Portland Winter Light Festival guide

Why it matters: All those illuminated wire strings and drop-shipped LEDs have grown into an annual celebration of technology, design and play.

• It lets Portlanders tap their inner burners and take to the dark February streets to celebrate life.

State of play: Architecture, construction and engineering companies showing off their skills and pumping their brand are a big part of the light festival.

• But there's a psychedelic maker vibe to a lot of the work too, again that Burning Man influence, like Vampire in the Night by Joseph Tiegs.

Between the lines: You'll need a spreadsheet to target particular works, like the elevator in Oregon City on which you can play video games.

• But most of the browsing fun is around Pioneer Courthouse Square, the World Trade Center (where PGE is based) and the Electric Blocks near OMSI.

What they're saying: "The light festival showcases the best of what living in Portland is truly about — the community coming together, rain or shine, to make something beautiful happen that is unique to our city," says the festival's executive director Alisha Sullivan.

Our thought bubble: The delight of the festival is smiling at strangers in front of the Butt Activated Jellyfish or a robot.

Of note: Portland extroverts such as the Bright Heart Circus, PopCartPDX and bands playing on SoundsTruckNW will provide a musical backdrop.