Détail de l’événement

The Stratford Tourism Alliance (STA) was founded in 2007 to act as a partner driven, private sector led not-for-profit marketing organization that develops, manages and promotes "Destination Stratford" as a national and international tourism icon. Their goal is to strengthen the local economy and enrich the quality of life in the City of Stratford and area. The STA is managed by full-time staff and governed by a Board of Directors and is funded by the City of Stratford, partnership fees, the Stratford Tourism Supplement (STS) and through other revenues generated through programs. The STA has been responsible for successfully marketing Stratford as a tourist destination for over a decade, but also adds value through destination development with visitor experiences such as the popular Chocolate Trail. While the STA had been planning to produce original programming, the public health crisis added urgency to that goal, and the organization has responded quickly to the Stratford Response and Recovery Task Force decision to develop and implement tourism recovery projects. The Task Force (with the STA as the lead) is launching a new three-month outdoor winter festival that maximizes economic recovery by leveraging Stratford’s reputation as a cultural destination and its proximity to major urban centers.

This application is for “2023/24 Lights On Stratford Winter Festival of Lights”, taking place December 15, 2023, to January 13, 2024. The theme for 2023/24 is ‘Emergence’, a noun that goes back to the Latin root ‘emergere’ (meaning "bring to light"). Programming highlights include:

(1) 'Dandelion’ (in Market Square): an interactive luminous art experience which debuted at the Vivid Light Festival in Sydney this year;

(2) A new central lighting installation on Tom Patterson Island which will be supporting updated light sculptures along the river;

(3) ‘Lunar Lamp Posts’ within the gardens of the new Tom Patterson Theatre; and

(4) ‘Lightwall’: a major interactive light art installation on the heritage façade of 70 Ontario Street.