Festival of Lights Zagreb

World cities such as Lyon, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Helsinki and St. Petersburg has combined light and sound into special art for a long time, and in 2017 Zagreb joined them. The first Zagreb Light Festival lasting 4 days was held in 7 locations and only one year later it expanded to 19 different locations.

From March 18th to 22nd, at 21 locations, you will be able to see 26 attractions and different stories that will bring the magic of light over the course of five days, symbolically marking the arrival of spring and providing visitors with a special atmosphere in the city's squares, streets and parks. The combination of art, design, spectacle, entertainment and architecture will once again bring the Lower and Upper Town locations to life this year. Beside local artists, the reputation of the Zagreb festival is also confirmed by the participation of renowned light artists and light messages from five countries: the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Slovakia and Spain, realized through 10 installations.

In the Lower Town on King Tomislav Square, the well-known Anooki light installation awaits you. On Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square, there is the domestic Ophrys interactive installation. In Zrinjevac Park, there are two installations: Bubbles, Bubbles and Journey Through Dreams 3D mapping by artists from Ukraine.

European Square has been taken over by artists from the Czech Republic with an interactive installation called The Greenhouse about Daily Bread, while the neighboring Ban Josip Jelačić Square features a light installation by a French artist, a ZET tram transformed into a luminous time capsule filled with white balloons. At Petra Preradović Square, you pass through the Twisted neon tunnel.

The historic facade of the Croatian National Theatre will come alive with colorful patterns and light paintings by a German artist. In the most cheerful zone of the Festival on Mažuranac, play interactive games, dance to choreography and challenge your team to a tic-tac-toe tournament or visit the Pig Farm, with its cheerful, luminous pigs. On the facade of the Archaeological Museum, a video projection by a Spanish artist awaits us, combining poetry and science through light and geometry.

The program in the Upper Town includes 3D mapping of the Bioluma on Kaptol, while Opatovina Park contains three installations: The Fragments, an interactive installation by a Slovak artist, a children's playground in neon, and Neon Jungle by a local artist.

This year's location on the Gradec Plateau is dedicated to the sea. Through 3D mapping by a German artist, attention is drawn to the impact of climate change and plastic on the marine ecosystem, connecting art with important ecological and social themes.

Jesuit Square becomes the Disco Atrium, and Strossmayer Promenade is decorated with centuries-old lanterns. The most recognizable symbol of the city, the Lotršščak Tower, will once again shine in its familiar splendor as the Lighthouse and Star Portal.

In Opatička there is the EggOtrick light installation, Vrazovo šetalište is filled with a light forest, Dubravkin put with luminous clouds and LumiPlay with a light polygon. On the Tuškanac summer stage you can traditionally watch a laser show, and on the neighboring basketball court the energy of sports is transformed into a modern light spectacle.

 photo: Tourist Board Zagreb