Lighting the Darkness: River of Light adapts for 2020

December 12, 2020  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

Waterbury’s River of Light took on a whole new dimension this year as the annual parade begun in 2010 adapted given the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Downtown Waterbury last Saturday was a river of vehicles streaming into Dac Rowe Park to slowly take in the colorful lantern display. 

Lining the park’s driveway were hundreds of lanterns, mostly creations of students at Thatcher Brook Primary School. Others were added by community members who either made new ones for the event or reused lanterns from years past with many of the larger lanterns harkening back to previous River of Light celebrations. 

The Winooski Street bridge into Duxbury was decorated by Waterbury Winterfest volunteers who added strings of lights, twinkling stars and a tribute to masked front-line health care workers. Visitors took it to head to Crossett Brook Middle School where lanterns lined the school driveway, hanging from the maple trees. 

Other displays at Waitsfield Elementary School and in Middlesex at Camp Meade and Red Hen Bakery and Cafe delighted the crowds keeping separate by viewing from their vehicles. 

Organizers hope to return to a parade in December 2021. MK Monley penned a letter of thanks to the community. Read that here.