New York Festival Of Light NYFOL

Unfortunately the city was grossly unprepared for the crowds at this event and I was part of the Saturday group that it got closed early on. I am surprised there were no accidents or injuries there and though this could have been a cool event, I hope next year they will be way more prepared for it.

It’s free! Nice and great idea! Loved the location too! But seriously? Crazy pack! Not a recommendation to bring kids. It’s too crowded and mixed vibe. I think they need to charge a cover charge. Takes out 20% and gives more space to walk and look at things. I was afraid I was gonna get picked-​pocket. It was like a heaven for those people! Lol but we got lucky I guess. Had everything in our pockets. Next time no kids. So we could i joy the bar. And maybe come at off hours to avoid the over crowned unsafe fire hazard issue too!

A bit late on the review, but I still wanna share my experience. Originally, my sister and my nephews was suppose to come with us, since the weather wasn’t too fair she decided she would come the next day instead. I came on the first day of the event and it was raining, so I took the chances given that it was raining that there would be a smaller crowd. I was wrong, but at least I found parking 2 blocks away so I beat the long lines waiting to get into the train station. For some reason, the website posted the event would start at 7pm, and when we got there, it was already almost the end! Later I found out that it started at 5.
Anyways, I took my 2 kids with me since the site said it was good for all ages. NOT A GREAT IDEA! I thought it would be a really cool experience for them with all the lights and all, again, I was wrong. Super crowded with hardly any space to move around, luckily I didn’t bring the stroller along. Unorganized yet short, only spent around 15 minutes and I just wanted to leave. A couple of displays, nothing special afterwards since I got there late and had already missed the laser show…
At least my kids enjoyed it. For me, I had to make sure my hands were held with a 4 year old and the other carrying a 20 pounder. POO. I shared my experience with my sister after we got home, the next day she just stayed home instead.

A week or so late with this review but it was such a disappointment I need to share.
I guess I had a vision of what I thought the NY Festival of Light was going to be… I pictured an outdoor museum of sorts w/​these amazing art/​light installs. Plus a DJ, plus a laser show.
Wellllll there was definitely a DJ playing some good music, and there were plenty of colored laser lights moving all over the area, but there were so many people there we couldn’t even get to any of the art/​light pieces.
When we arrived around 7 on night two of the three day event (Friday) the place was already packed. But there was no one directing traffic so people just entered into the tunnel and stood there… such poor even management. I didn’t see anyone who looked like a FOL staffer anywhere, didn’t even see any security guards of any kind.
I hope if the festival comes back to NY they’ll find a way to execute the whole thing better. We spent about 15 mins in the area before heading back to BK Heights to find some dinner. Had I known what we were getting into I don’t think we would have made the trip down to DUMBO in the first place.

This doesn’t even deserve a star. We arrived on Saturday and the event got cancelled, that’s what the security guards said. It wasn’t cancelled, it turned out to be a trick so people will leave because it was too crowded.

I don’t know what I expected from the Festival of Light, but what I got was not it.
Pardon my French, but the NYFOL was LAME.
The projections on the side of the bridge were weak.
It was way too crowded.
The 4 minute show inside the arch was basically just a laser show with nothing else going for it. You squeeze your way through one end, and then they kick you out of the other end. If you want to go back to the festival, you had to walk all the way around the block, which was honestly not worth it.
The food vendors were also terrible and way overpriced. Can’t believe I paid $ 13 for a crappy sandwich.

Horrible horrible horrible event management. Whoever planned this logistically should consider getting a new career out in Nebraska instead.
Event closed early on Saturday because a lot of people showed up and they clearly didn’t account for that (because who’d have thought that a free and publicized event, held over the weekend, in one of the largest cities in the world, would attract a crowd? shocking, really.) I feel really bad for those people that arrived just after 9 — cops weren’t even telling the new people coming out of the subway that the show was canceled: «Oh you just spent 45 mins on the subway to get here? We’ll make you fight the crowd all the way to the bridge, so you end up confused and disappointed, instead of putting out a large announcement that we canceled the show.» Real considerate.
Also no line or crowd management at the event meant if you wanted to see the light displays under the bridge, you were at high risk of death via trampling. We considered the risk and decided the displays couldn’t be that good.
The shorts they had playing on the arch wall were cool, but that and a few strobe lights was definitely not worth the transit time getting in and out and the overall frustration.

I live in the area and while it was great to see the local businesses benifiting from the event the local streets and crowds were insane and not in good way. The event was very poorly marked and even as a local I was a bit unclear on what was going on or where the massive line was leading to. Seemed like the tunnel was a very bad choice as I have never seen so many people jammed into such a tight space. Friday’s crowds were busy but viewable if you had patience, Saturday, was like what the fuck…
The police should have closed the streets for sure, too many people tried to drive into the area where parking is scarce to begins with… That would have made it so much more enjoyable and manageable.

We went there on the last day at about 7.00 pm. It took us about 15 mins just to come out of the subway station. It was so crowded and all the crowd wanted to go for the festival. There was a big line for entering the archway where the displays were kept. After all this we had expected so much from the festival.
The displays were good but the whole thing was short. It was nothing spectacular. I have seen better displays with use of lights. The laser show was good. There was a food stall with beer and wine. But was expensive as expected.
Overall all it was nice for the first time. Though next year it can be better.
When we were leaving at 9.30 the nearest subway station was closed and we had to walk all the way to the next subway station. The management was poor.

I wish I could tell you all about the lights, but there isn’t much to tell — what I saw consisted of about 5 minutes of a laser light show inside the tunnel, more than 5 minutes of rolling credits projected onto the wall of the tunnel, and then some computer projections on the base of the Manhattan Bridge. What I can tell you is about the egregiously poor organization of this event. It drew the crowds of the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting, with none of the organization, crowd control, or pedestrian space. We found ourselves wedged in a mass thousands, everyone jostling and maneuvering; trying to get through or get out. All I overheard was «How do we get out of here?» «Keep moving!» «Watch it!» etc. The subway system, streets, and neighborhood were completely overwhelmed by the crowds drawn to this «event.» If they ever do it again, hopefully they’ll figure out a better solution. Otherwise, as others have said, avoid, avoid, avoid.
Light show? More like shitshow.

Total disappointment. I arrived on the last day of the festival around 7 PM. The officials said it was cancelled. They were taking down the lights and a lot of people including me left disappointed. What a waste of a trip. Sigh and I was looking forward to it as well.

It was a nice thought to have a lights festival but it was poorly organized. I would’ve expected it to be in a larger and more open location rather than the tinniest corner of DUMBO making it a such a big mess. There were mobs of people and it was so crowded that you couldn’t even enjoy the lights. I didn’t even get a chance to go into the tunnel because of the long (not clearly designated) lines. I believe they were forced to shut down early on the last night because of the commotion.
Maybe next year…

The New York Festival of Light is appropriately located in DUMBO. I surely felt like a dumbo for going to this overcrowded, short and disappointing event. This over hyped event drew so many people that they had to close early because they didn’t anticipate such a crowd. It could have easily turned into a hazard, with all those bodies clogged in the tunnel. Inside the tunnel, you could barely walk and if you are vertically challenged like me, harder to even see and breathe. You also had to be careful of all the wires on the ground where you could easily trip.
I didn’t get close enough to any of the exhibits to get a good view of anything, yet some of the lights on the ceiling had pretty colors.
Not only did crowds descend on the exhibit, the train station was like a mob scene. Make sure you know alternative routes to escape as quickly as possible.
It’s bad when I found the perimeter art work and Manhattan skyline much more interesting than the exhibit itself.

Great idea, poor organization.
The festival was PACKED! It took us almost 20 minutes to walk less than a quarter of a mile up the block. Aside from the exhibits themselves the actual streets were pretty dark so between that and the crowds, it was nearly impossible to not accidentally step on someone.
Some of the displays were good, however, I left wanting to see more. I wish I saw more than a couple displays and a laser light show. If I’m freezing to death it better be worth it! Lol.
Some of the projections on the tunnel were cool, but hard to see at eye level. I only ended up getting decent pictures after standing on some of the nearby benches. So, unless you were 6’5 or got lucky and found an open bench it may have been hard to see some of the displays.
We went on Friday — I believe it was shut down early on Saturday due to the crowds.
Hopefully they can organize this event better next year and move it to a location where there is ample pedestrian space.

Like everyone else, I had high expectations for this festival and honestly was disappointed. Today’s the last day and I expected it to be crowded. However my boyfriend and I got into the archway easily enough. Everything was extremely pretty but it was extremely short. We were able to see everything within a matter of seconds. Honestly wished there was more to the festival. The music was okay, wish it was more live and the people would’ve been more live too. I also feel like the lights just keep repeating itself, even if it went with the music.
Hopefully if they have another festival of light next year, they will improve and expand.

The event was more of a 3.5 type of occasion. The light installations were cute and fit well under the manhattan bridge, and the overall concept of it was entertaining.
My bf and I got here at 5:30pm and it wasn’t extremely crowded. Getting here early was an excellent idea bc we got to walk around and view each station without feeling rushed to get out of ppl’s way. When we were ready to leave around 6:30−7pm, ppl were starting to pack themselves into this tiny space. So my number one advice is get here right at 5 if you can, specially if you will be bringing children to this event. Besides this mini suggestion all I can say is enjoy the music, make sure to take pics and bundle up!
P.S there is beer and wine for $ 7 and there are food trucks stationed (paid $ 5 for pizza) so def a bit overpriced but nothing unusual for a festival.

Not worth a far commute. I had high expectations and was left a bit disappointed. The tunnel was under the Manhattan Bridge and not very large, nothing wowed me. However, I give the organizers tons of credit! It’s obvious how much work went into it.
I think November probably isn’t the best time for this. It was freezing cold last night and the walk from the A train was long and not the most convenient. The F train was flooded with people from what I heard. The event itself was also packed! It was hard to take a step without stepping on someone, and difficult to see anything as most of the «art work» was at eye level. It would’ve worked better if they were higher up and more visible to the crowd.
Not sure I would come back unless they move it over to Brooklyn Bridge Park area. Much more accessible and space is much larger. Also, perhaps add more displays. On the website I saw the video from the «Japan Winter Light Festival» and I thought it was so beautiful and incredible with the thousands of lightbulbs across the entire ceiling/​walls. So gorgeous!
Hopefully they can up their game up. Last night I saw more laser lights than anything else :/

I had so much anticipation for this event but was totally let down! I should have known better than to go on the last day but it just so happened to play out that way. I got there about 5ish and the area was a madhouse already. The space allotted for the event was so, so small. It was all just so disorderly with too many people and zero space to move around. Also, rather unorganized too — people were jumping into lines and asking what they were for since there was no clear cut signs for the showcases. For an event called the festival of lights, there surely was not enough — it was so dark! I was so worried for the little kids. I kept seeing people trip on strollers too. Need more lights!
I enjoyed a few of the projected displays but that was it. Most of the lights, such as the ones under the bridge were just laser and strobe lights — totally not what I was expecting. Disappointing!
Oh, and transportation was insane. The F train at York is the most convenient to the ‘festival’ and jam packed with event goers. What made it worse was that this station is 1 exit only. By the time we left, around 7, we had to wait on a line for about 20 minutes just to get into the subway!
As the rating goes — meh!

Sucked. This might be a long post. First, if you choose to come here avoid the F train. There is only one entrance/​exit. In other words, it will take you 20 minutes to exit the train and be impossible to re-​enter. The area of the festival is small. Super small. Think it would be fun for kids? Think again. They’ll get pushed around, stepped on, won’t see shit. Forget about pushing a stroller. Think you’ll just grab a bite at a food truck or restaurant? Think again, that shit ain’t happening either. The roads should be closed off for an event that draws such a HUGE pedestrian crowd. NYPD failed. The single entrance to the F train should be managed by mta or NYPD to create an entry/​exit line. Again, FAIL. The few lights available were decent but it was hardly a festival. Also, was there any music? No. Fail. I ended up walking my children over to the A train in order to get back into Manhattan. The chaos of pedestrian/​vehicle traffic was insane. Avoid, Avoid, Avoid. At least now I know why they call it DUMBO.

Amazing event and installation. Came here with friends on a friday night roughly around 7pm — TONS of people, especially under the bridge opening. Bundle up, use the buddy system and apologize a lot for stepping on people lol #nyfol