Free, family event will feature immersive and interactive light displays that will brighten the sky and amaze visitors
ArtsinStark, Stark County’s Arts Council, in partnership with Visit Canton, is pleased to announce WONDER: Canton Light Festival 2022, to be held every Friday and Saturday evening in April. The family-friendly outdoor event is free and open to the public.
Following the successful inaugural “ILLUMINATION” event in 2021, WONDER: Canton Light Festival, an imaginative and brilliant festival of light, will be held along Court Ave NW between 2nd and 5th Streets NW in downtown Canton. Creative installations large and small will pepper the downtown landscape, providing a dramatic and breathtaking display of light projections, interactive displays, and mural mapping.
The premier showing will occur during the April 1 First Friday festivities. Lights will come on Fridays and Saturdays in April at approximately 8 p.m. and each installation will run continuously until 10 p.m.
In addition to the light show, a free WONDER Pass mobile savings passport has been created to encourage visitors to attend and take advantage of special pricing and discounts at a variety of downtown businesses. Save while you explore local dining, unique shopping, hip nightlife and more, all conveniently located within walking distance of Wonder.
For guests who capture the magic of WONDER on their cameras or smart phones, a Wonder Photo Contest will be open to all. Visitors can submit their best photo of WONDER as an entry into the contest for a chance to win great prizes. More details, rules and submission guidelines will be announced soon.
More information about the WONDER: Canton Light Festival, the Wonder Pass and the photo contest is available online at www.CantonLightFestival.com. Details about each of the six installations are outlined below.
MORE ABOUT THE DISPLAYS
Projection Mapped Sculptural Installation
Location: Court Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets NW
Description: As visitors walk past this installation, the sculpture will change dramatically depending on perspective. Visitors can also get up close and become immersed in between the 3D fins.
Interactive Street Lamps
Location: Court Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets NW
Description: The streetlamps that line Court Ave. come to life with light! The lamps will provide an unexpected and playful experience for visitors of all ages.
GOBO Projection on the Bliss Tower
Location: Atop the Bliss Tower, 2nd Street and Court Ave. NW
Description: Welcoming guests to WONDER Canton Light Festival, this large-scale design will light up the sky.
Parking Garage Aglow
Location: Corner of 2nd Street and Court Ave. NW
Description: A monumental rainbow of light will transform the parking deck!
Mural Mapping
Location: Corner of 4th Street and Court Ave. NW
Description: Artist Tommy Morgan’s “Mother of Invention” mural comes alive through projection mapping.
Window Mapping
Location: 4th Street and Court Ave. NW
Description: Creative storytelling and visual illusion abound inside the windows carved into the stone walls of Bliss Tower.
MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT PARTNERS
About ArtsinStark
ArtsinStark, Stark County’s arts council, is a 52-year-old nonprofit that uses the arts to create smarter kids, new jobs, and healthier communities. The organization represents over 900 cultural organizations, individual artists and makers who nourish Stark County.
About Visit Canton
The Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, d.b.a. Visit Canton, is funded by a lodging tax administered through the Stark County Commissioners. The organization’s mission is to promote travel to Stark County. Visit Canton facilitates operations that support a travel and tourism industry in Stark County.
About OBLSK
OBLSK consists of a team of artists, inventors, and designers who come together to create engaging interactive installations, finely crafted imagery, and powerful multi-sensory experiences.
About Comet Wanderer Studios
Comet Wanderer Studios creates immersive and interactive environments for galleries, stages, and events by using light and projection mapping to transform large and small spaces both inside and outdoors.
