Illuminated Windows in Rydal

The giant Advent calendar lights up in the windows of the factory building in December. The factory building in Rydal brightens the winter darkness throughout the month. One by one, the windows are lit during Advent, creating a magical and atmospheric experience that attracts visitors from near and far. Rydals museum invites individuals, associations, businesses, public bodies, village associations and organisations to design and decorate a window. The window installations are lit one by one in December, like an Advent calendar. They can be viewed from outside after dark, and it is free to visit.

This festive season in Rydal begins on 29 November. The first window is lit, and various activities—including a visit from Santa, a Christmas market, Christmas crafts and Christmas refreshments—are offered by the different participants in Rydal. The idea of an Advent calendar was inspired by Saltaire in England, which has organised a Living Advent Calendar since 2006. The collaboration with Saltaire takes several forms: among other things, Rydals museum has a window installation in Saltaire, and Saltaire has one in Rydal. The collaboration also takes place digitally and on social media.

Times: On the first Sunday of Advent, 29 November, at 15:00, the opening of Illuminated Windows will be held. The first window is lit that day during the Christmas festivities in Rydal. From 2 December, a new window is lit every day at 15:00. 24 December is the last day a new window is lit, by which time a total of 24 windows will be illuminated. Once a window has been lit, it stays lit every day from 15:00 to 00:00 and from 05:00 to 09:00 until and including 6 January. Illuminated Windows in Rydal is not dependent on the museum’s opening hours. The windows are lit every day after dark, and are only switched off for a few hours overnight. Visitors view the windows from outside, and it is free.