The bridge will be lit every night of the year.
Lighting the High Level Bridge
The High Level Bridge has 60,000 LED bulbs thanks to the Light the Bridge campaign! The Bridge is lit every morning and evening, and this state-of-the-art programmable system is available for requests.
Light the Bridge celebrates and builds community spirit in Edmonton. The bridge lights are a beautifying element to our city scape, a symbol of pride for locals, and part of our Edmonton story. They can also be used to help represent Edmonton and share our story with national and international audiences.
Calendar of Special Requests
The City proactively fills the calendar to help recognize major events and cultural celebrations. Our aim is to reflect the diversity of people who call Edmonton home and our connection to the global community.
Citizens are invited to make requests based on the criteria outlined below. We strive to fulfill all eligible requests but any confirmed request may be modified if a major international, national or local situation occurs.
If there is not a special request for a date, the bridge will be lit in a variety of colours. This calendar is subject to change without notice.
| Date | Reason | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| March 21 | Pharmacy Appreciation Month | Green/Gold |
| March 22 | Start of Ramadan | Green |
| March 23 | World TB Day | Red/White |
| March 25 | Greek National Day | Blue/White |
| March 26 | Purple Day for Epilepsy | Purple |
| March 26 | Earth Hour | Lights out from 8:30-9:30pm. |
| March 27 | In Honour of the Funeral for the Fallen EPS Officers | Blue |
| March 28 | World Young Rheumatic Disease Day/ Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month | Blue |
| March 29 | Endometriosis Awareness Month | Yellow |
| March 30 | Global Meetings Industry Day | Blue |
| March 31 | International Transgender Day of Visibility | Blue/Pink/White |
For regular Light the Bridge updates, check out the City of Edmonton's Facebook and Twitter posts (#LightTheBridge).
Application Request Information
Applications must be not-for-profit, community-focused and received at least three weeks prior to the requested date. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received and are considered on a case-by-case basis using the following criteria:
- Support an event of national or international significance (such as Canada Day or Edmonton hosting major international events)
- Support of a local festival or event that positively impacts local community spirit
- Support a local, national or international awareness issue that builds community (such as Treaty 6 Recognition Day or End Bullying Pink Shirt Day or World Cancer Day)
Other Recognized Lighting Events
- Acknowledge and welcome visiting dignitaries (such as the Royal Family or international civic officials) hosted by our city
- Tributes or memorial requests for well-documented local or national figures or service members will complement existing City Protocol.
Multi-day requests will not be accepted. The City lights the bridge for each occasion or observance only once per calendar year. The City reserves the right to deny requests that do not merit public support or are mainly personal, private, political, polarizing or commercial in nature.
If you would like to make a request to change the High Level Bridge lighting colours, please check if the date is available before submitting an online application to the Civic Events Office, a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the requested date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours will it be lit?
It changes with the seasons. In the winter the bridge is lit every day during the morning commute from 6am until sunrise, and again from 10 minutes before sunset until midnight. In the spring and summer when the days are longer, it will be lit from 10 minutes before sunset until midnight, but not in the morning hours, as it will not be dark enough at that time.
Can messages be written on the bridge?
No. Since the bridge is not a solid surface, there is nowhere for words to appear.