An image of Mary with Jesus is reflected off the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul Dec. 17, 2020 as part of a Luxmuralis light and sound show. Dave Hrbacek | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
The Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul is expanding a Luxmuralis light and sound show that drew thousands of people last Christmas.
Each night from Dec. 15 through Dec. 19, the Cathedral Heritage Foundation’s Festival of Lights will again illuminate the façade of the Cathedral itself — but this year there will also be an indoor light and sound show and an outdoor Christmas market.
Last year’s outdoor show — which was the U.S. debut of Great Britain-based Luxmuralis — was “Cathedral Illuminated: The Manger.” This year’s outdoor show will be “The Beginning.”
The indoor presentation this year is titled “Starry Night.”
The shows are part of this year’s Festival of Lights fundraiser, an annual event that in the past often featured an indoor program and outdoor meal under a tent. Even with a pandemic-driven pivot last year to the outdoor-only Luxmuralis show, the festival raised money for the foundation’s work preserving the Cathedral and supporting it as a venue for the arts and education.
Now, as events find their way back from the pandemic — even while continuing to take precautions against COVID-19 — the Festival of Lights will include for the first time an outdoor Christmas market with carolers, food and gift vendors, said Carolyn Will, a spokeswoman for the foundation. That event will run from Dec. 16 through Dec. 18.
Parishes and schools are encouraged this year to enter a Christmas tree decorating contest, placing lights and other Christmas decorations on a tree while notifying the foundation, which will pick them up in a truck and set them up in the Christmas market, Will said.
People can vote at the Christmas market by purchasing tokens, with proceeds benefiting the foundation. The winning parish or school will receive a reserved parking spot and a reserved pew for the Cathedral’s Christmas Eve Midnight Mass.
School and parish officials can contact Will by Dec. 5 to let her know they will participate, at 612-414-9661 or by email at [email protected].
This year’s outdoor gatherings are free, while the indoor presentations will be $15 per person and $40 for groups of three or more. Indoors, people will be required to wear masks to help prevent spread of COVID-19.
Tickets for the indoor light show can be purchased at eventbrite.com and https://tinyurl.com/535f8y8a
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