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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

April 2018

  • April 21 - Anniversary of Prince's death – purple* 
  • April 22 - Earth Day*
  • April 28 - Workers' Memorial Day – red, white, blue

May 2018

  • May 1 - Lyme Disease Awareness Month – green*
  • May 5 - Go Blue for World Spondylitis Day – blue* 
  • May 10 - National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day – green*
  • May 12 - International Awareness Day for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity – blue, green and purple*
  • May 13 - Mother’s Day – pink
  • May 20 - Lynx home opener – blue, green
  • May 28 - Memorial Day – red, white, blue
  • May 31 - Casa Esperanza (35th anniversary of community service) – green, turquoise*

June 2018

  • June 14 - Flag Day – red, white, blue
  • June 17 - Father’s Day – light blue
  • June 20 - National Garbage Man Day – lime green, turquoise*
  • June 21 - Alzheimer's Association (The Longest Day) – purple*
  • June 23 - Twin Cities Pride Festival – rainbow colors*

July 2018

  • July 4 - Independence Day – red, white, blue
  • July 20 - Special Olympics 50th anniversary – red*

August 2018

  • August 1 - 35W Bridge Memorial – red, white, blue
  • August 8 - Muscular Dystrophy Association – lime green*
  • August 11 - Twin Cities Polish Festival – red, white*

September 2018

  • TBD - Vikings home opener – purple, gold
  • September 3 - Labor Day – red, white, blue
  • September 11 - Patriot’s Day – red, white, blue

October 2018

  • TBD - Timberwolves home opener – blue, white
  • October 6 - Gophers' Homecoming – maroon, gold*
  • October 15 - International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day - light blue, pink*
  • October 31 - Halloween – black, orange

November 2018

  • November 5 - Awareness Day for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – orange* 
  • November 8 - Alzheimer's Foundation of America - Light the Word in Teal – teal* 
  • November 11 - Veterans’ Day – red, white, blue
  • November 22 - Thanksgiving – red, orange, brown

December 2018

  • 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 2018

  • January 1 - New Year’s Day – red, white, blue
  • January 12, 13 and 14 - Vikings NFL playoff game – purple, gold*
  • January 15 - Martin Luther King Day – red, white, blue
  • January 19, 20, 21 - Vikings NFL playoff game – purple, gold*
  • January 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 - Super Bowl 52 – Super Bowl 52 colors*

February 2018

  • February 1, 2, 3, 4 - Super Bowl 52 – Super Bowl 52 colors* 
  • February 14 - Valentine’s Day – red, pink, white
  • February 19 - Presidents’ Day – red, white, blue

March 2018

  • March 5 - Colon Cancer Awareness Night – red, white and light blue* 
  • March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day – green
  • March 25 - National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day – green*
  • March 31 - National Endometriosis Awareness Month (last day) – gold*

April 2018

  • April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day – blue*
  • April 4 and 5 - Twins home opener – red, blue
  • April 11 - National Traffic Safety Week (Go Orange Day) – orange*
  • April 13 - National Donate Life Month (organ donation) – blue, green*

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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