The Chestnut Hill Conservancy created “Night of Lights” in 2017 during its 50^th Anniversary as a gift to the community – a free, public, projected-image exhibition of light and history from its archives, woven into the streetscape of Chestnut Hill’s historic Germantown Avenue commercial corridor. The event has become a treasured participatory community-based event, offering visitors of all ages a free and accessible opportunity to discover the history of the area while becoming active participants in the stories being told and collected (all while shopping, dining and fall strolling).

For 2020, the Conservancy has expanded Night of Lights from one night to 17, introducing new interactive and family-friendly – but contact-free – experiences. An enhanced virtual experience – accessible on site and at home – will allow visitors to explore community histories while offering a platform for people to tell their own stories.

From 7 to 10 p.m., during the two-and-a half weeks from October 9 to 25, historical images from the Conservancy’s archives will be projected through storefront windows while neighboring historic buildings will be illuminated with colored lights. In addition to content from the Chestnut Hill Archives, new projected slideshows have also been guest curated by the Germantown Historical Society and the Springfield Township Historical Society.

As before, “Pastports”will be available to serve as both exhibition program and game/prize booklet.  This year’s Pastports will be available at several Pastport Stations  in stores along the Avenue,and will feature QR codes and other ways to virtually access and share additional content.

Many area shops and restaurants will be open late, offering coupons, prizes and also generously contributing sales proceeds back to the Conservancy. Some merchants are even creating coordinated window displays featuring historic images showcasing their buildings histories. The Conservancy is proud to celebrate Chestnut Hill’s historic “Main Street” as an active art of the “Night of Lights” exhibition.

“I'm especially excited about this year's Night of Lights because of the extended timeline, which will give participants more time to explore, and because it will give people the opportunity to safely rediscover the history and beauty of Chestnut Hill's Business District after months of quarantine,” says Philip Dawson, Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Business Association. “Because Chestnut Hill's businesses are involved in the planning and execution of the event, it also gives our merchants the opportunity to draw people into their shops and showcase their offerings, engaging with familiar faces as well as potential new customers.”

This year’s new format allows visitors even more time to explore, share, learn, and enjoy the Avenue, while safely social distancing.

“Night of Lights presents an opportunity to share familiar and lesser-known histories,” said Salganicoff. “Our goal is to help capture, preserve, and amplify an increased diversity of voices and public histories, especially from the communities of Chestnut Hill, Germantown, Mount Airy, and Springfield Township.”

As you enjoy all that this event has to offer, please wear your masks, and maintain a six-foot distance from others!

Visit chconservancy.org/night-of-lights for more details, and to see photos and slideshows from prior years.

Night of Lights is co-presented by the Chestnut Hill Business District, with support from Historic Germantown, Germantown Historical Society, Mt. Airy CDC, and Springfield Township Historical Society; and is participating in DesignPhiladelphia and Archives Month Philly.

The Chestnut Hill Local is the Media Sponsor for Night of Lights.  Additional sponsors include Bryn Mawr Trust, Bowman Properties, the Sivel Group of Berkshire Hathaway, Millan Architects, Elfant Wissahickon, Kurtz Construction, Electrical Wizardry, Studio of Metropolitan Design Architects, Dennis F. Meyer Inc, the Nottingham Walsh Goodman & Associates of Merrill Lynch, Valerie Designs, Dantastic Food, Friends of the Wissahickon, George Woodward Co, Johnson, Kendall & Johnson Insurance Advisors, En Route Marketing and Shechtman Tree Care.