Radiance: Sixth annual Lights On Stratford winter festival theme announced

Destination Stratford has introduced the 2025 theme for Lights On Stratford, and this year visitors can look forward to an all-new installation that is said to be the most ambitious one yet.

Lights On Stratford will run from Dec. 12, 2025, to Jan. 18, 2026.

The sixth annual Lights On Stratford is free to the public and runs Thursday through Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Destination Stratford’s multi-award-winning Lights On Stratford winter festival will once again transform Stratford’s heritage downtown and park system with art and interactive light installations for more than six weekends during the darkest and coldest part of the year.

The 2025-26 theme is Radiance, which Zac Gribble, executive director of Destination Stratford and festival director of Lights On Stratford, says aims to bring the community together.

“Given the current climate of global challenges, a little bit of radiance goes a long way,” said Gribble. “This year’s theme of Radiance is meant to reflect what happens when our community comes together to celebrate joyfully. Just like a smile, warmth flows from radiance, and our goal this winter is to fill the city with lights and sounds that bring thousands of smiles that will collectively power our community's radiance.”

Market Square will be brought to life with the Canadian premiere of Chronopharm. This intricate, triangular form of light and colour responds to human touch with luminous animations that dance through its structure.

Gribble noted that this particular installation is Stratford’s most ambitious light art installation to date.

“The size, scale and complexity of the install is substantial, but the results will be tremendous,” he said. “As a supersized, community-driven light art musical instrument, the 36 separate points of interaction create a group experience that strikes the perfect balance between spectacle and interactive engagement.”

The festival, which aims to attract visitors to Stratford’s downtown core during shoulder season, is said to have strong community support and aims to help promote business and sales for local business owners.

“Community support is pretty incredible, with over 75 corporate sponsors helping to make our winter lights festival possible and keeping it free for everyone to experience and enjoy,” said Gribble.

“We are incredibly excited about what we have in the works for Tom Patterson Island this winter,” he added. “Lights On Stratford continues to evolve, and part of our vision moving forward is building our capacity to create light art installations, especially with a made-in-Stratford approach. We’re already part way along that path, and this winter will be a good step forward in that journey. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.”

Lights On Stratford is made possible through the support of its partners and the generosity of its community sponsors. It is financially assisted by Experience Ontario, a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

Visit lightsonstratford.ca for more details, upcoming announcements and sponsorship opportunities.