'Morningside Lights' Illuminates Magical Night

Several people walking with two women, wearing Mondrian art color block dresses, on a parade carry colorful illuminated handmade lanterns on a warm night in New York City.

September 26, 2025

Magical! Awe-inspiring and colorful lanterns illuminated the Morningside Lights procession from Morningside Park to College Walk on Saturday, after a week of lantern-building workshops for Columbians and our neighbors. This year’s theme, TIMEFRAME 1965, celebrates images, icons, and influences of the year 1965, like Yves Saint Laurent's color-block dress inspired by Piet Mondrian's abstract art — it was also the year Columbia University School of the Arts was founded.

Learn more about Morningside Lights, now in its 14th year.

Photo of the Week is a feature of Columbia News that captures moments from around the University and New York City.

See all the photos from the series here.