The Chestnut Hill Conservancy Announces the Return of the Night Of Lights Streetscape Exhibition

-Courtesy of Punch Media
photo by Bradley Maule

Chestnut Hill Conservancy, the educational center and advocate organization for the appreciation and preservation of the architecture, open green space, and history of Chestnut Hill and the other surrounding communities in the Wissahickon watershed, is hosting its much-loved Night of Lights streetscape exhibition on Friday, October 6 – Saturday, October 14.

The nine-evening run, spotlighting architecture, archives, and local history along Germantown Avenue between Willow Grove Avenue and Bethlehem Pike, kicks off with a Flip the Switch ceremony starting at 6:45 PM – 7 PM held in the outdoor open space on East Hartwell next to Foliage Plant Boutique (8139 Germantown Avenue). Following the opening ceremony, kickoff festivities will include storytellers at each themed projection window, music from various local acts, including MilkBoy co-founder Tommy Joyner’s Pep Rally, and entertainment from Maplewood Music Studios (including performances by Maplewood Music Studios teachers Rich Rudin, Larry Cohen, John “Jocko” MacNelly, and Ralph Salerno), an “Ask the Archivists” table, and more family-friendly interactive activities, all concluding at 9 PM. After opening night, the exhibition continues nightly from 7:00 – 9:00 PM.  

Night of Lights will transform Chestnut Hill’s main street, Germantown Avenue, into a vibrant nightly streetscape exhibition of local histories and illuminated architecture, projecting archival images from the Conservancy’s and other archives through eight storefront windows. Colorful lights will highlight often overlooked architectural features of neighboring historic buildings.

During the October 6 – 14 event, each of the eight illuminated windows will present themed slideshows comprising historical images and educational content, which will be projected through storefront windows.

The themes of this year’s slideshows are:

• “Antique Postcards from the Wissahickon” – From the collections of David Bower and Friends of the Wissahickon
• “George Washington’s March through Flourtown, Chestnut Hill, and Germantown” – October 4, 1777
• “Germantown Avenue” – Chestnut Hill’s beloved, evolving Main Street
• “Inspiration by Design” – The architects who created Chestnut Hill
• “Legacy Spotlight” – Exploring five multi-generational businesses
• “Lots to Offer” – The origins of the Business District parking lots
• “The Olmsted Legacy in Chestnut Hill” – What’s been lost, what survives, what might have been
• “This Green Old House” – Practical guidance for sustainable preservation

Participating businesses and restaurants such as Chestnut Grill, Cider Belly, Foliage Plant Boutique, Garden State Tile, Matine’s Café, and Moondance Farm Studios willoffer extended hours during the exhibition for attendees to enjoy.

“The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is delighted to bring back our beloved Germantown Avenue streetscape exhibition,” said Conservancy Executive Director Lori Salganicoff. “This sixth year of the Night of Lights exhibition will shed light on otherwise hidden layers of history, Wissahickon Park, improving energy efficiency in older buildings, and much more. We are excited to transform Chestnut Hill’s vibrant commercial corridor again with archival and modern images, colored lights, and a diversity of fascinating stories.”

Sponsors include the Chestnut Hill Hotel, Chubb, George Woodward Co., MIS Capital, The Sivel Group, Unique Indoor Comfort, Elfant Wissahickon Realtor, and Johnson, Kendall & Johnson, Inc. Night of Lights is also possible through the support and partnership of many local businesses, including the Chestnut Hill Business District, and is part of DesignPhiladelphia and Archives Month Philly.

Thanks to the sponsors and event partners, this event is open to the public and free to attend. The Conservancy’s Night of Lights provides an accessible and exciting way to learn about the area’s history, vitality, and past and future stewardship while enjoying all that Germantown Avenue has to offer.

For more information on Night of Lights, click HERE.