Essen Light Weeks
Festive illuminations in Essen city center from the end of October to the beginning of January. Over 500,000 LEDs bathe the city centre in glorious light.
Every year, new patterns are put together to form impressive light pictures using the most modern light technologies. With trailblazing new design concepts, the 59th Essen Light Weeks shone with new brilliance. EMG - Essen Marketing GmbH converted Essen's winter lighting into LED technology - making us the first city in Germany to do so. With its project partners, MK Illumination from Austria, RWG Rhein-Ruhr AG in Essen, and Elektro Schneider from Mülheim, the city sets national benchmarks in the type and extent of seasonal city illuminations. The total investment for the new installation came to several hundred thousand euro, and was paid for by Essen businesses, with support from MK Illumination.
The new designs are not only energy efficient, but also generate endless possibilities. EMG and its partners consider the energy savings of over 80% to be a significant contribution to environmental protection in this era of climate change: In comparison, an old decoration on Kettwiger Strasse used over four kilowatts per hour, the new ones only use 207 watts per hour.
Around 4.5 million visitors of the Essen Light Weeks can look forward to 2 and 3D light objects and illuminations - designs that would not be possible with the old light bulb. Among the new, expanded design lines that create an exciting yet harmonious balance of warm white and brilliant white, are hanging light decorations in the streets, and atmospheric tree lighting. Light objects at ground level create new focal points.
The city of Essen has been setting benchmarks since 1950 with its illuminations in the pedestrian area in the city. In doing so, the Essen Light Weeks have achieved the highest accolades for city lighting, and have become one of the most important projects advertising the city, and a major tourist attraction. Around 4.5 million visitors experience the Essen Light Weeks every year, and visit the International Christmas Market in the city.
60th Essen Light Weeks: 31 October 2010 to 8 January 2011
Additional information:
Tourist Information Office Essen
Im Handelshof, Am Hauptbahnhof 2
Tel.: +49 (0) 201 / 19433
Fax: +49 (0) 201 / 88-72044
E-Mail: touristikzentrale@essen.de
