the stairs to the C&O canal walking path to experience Artistic Lighting by designer Elizabeth Coco, a dramatic, color-changing display that illuminates the canal bed and walls near the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge.

One of our favorite displays this year was Prismatic by Hou De Sousa of New York City located at Georgetown Waterfront Park, a collection of structures woven with iridescent cords that you can traverse through.

Another visual treat on the Potomac River, The Kennedy Center is always lit up in rainbow this time of year in celebration of the venue's annual Honors event, a nod to the rainbow ribbons of the medallions bestowed on recipients. Among this year's honorees, the co-creators of the musical phenomenon, Hamilton.

A few of Georgetown GLOW's installations are easily viewable right from the main M Street thoroughfare, including Run Beyond by Italian designer Angelo Bonello, a moving rooftop installation that is "all about the jump we strive to take in our lives." 

Another popular M Street GLOW stop located next to gourmet grocer Dean & Deluca, Entre Les Rangs by Kanva Architecture is a collection of reflector-topped, color-changing 'stems' that fill nearly the entire length of Georgetown Park Plaza. There were many selfies happening here.

Georgetown GLOW runs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. nightly through January 6th. It's a great evening complement to a Georgetown shopping or dining excursion and a fun way to get the kids interested in and excited about art. On the final evening of GLOW on January 6th, visitors will be welcomed into the Twilight Antiques & Thrift Store (Installation #9) and allowed to select a free lantern to take home!

Looking for more family-friendly fun at unbeatable prices? Check out our Washington, D.C. deals and coupons.

Tags: Georgetown Glow 2018 family kids free

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