Fairmount Park Conservancy, in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, has announced a schedule of special holiday lights for the iconic Boathouse Row during the 2024 holiday season.
Lighting Schedule
All lightings will run from sunset to sunrise, beginning around 4:40 p.m. on the date listed and ending around 7:20 a.m. the following day
Friday, December 6 – Monday, December 23: Winter Sparkle (traveling blue and white light sequence)
Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve (red and green lights)
Wednesday, December 25: An hourly rotation between Christmas (red and green lights) and Hanukkah (blue and white lights).
- Christmas lights at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. 8 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m., 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 6 a.m.
- Hanukkah lights at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., 1 a.m., 3 a.m., 5 a.m., and 7 a.m.
Thursday, December 26: Kwanzaa (red, dark purple [for black], and green lights) at 5:55 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m., 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 6 a.m. and Hanukkah lights at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., 1 a.m., 3 a.m., 5 a.m., and 7 a.m.
Friday, December 27 – Monday, December 30: An hourly rotation between Kwanzaa (red, dark purple [for black], and green lights) and Hanukkah (blue and white).
- Kwanzaa lights at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. 8 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m., 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 6 a.m.
- Hanukkah lights at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., 1 a.m., 3 a.m., 5 a.m., and 7 a.m.
Tuesday, December 31: New Year’s Eve (dim white followed by brighter sparkling white light sequence at midnight)
Wednesday, January 1, 2025: New Year’s Day (sparkling white light sequence)
About Boathouse Row Lights
Introduced in 1979, the lighting along Boathouse Row has become an iconic feature along the Schuylkill River, where most of the boathouses date back to the 19th century. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The houses moved over to LED lighting in 2005. Starting in 2023, Fairmount Park Conservancy led a restoration project that unveiled a completely refurbished system in March 2024. Funds to replace the lights and underwrite the lighting project were provided by the Joanna McNeil Trust and the City of Philadelphia.
Booking the Lights
Did you know? The Boathouse Row Lights can be booked for special events, holidays, sponsored shows, and individual requests, with fees going directly to the ongoing maintenance of the Boathouse Row lights. Anyone can become a Boathouse Row Lighting Partner to put a special cause in the city’s spotlight. Pricing varies for non-profits and private companies and also depends on the complexity and duration of the display. To learn more about customized lights and to make a request, email info@boathouserowlights.org or visit boathouserowlights.org. The Instagram account @boathouserowlights showcases each special lighting.
