The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Night of Lights began its nine-evening run on Friday, Oct. 6, with a “Flip the Switch” ceremony. The interactive opening night included projection storytellers information about the archives and live music. 

“This year’s Night of Lights illustrates community stories using our Main Street as an exhibition space, but only through this Saturday,” said Lori Salganicoff, the Conservancy’s Executive Director. “From Washington’s time here during the Revolutionary War to our amazing Main Street and ways to save energy (and the planet) with updates to historic buildings and more, this year’s exhibition should not be missed.”

Night of Lights continues nightly through Saturday, October 14. Each night, the eight themed projections will project through storefront windows between the 8500 and 8200 blocks of Germantown Avenue. 

The themes of this year’s slideshows are “Antique Postcards from the Wissahickon,” “George Washington’s March through Flourtown, Chestnut Hill, and Germantown,” “Germantown Avenue,” “Inspiration by Design,” “Legacy Spotlight,” “Lots to Offer,” “The Olmsted Legacy in Chestnut Hill,” and “This Green Old House.” 

Sales for the October 12 guided walking tour of the exhibition are available for purchase at chconservancy.org/nol. The ticketed tours will be led by Chestnut Hill native and Conservancy board member Richard Bartholomew. Bartholomew is an architect and city planner whose professional career focused on urban design. The tours begin at 6:30 PM, are around one mile, and will end close to where they start for ease with parking. 

Remember to stop by El Quetzal at 8440 Germantown Avenue (opening nightly until 6:30 PM) and most of the Projection Locations to self-stamp your “Pastport.” Submit your completed stamped “Pastports” (with eight stamps from each of the Projection Locations) to the Conservancy by Sunday, October 15, to enter to win a raffle prize worth over $200. Nine winners will be announced on Monday, October 16.

The “Pastport” raffles items were curated by local Chestnut Hill businesses Baker Street Bread Company, Chestnut Hill Brewing Company, Chestnut Hill Business District, Matines Café, McNally’s Tavern, Multiverse, Tasco’s Art Salon, Tavern on the Hill, and Weavers Way Chestnut Hill. Enjoy gifts from the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, El Quetzal, Garden State Tile, Moondance Farm Studios, Quelque Chose, Robertson’s Flowers and Events, and Zipf’s Candies.

Night of Lights is possible through the support of sponsors and event partners including Chubb, Chestnut Hill Hotel, George Woodward Co., MIS Capital, The Sivel Group, Unique Indoor Comfort, Bowman Properties, Electrical Wizardry, Inc., Elfant Wissahickon REALTORS, JKJ, Robertson’s Flowers & Events, Garden State Tile, Chestnut Hill Business District, Chestnut Hill Local, Archives Month Philly, and DesignPhiladelphia.