The Chestnut Hill Conservancy – a nonprofit educational center, archive, and accredited land trust dedicated to conserving, preserving, and celebrating the history, architecture, and landscapes of Chestnut Hill and the lower Wissahickon watershed – is hosting its 8th annual Night of Lights streetscape exhibition from Friday, October 3, to Monday, October 6. The four-evening run, spotlighting architecture, archives, and local history along the 8000 to 8700 blocks of Germantown Avenue, kicks off with a spectacular Flip the Switch opening ceremony and family-friendly activities on Friday, October 3, from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm at 8708 Germantown Avenue.
Night of Lights will transform Chestnut Hill’s main street, Germantown Avenue, into a vibrant nightly streetscape exhibition showcasing local histories and illuminated architecture. Six storefront windows will project archival images from the Conservancy and other archives. Following the opening ceremony, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, kickoff festivities will include music from various acts, including local jazz group Limited Time Only (LTO), Flute of the Spirit, Rich Rudin and Lynn Riley from Maplewood Music Studio, Matteo Bofinger, Ralph Salerno, Second Story Walkup, and Students of Yes! And…Collaborative Arts.
Launched in 2017 for the Conservancy’s 50th anniversary, “Night of Lights brings community history and architecture to light through large-scale projections in storefront windows and vibrant illumination along Germantown Avenue,” said Conservancy Executive Director David Gest. “Each October, archival images and stories are paired with vibrant lighting that draws attention to Chestnut Hill’s historic buildings, inviting people to look up, reflect on the area’s rich architectural design legacy, and consider the importance of preserving what makes Northwest Philadelphia so special.”
During the nightly event, each of the six illuminated windows will present themed slideshows comprising historical images and educational content, which will be projected through storefront windows.
The six themes of this year’s slideshows are as follows:
· Celebrating Teaching Artists –The Allens Lane Art Center slideshow celebrates the creative contributions of its teaching artists, who lead visual and performing arts programs for youth and adults in Northwest Philadelphia.
· Mapping the Wissahickon –This slideshow, drawn from the Conservancy’s Mapping the Wissahickon: From the Colonial Era to an Evolving Watershed exhibition, traces more than 300 years of change in the Wissahickon Valley through historic maps, plans, and publications.
· Friends of the Cresheim Trail: Past, Present, and Future –The slideshow traces the corridor’s history from its late 19th-century rail origins through its transition to a community trail. Viewers will see archival images, current trail scenes, and highlights of partnerships that have shaped their development since the 1990s, guiding their future course.
· From Founding to Future – This slideshow at 8620 Germantown Avenue (Christine Benedum Law) explores the Conservancy’s roots, achievements over more than five decades, and vision for the future. From saving historic landmarks in the 1960s and documenting hundreds of buildings as part of the Chestnut Hill National Register Historic District to protecting open space through conservation easements and creating a community archive of more than 66,000 items, the Conservancy has long been a leader in preservation and stewardship. Today, its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan charts a course for the future—expanding advocacy, education, and partnerships to protect the lower Wissahickon watershed’s character, green space, and stories for generations.
· Stories Along the Avenue – The Stories Along Germantown Avenue slideshow showcases the rich arts ecosystem of Northwest Philadelphia through two stories each from Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill. It showcases how local organizations form a cultural corridor where history and creativity thrive. Featured groups include the Germantown Arts District, Yes! And…Collaborative Arts, Bella Mosaic Art, Quintessence Theatre, The Stagecrafters, and NoName Gallery, Together, they energize Germantown Avenue and shape it into a vibrant hub of performance, art, and community.
· West Mt. Airy Neighbors Historic Preservation Initiative – The West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN) slideshow highlights the organization’s recent preservation work in the neighborhood. It showcases the Historic Preservation Initiative approved by the PHC in January 2025.
“This year will be my first Night of Lights, and I’m especially excited to celebrate our unique mission of connecting the community to history through our archives and to architecture and conservation through our advocacy and easement work,” said Gest. “With the Flip the Switch ceremony taking place at our Conservancy headquarters, we not only highlight the stories of the Avenue but also our stewardship of our own historic building—bringing to life the idea that the places we care for are themselves resources for the community.”
In addition to the Conservancy’s Lead Sponsor, Chubb, General Sponsors, and members, Night of Lights event sponsors include Projection Sponsors: ACE Hardware, Friends of The Wissahickon, Kurtz, George Woodward Co., MIS Capital LLC, Council Member Cindy Bass Bowman Properties, Electrical Wizardry, Inc., Presenting Sponsors: Krieger + Associates Architects Inc., Laurel Hill Gardens, Practiced Hands Tree Care, Robertson’s Flowers & Events and Supporting Sponsors: Chestnut Hill Business District, Heiler Painting, John Milner Architects, AOS Architects, Refugia, Re:Vision. Night of Lights is also possible through the support and partnership of many local businesses, and it is proudly partnered with DesignPhiladelphia and Archives Month Philly.
Thanks to the sponsors and event partners, this event is open to the public and free to attend. The Conservancy’s Night of Lights provides an accessible and exciting way to learn about the area’s history, vitality, and past and future stewardship while enjoying all that Germantown Avenue has to offer.
ABOUT THE CHESTNUT HILL CONSERVANCY
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historical, architectural, and cultural resources and the open spaces that define the character of Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities in the Wissahickon watershed for over 55 years. Since 1990, it has protected over 105 acres of land through its easement program as the nation’s first urban accredited land trust. The Conservancy houses a professionally maintained archive with over 52,000 items accessible to the public and engages the community through educational programs, advocacy, and events. The organization has also documented thousands of structures, contributing to Chestnut Hill’s designation as a National Historic District. Open Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm and Saturday 11 am – 4 pm. 8708 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 | 215-247-9329 | https://chconservancy.org/