Lowry Avenue bridge lighting policy

Honoring events, people and place

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.

Application for special lighting (online)

Application for special lighting (PDF)

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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

February 2023

February 2 – Black History Month (red, black, green, gold)
February 3 – Heart Disease Awareness Month (red*)
February 4 – World Cancer Day (purple*)
February 14 – Valentine's Day (red, pink, white)
February 15 – International Angelman Day (blue, light blue, white*)
February 20 – Presidents' Day (red, white, blue)
February 24 – Solidarity with Ukraine (gold, blue*)
February 28 – Black History Month (red, black, green, gold)

March 2023

March 1 – National Endometriosis Awareness Month (gold*)
March 2 – Eating Disorders Awareness Week (green, light blue*)
March 4 – Kidney Cancer Awareness Month (red*)
March 7 – Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (blue*)
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day (green)
March 19 – National Poison Prevention Week (red*)
March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day (blue, gold*)
March 31 – Transgender Day of Visibility (pink, light blue, white*)

April 2023

April 6 – Twins Opener (red, blue)
April 9 – Easter (pastel)
April 22 – Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month (maroon*)
April 28 – Worker's Memorial Day (red, white, blue)
April 29 – World Wish Day (blue*)

May 2023

May 1 – Lyme Disease Awareness Day (green*)
May 12 – University of Minnesota Graduate School Commencement (maroon, gold*)
May 14 – Mother's Day observed (pink)
May 17 – Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month (green, blue*)
May 29 – Memorial Day (red, white, blue)

June 2023

June 14 – Flag Day (red, white, blue)
June 15 – MNIC high school graduation (gold, black*)
June 18 – Father's Day observed (light blue)
June 19 – Juneteenth (red, black, green, gold)
June 25 – World Vitiligo Day (purple*)

July 2023

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

August 2023

August 1 – I-35 Bridge Memorial (blue)

September 2023

September 4 – Labor Day (red, white, blue)
September 11 – Patriot's Day (red, white, blue)
September 23 –Bisexual (Bi+) Visibility Day (pink, blue, purple*)

October 2023

October 15 – National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day (pink, blue*)
October 31 – Halloween (black, orange)

November 2023

November 6 – Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (orange*)
November 11 – Veteran's Day (green)
November 23 – Thanksgiving (red, orange, brown)

December 2023

December 7 – Hannukah (blue, white)
December 25 – Christmas (red, green, white sparkle)
December 26 – Kwanzaa (red, black, green)
December 31 – New Year's Eve (red, white, blue)

Previous lighting schedule

January 2023

January 1 – New Years Day (red, white, blue)
January 13 – Vikings Playoff (purple, gold)
January 14 – Vikings Playoff (purple, gold)
January 15 – Vikings Playoff (purple, gold)
January 16 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (red, white, blue)
January 19 – Cervical Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month (turquoise*)
January 27 – National School Choice Week (red, gold*)
January 28 – Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Awareness Day (SMAS) (purple*)

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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