By Amy Sanderson
Torontonicity was invited to attend the media preview of the inaugural Toronto Light Festival at the Distillery District on January 26, 2017. The festival features Canadian and international light artists displaying their installations in this historic neighbourhood. Walking down Tank House Lane, I got a sneak peek at one of the art installations called “The Love Locks” by Matthew Rosenblatt. The installation featured a heart and the word LOVE lit in sequence. Each letter holds padlocks with messages chained to them.
Cluny Bistro and Boulangerie was the host of our event. We were led to a cozy back room where we would enjoy neon drinks in the spirit of lights. I tried the Electric Bumblebee with white cranberry juice and vitamin B to give the neon effect. Some other drinks included:
Happy Mood Water, The Aurora, which was vodka or gin mixed with Aurora tonic water and a selection of Mill Street beers.
Delicious hors d’oeuvres that were served include:
Lucky Lime Oysters – prosecco crystal granite, wakame
Scallop Ceviche – burnt eggplant, blood orange filaments
Sausage on a bun – mini smoked sausage, cluny mustard, sunchoke pickle
Mushroom Hot and Sour Soup – black truffle, lemon pickle, tarragon
Smoked Haddock Croquette – roasted garlic aioli, pea tendrils, silver leaf
Crispy Chicken Meatball – Yakitori glaze, green bean, almondine
Matthew Rosenblatt, both an artist and Toronto Light Festival Creator and Executive Director, let us know that installations came from both Toronto and Amsterdam and are rotated each year. Amsterdam has been hosting this festival for about 50 years.
The point of this festival is to help make the Distillery District a fun place to visit after Christmas during a quiet and dark time of year.
The theme, “Come out of the dark and into the light”, invites all Torontonians to enjoy a free festival to light up the city.
After enjoying snacks and beverages, guests were taken on one of several 20-minute tours offered. The full tour takes about an hour. Here are a few of the installations we saw:
This art is meant to be quickly observed and judged whether you like it or not. It’s meant for everyone including kids. Very accessible.
The Yonge Street Mission is the main charity partner. The mission can feed over 2,000 youth if they reach their $10,000 goal. Donations can be made online at their gofundme account. https://www.gofundme.com/wus24jk-change-a-life. Light canons pointing at the sky will move closer together when the goal is reached. Locks provided for media guests to put a latch on the installation will be on sale to help contribute to the charity goal.
The Toronto Light Festival begins January 27, 2017 and runs until March 12, 2017. To find out more go to Toronto Light Festival.
Share your photos on social media using #tolightfest
All the food looks delicious. The light show would be an awesome sight to watch. We don’t drink so would bypass that part.
DANG! What a FUN event! This has everything from AMAZING looking food, cool drinks, entertainment, and LIGHTS! I would totally be into going to this event.
Oh my gosh I need to go to this! I recently moved to the Toronto area!
Woah! I should move toronto. There are awesome subjects for good photographs
Oh wow! I have never visited Toronto, but I hope that some day I will and then I can also visit the Toronto Light Festival.
That is so cool. My boys would have enjoyed this amazing light show, too!
I love seeing a light festival like this. I would love to check this out if I’m ever in Toronto. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
we were in Toronto last year and loved it. this light festival sounds like such a unique experience. Will have to check it out when we are in Toronto next.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to Toronto. Hope you get to see it if you visit again! Cheers, Lori
That must be an exciting festival to attend too. I love the different kinds of light showcase, very cool.
The Toronto Light Festival sounds and looks like it would be amazing to see. I love that the food is even art as well. The art of lights is something I have always loved. Thanks for sharing the information and the The Yonge Street Mission charity.
So beautiful! That is definitely worth seeing. I love how beautiful the food was as well as the lights.
I’ve never heard of the light festival before. I think this would be a lot of fun to explore and see. Especially with my kids!
This is the first year they have had the Toronto Light Festival. I’m sure your kids would love it! Cheers, Lori
That sounded like an amazing time. Toronto is such a nice place to be. My parents used to take us there as kids. Recently I visited Montreal which was all that but I would love to check out Toronto now as an adult. I love the light show idea. The food looks divine as well. I love oysters. Great!
How did I not know about this and I’m from Windsor?! I would have driven up to see this!
I’m definitely going to check this out. We live so close to the Distillery District. We are so blessed.
The light show idea is so cool! I would love to go to something like this and the food looks scrumptious!
It’s a different idea, isn’t it?! Cheers, Lori
This looked like a lot of fun. I loved the appetizers all the fun photo ops that you shared.
Yes, it was a great event and the organizers provided some tasty food and drinks! Cheers, Lori
What a cool event and yummy food pics you have!! 🙂 I especially love the first pix!
nothing better than looking at all the beautiful Xmas lights in Toronto. Love walking down Young st. and all the lights and decorations are absolutely beautiful
This looks like such a neat tour!
Didn’t realize there was so much food as well.
Actually, the food was just for the media preview 🙂 Cheers, Lori
Such a magical night!
My boys have been asking to go see the lights. Soon!
I have to bring my camera and get down there
I’ve never been to this Light Festival, and I hope they bring this back next year.
we attended this about 2 weeks ago and it was beautiful! So nice to see so many people outdoors, enjoying the nice weather and a free event! Tough to pick a fav!
The light Festival truly is great to witness at night for sure.
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