Come enjoy the power of light in winter & explore the culinary prowess of Downtown Ithaca restaurants!
Downtown Ithaca’s Lights & Bites presented by Tompkins Trust Company returns December 4 - 12, 2020.
This year, Bite of Ithaca has teamed up with Winter Lights to bring a bright, delicious, safe, and socially distant 9-day celebration to Downtown Ithaca in early December.
Outside, visitors can expect contactless interaction with a responsive and captivating light exhibit.
This curated suite of installations will brighten the Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall on East State Street and showcase how creativity can enliven this space.
Extremely creative local light artists will be bringing a mix of current favorites such as ‘Sparky the Unicorn’, and new works created specifically for our 2020 event! Prepare for dazzling visuals and multiple interactive projections.
Inside, restaurants will be offering $5 bite-sized menus for foodies to explore new cuisines and discover restaurants they have never tried Downtown. Bite Menus at many of the participating restaurants will be available for dine-in and take-out.
2020 Winter Light Festival Sponsors
2020 Winter Light Festival Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Tourism Partner
10 Days of Exploration & Holiday Delight
Special Activities During Winter Lights & Bites
Friday, Dec. 4th:
First Friday Gallery Night - In-person (Safely & Capacity limited) & Virtual 3-D Gallery Exhibits - Friday Dec. 4th | 5-8PM
All Week Long:
- Light Installations on the Ithaca Commons - Dec. 4-12, 2020
- Bite of Ithaca at participating restaurants - Dec. 4-12, 2020
Take a stroll along the Commons and on Seneca Street to enjoy the light installations during Winter Lights & Bites.
The light installations will turn on around sundown each evening and turn off for the night around 10 pm when the restaurants and bars close in compliance with NYS safety Executive Orders.
Download Map of the Winter Light Installations
Download & print out a copy of the walking map. Safely enjoy holiday shopping & dining inside locally owned downtown small businesses too! #shoplocal
Bite of Ithaca
Going on inside restaurants during lunch & dinner December 4-12, 2020.
Bite of Ithaca is a foodie experience going on Dec. 4 - 12th. Enjoy a selection of small plate portion menu items for $5 each at participating restaurants around Downtown Ithaca. Dine at or get takeout at few places throughout the week and you can enter to win the Bite grand prize - a $100 gift certificate to the participating restaurant of your choice.
Passports are now available for Download and also for pick up at participating locations!
Learn More About Bite
The 11th Annual Chowder Cook-Off is canceled.
Directions & Parking
Attendees can park in the Green, Seneca, and Cayuga Street garages and walk to the Commons. The garages are equipped with accessible parking and elevators. Street parking is also available.
For additional downtown parking information, click here.
Don’t want to drive? See TCAT bus routes and schedules here.
