Festival of Lights
October 24, 2026 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM
SUNY Potsdam Academic Quad & Minerva Plaza
SUNY Potsdam invites the North Country community to campus for the return of the LoKo Arts Festival of Lights, one of the College’s largest community celebrations and the culminating public event of the launch of Deeply Rooted, Future Focused: The Campaign for Potsdam.
For one night, Satterlee Hall, the Academic Quad and Minerva Plaza will be transformed into a connected landscape of light, with architectural uplighting, illuminated trees and glowing art installations throughout the heart of campus.
The all-ages celebration will feature live music by local rock cover band SFM, illuminated artwork from regional artists and community partners, hands-on activities, free light-up swag, food and refreshments, and LoKo Arts and Festival of Lights merchandise. Guests can also enjoy glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, create illuminated designs at the LoKo Art Tent and encounter dancers in glowing wings moving throughout the event.
At 8 p.m., guests are invited to look to the skies for a spectacular drone show set to music from the Crane archives, bringing together SUNY Potsdam’s legacy, history and future in one shared experience.
The Festival is also a centerpiece of LoKo Arts’ 15th anniversary year, celebrated through the 2026–27 theme Illumination.
Admission: Free
Audience: All ages
Parking: Best parking is available in Lots 1, 11 and 12.
Let us know if you're coming by registering below.
Register for the Festival of Lights Event
This LoKo Arts project is made possible by the generosity and artistic vision of Kathryn (Kofoed) ’54 and Donald Lougheed (Hon. ’54).
Questions? Contact Haley Billings at billinhe@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-3763.