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Lowry Avenue bridge lighting policy

The Lowry Avenue Bridge at the Lowry Avenue crossing of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis has multi-color lights to illuminate the arches. The bridge normally displays blue lights but is lit in other colors for certain holidays and events. Organizations may request special lighting by completing the application, to recognize a specific cause or commemorate or enhance a specific community event. The county does not grant requests of a private nature such as birthdays or personal anniversaries.

Submit your application at least 14 days before your event using either method:

  • Online or pdf application (preferred)
  • Letter with organization’s name, description and date of the event, and color of lighting requested

The county may waive the 14-day requirement when it’s not practical, such as a school or professional sports championship.

The county administrator reviews and makes a determination on all applications for special lighting and that decision is final. Special lighting for approved applications begins at 6 p.m. on the requested date and ends at 6 a.m. the following morning.

Video of Lowry Bridge lighting

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Bridge lighting calendar

The county board has approved special lighting for holidays and other annual events. The county administrator has approved special lighting requests marked with an asterisk (*).

Upcoming lighting schedule

November 2019

  • November 28 – Thanksgiving (red, orange, brown)

December 2019

  • December 2 – Hanukkah (blue, white)
  • December 25 – Christmas (red, green)
  • December 26 – Kwanzaa (red, black, green)
  • December 31 – New Year’s Eve (multi-colored)

Past lighting schedule

January 2019

  • January 1 – New Year’s Day (red, white, blue)
  • January 11 – Homecoming of Jayme Closs (blue, green*)
  • January 21 – Martin Luther King Day (red, white, blue)

February 2019

  • February 14 – Valentine’s Day (red, pink, white)
  • February 18 – Presidents’ Day (red, white, blue)

March 2019

  • March 13 – National MS Awareness Week (orange*)
  • March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day (green)
  • March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day (gold, blue*)
  • March 27 and 28 – Twins home opener (red, blue)
  • March 30 – National Endometriosis Awareness Month (gold*)

April 2019

  • April 10 – Go Orange Day (American Traffic Safety Services Association) (orange*)
  • April 12 – National Donate Life Month (organ donation) (blue, green*)
  • April 13 – World Sarcoidosis Day (purple*)
  • April 21 – 100th Anniversary of Easter Seals (orange*)
  • April 22 – Earth Day 2019 (green*)
  • April 26 – 2019 Prince Celebration (purple*)
  • April 28 – Workers' Memorial Day (red, white, blue)

May 2019

  • May 1 – Lyme Disease Awareness Month (green*)
  • May 11 – Williams Syndrome Awareness Month (red, green, blue*)
  • May 12 – Mother’s Day (pink)
  • May 13 – National Public Gardens Week (green*)
  • May 25 – Lynx home opener (blue, green)
  • May 27 – Memorial Day (red, white, blue)

June 2019

  • June 7 – 5th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day (orange*)
  • June 14 – Flag Day (red, white, blue)
  • June 15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (orange*)
  • June 16 – Father’s Day (light blue)
  • June 22 – TC Pride weekend (rainbow*)
  • June 23 – Bee Kind MN/National Pollinators Week (yellow, black*)

July 2019

  • July 4 – Independence Day (red, white, blue)

August 2019

  • August 1 – 35W Bridge Memorial (red, white, blue)
  • August 11 – National 811 Day (green*)

September 2019

  • September 1 – Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (turquoise)*
  • September 2 – Labor Day (red, white, blue)
  • September 8 – Vikings home opener (purple, gold)
  • September 11 – Patriot’s Day (red, white, blue)
  • September 13 – Chronic Pain Awareness Month (blue)
  • September 15 – World Lymphoma Awareness Day (red)
  • September 19 – Girl Scout Spirit Week (green)

October 2019

  • October 1 – Domestic Violence Awareness Month (purple*)
  • October 3 – Breast Cancer Awareness Month (pink*)
  • October 4 – National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend (red)
  • October 5 – Gophers Homecoming (maroon, yellow*)
  • October 6 – International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day (teal*)
  • October 7 – World Day of Bullying Prevention (blue)
  • October 8 – MN Find Foster Families Day (red)
  • October 13 – Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness (pink, green, turquoise*)
  • October 23 – Lead Abatement Week (orange)
  • October 27 – Timberwolves home opener (blue, white, green)
  • October 31 – Halloween (black, orange)

November 2019

  • November 7 – Alzheimer’s Awareness – Light the World in Teal (teal)
  • November 11 – Veterans’ Day (red, white, blue)

Official lighting policy

Hennepin County Lowry Avenue bridge lighting policy

Adopted December 3, 2013

Hennepin County re‐opened the Lowry Avenue bridge, located at the Lowry Avenue crossing of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in October 2012. The new bridge is equipped with multi‐color L.E.D. lighting options to illuminate the arches. This guideline is to address external requests for special lighting requests.

Criteria

Lighting of the Lowry Avenue bridge promotes the county, its civic institutions, state and federal holidays, and other public events of community significance. Hennepin County may accept community requests for special lighting to recognize a specific cause or to commemorate or enhance a specific event consistent with this purpose. Specifically excluded would be lighting to celebrate birthdays, personal anniversaries, or events that are primarily private in nature.

Application process

All requests must be submitted in writing (electronic submission preferred), along with contact information for the organization. Requests must also include a description of the event, date of the event, and color of lighting requested. Requests should be submitted at least 14 days before the date on which the bridge would be lit. The county administrator may waive this requirement in instances where 14 days' notice is not practical such as school or professional sports championships.

Approval process

Each request will be reviewed by county administration. The county administrator's decision is final.

Annual bridge lighting plan

The Lowry Avenue bridge annual lighting calendar lists normally scheduled events that do not require an external request. The bridge's default color will be blue. See the calendar for standard lighting events.

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