Beginning Monday, Oct. 28, nonprofit Willamette Light Brigade will unveil a new seasonal color lighting program for the Morrison Bridge. The new program will start by lighting the bridge in vibrant fall colors – oranges, reds and golds. This initiative is part of the Bridge Lighting Partner Program and will celebrate the changing seasons in Portland with expanded lighting displays on nights not reserved for specific events.
The new seasonal lighting expansion will complement the existing program, which allows the public to reserve specific dates and illuminate the Morrison Bridge with colors dedicated to various causes, events, and milestones important to the community.
The Willamette Light Brigade, celebrated for its annual production of the Portland Winter Light Festival, manages the Morrison Bridge Lighting Program in partnership with Multnomah County.
Since 2009, the Bridge Lighting Partner Program has facilitated the lighting of the bridge for a diverse array of organizations and causes, including World AIDS Day, Election Day, Down Syndrome Awareness, Prevent Child Abuse Oregon, Work Zone Safety and various sporting events. This program reaches tens of thousands of Portlanders and visitors daily, sharing messages of awareness and celebration.
The energy-efficient LED color-changing lights were updated in 2021 thanks to in-kind lighting fixture donations, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant display. Fees from public lighting partners and applicants help maintain the program's operations.
"The lights on the Morrison Bridge have long been a beacon of Portland's spirit, providing an opportunity for visual civic discourse about our community’s values and passions," Willamette Light Brigade Executive Director, Alisha Sullivan said. "We are thrilled to work with Multnomah County to enhance this tradition with seasonal displays that will brighten the nights with the colors of the changing seasons."
To reserve a custom lighting display on the Morrison Bridge, visit www.lightthebridges.org for available dates. Fees begin at $150 per day, with discounts available for consecutive multi-day bookings.
Multnomah County maintains five Willamette River bridges: the Sellwood, Hawthorne, Morrison, Burnside and Broadway Bridges as well as the Wapato Bridge over the Multnomah Channel. For information, visit: https://www.multco.us/bridges.