Saturday, July 4
For one night only, Highland Lights returns to Hudson Valley Shakespeare in a breathtaking celebration of community, creativity, and place. Obie Award–winning composer and Beacon resident Heather Christian joins Processional Arts Workshop to bring a powerful community-choir component to this annual lantern procession, created in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Over the course of several weeks, Hudson Valley residents of all ages and backgrounds are invited to engage in community-based workshops where participants will design and build large-scale illuminated lanterns that will illuminate the procession. In addition, we will host a series of community choir events that will teach new choral music composed especially for the event by Heather Christian. At dusk, hundreds of participants process through Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s 98-acre campus carrying their handmade lanterns, culminating in a radiant outdoor musical performance sung by dozens of local voices.
2026 Workshops
Lantern-Making Workshops
Highland Lights invites neighbors to create lanterns, incorporating techniques for wire-forming, decoupage, and LED lighting during a series of free public workshops. You may attend one workshop or all of them.
Saturday, May 30
Saturday, June 6
Saturday, June 13
Saturday, June 20
Community Choral Choir
April 1-June 1
If you wish to participate in the final event, please note that you must be available on the following dates for final rehearsals:
June 21, 24 & 28