Time to get your glow on, Toronto. ILLUMINITE, a celebration of light, art, and togetherness, is bringing five epic illuminated art installations to the city from Feb. 14 to March 2, 2025. The pieces are free to check out and are the perfect way to brighten up a winter evening.

ILLUMINITE’s art will span across the Downtown Yonge area, running daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. once open to the public. This is the second year that the Downtown Yonge BIA is putting on the event, with this year’s locations including the 777 Bay Plaza, Sankofa Square, College Park and McGill & Granby Parkette.

The creations

“This year brings all-new interactive installations meant to create connections between people and the spaces we share. We are in more locations encouraging attendees to explore the neighbourhood,” Cheryll Diego, Public Realm Experience Manager for the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area, shares with me.

“At 777 Bay Plaza, old tradition and technology intersect with Fireside Storytelling,” Diego says. “We worked with Nyle Miigizi Johnston to bring an installation that is inspired by the Anishinaabek tradition of gathering around fire during winter; the sculpture comes to life with augmented reality created by artist Quinn Hopkins. We also have CrossHatch, by working together and with their movement, visitors can reshape light and shadow.”

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Image via Downtown Yonge BIA

The TUNNEL (by BIG ART) is another piece, which can be found at College Park. “It is a luminous passage that bridges imagination and interaction. One can be a passive visitor or take control of the dynamic display,” Diego continues.

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Image via Downtown Yonge BIA

Pulse is an installation that brings the tree’s hidden network underground to life with suspended light rings. “Each tree generates its own pattern as it communicates with one another. Your movement through the space can be sensed creating new patterns,” explains Diego.

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Image via Downtown Yonge BIA

Head over to Sankofa Square to see Celestia. This piece will transform the square into a “celestial theatre” where light and sound come together. Celestia was created by Kleis, a co-production with Quartier de spectacles, ExpoCite’ and Sankofa Square.

If you want to learn more about the art, there will also be an Artist Talk on Feb. 14, allowing attendees to engage with the creators and discuss their process of putting together their masterpieces.

While the other four installations will be on display until March 2, 2025, Celestia at Sankofa Square will be on display until March 16.

See you at ILLUMINITE, and don’t forget to bundle up!

ILLUMINITE

When: Feb. 14 to March 2, 2025
Where: Multiple locations in downtown Toronto
Cost: Free

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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