Brighten Your Outdoor Events with These Top 5 Lighting Trends
When creating unforgettable outdoor events, lighting is the key element that sets the mood, highlights your venue, and adds a touch of magic as the sun sets and the stars emerge. The right lighting can elevate the guest experience and leave a lasting impression. From string lights to advanced LED features, the trends in outdoor lighting this spring and summer offer endless possibilities to design the perfect ambiance. Let’s explore the top five outdoor lighting trends that will brighten your summer event and help you create the perfect atmosphere, no matter the occasion.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Lighting
As eco-consciousness continues to rise, sustainable lighting solutions are becoming a priority for event profs seeking to minimize their environmental impact, especially for outdoor events. Sustainable lighting choices can make a significant difference in reducing your event's carbon footprint. In 2025, opt for eco-friendly lighting solutions, including solar-powered lights, energy-efficient LEDs, and reusable lighting setups that are perfect for the outdoors.. Solar-powered lights, for instance, harness the power of the sun, making them a perfect fit for outdoor events held during the day. Energy-efficient LEDs, on the other hand, provide bright, high-quality light while using far less power than traditional lighting, making them an eco-conscious choice for large-scale events. These sustainable options not only reduce the environmental impact of your outdoor event but also meet the growing demand for greener practices.
Smart Lighting Systems
With smart outdoor lighting systems, event professionals can control the lighting remotely, set automatic schedules, and even adjust brightness and color in real time. This innovation brings efficiency, convenience, and a touch of modern luxury to outdoor events. These automatic smart lighting systems are especially useful for events that span across the day and night, such as outdoor concerts or multi-day festivals. For example, a smart lighting setup can automatically adjust from daylight-level brightness to softer, more atmospheric lighting as the sun sets. Motion sensors can be incorporated to ensure the lighting only activates when needed, adding both convenience and energy savings.
LED Lighting
LED lights are a game-changer when it comes to outdoor events. Not only are they energy efficient, but they’re also known for their durability and versatility. LED lighting can transform an outdoor event space in a way that is not possible with traditional lighting. LED lights can be programmed to change colors and adjust brightness, offering maximum flexibility to tailor the lighting design to fit the mood and/or theme of the event. When it comes to large-scale outdoor concerts or festivals, LED fixtures can transition the bright daylight to vibrant and dramatic evening lighting, making it the perfect choice for both daytime performances and evening celebrations.
Spotlighting and Uplighting
Spotlighting and uplighting are two powerful techniques that are guaranteed to enhance the visual appeal of outdoor events. These focused lighting strategies are designed to help highlight specific features of the event, like a stage, art installations, or even the venue itself. Uplighting, in particular, can be used to accentuate architectural features like columns, trees, fountains, etc, adding a touch of dramatic flair that transforms ordinary elements into striking focal points. Spotlights, on the other hand, are the perfect solution to showing off performances, speeches, or any other key features of your event. Together, uplighting and spotlighting add depth and dimension to your event’s lighting design, so your event is experienced in the very best light.
Day-to-Night Transitions
One of the biggest challenges of outdoor events is the transition from day to night, and lighting is the most important element in making that a smooth shift. As the sun begins to set, you need lighting that adapts and enhances the ambiance of your celebration. The lighting needs to be dynamic enough to adjust from natural daylight to evening lighting, yet smooth and seamless, as if it almost goes unnoticed by your guests. Here are some tips for day-to-night lighting transitions:
Use LED fixtures with adjustable brightness and colors to create a smooth transition.
Start the transition with softer lighting in the late afternoon, then shift to warmer tones or dramatic colors as dusk begins to fall.
Incorporate uplighting and spotlights to create focal points as the darkness sets in.
Combine different types of lighting (ie, string lights, lanterns, etc.) to create depth and flexibility as the natural light fades.
Lighting has always been one of the most effective ways to upgrade events, and 2025 is no different! At Wizard Studios, our lighting designers specialize in creating custom solutions to fit each event’s unique needs. We have the expertise and premium-grade equipment to bring your vision to life. Contact us today and let’s light up your outdoor events this summer!