in Lyon, a best-of edition of the Festival of Lights to celebrate its 25th anniversary

Tuesday 05th November 2024 07:16 AM

Local pride with international fame, the Festival of Lights will celebrate its 25th anniversary from December 5 to 8. An edition mixing novelty and nostalgia where visitors will be able to find six notable works from previous editions.

Le Figaro Lyon

For his 25^e anniversary, the Festival of Lights in Lyon will play on nostalgia. A celebration of the notable moments of previous editions around six works, which will make their return to the Capital of Gaul. Among the most anticipated, «I love Lyon»by the artist Jacques Rival, and his snow globe statue of Louis XIV (2006 and 2007 edition) which will be installed at Place Bellecour. Of “Little Giant” came in 2008 at Place des Terreaux, to the “Anooki” (2012, 2014 and 2018) who will dance at the Parc de la Tête d’Or via “Jacobins Act 4” or “Laniakea” (2014), these works were selected in depending on their success at the time with the desire to retain the techniques used during their first presentation.

“Obviously for a 25^e anniversary, we want to celebrate it in the most beautiful way while remaining faithful to the original spirit of this event, which is intended to be popular and free, in order to promote the city and the artists we welcome”declared Grégory Doucet, the EELV mayor of Lyon. In all, 32 works will be installed in town for this edition which the festival team has qualified “grounded, bubbly and popular”.

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The “Return of the Little Giant” Place des Terreaux in Lyon.
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More than 2 million visitors over four days

Since the arrival of environmentalists at the head of the city of Lyon, the Festival of Lights has demonstrated its desire to be “more committed and responsible”. “The idea is to remain a popular and family event, accessible but also of quality”indicates Julien Pavillard, director of the event. “The important thing is that the festival makes visitors’ eyes shine but also reflect”added Gregory Doucet. Beyond their remarks, reflections were carried out on the place of construction of the works and on the materials used, indicate the event teams.

Each year, the Festival of Lights welcomes around 2 million visitors, 85% of whom come from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, making this event the 4^e largest gathering in the world. In order to make it accessible to as many people as possible, several reception areas for people with reduced mobility have been set up at Place Bellecour and near the Tête d’Or park. 1,200 were welcomed last year, three times more than in the previous edition. The festivities will begin on Thursday 5 at 7 p.m. and end on December 8 at 10 p.m.