Brite Winter Is Back This Month With Outdoor Exhibits and a Stellar Lineup

Clevelanders, get ready to brave the cold in person for the music event of the year. The four-stage, 30-band Brite Winter was modified to be a virtual event in 2021 due to pandemic concerns, but this year it’s back on Feb. 26 on the West Bank of the Flats. “You don’t really realize what you have until it’s gone,” co-founder and managing director Emily Hornack says with a sigh. The event will check its typical boxes — the giant disco balls and the fire and ice towers will still be staples — while adding a few more experiences.

A major one is the theme, which is going to be bigger than ever this year. “Our art theme this year is ‘Lucky 13’ because we are 13 years old,” Hornack says. “Our take is going to be about luck and fortune but also gratitude. It’s been a rough couple years and reflecting on the things that make us still feel lucky is pretty cool.”