Experience Allt ljus på Uppsala with Kids
Before You Go – Smart Tips for Families with Kids
A November evening can be both magical and chilly. Here are a few ways to make your experience even better:
✅ Dress in layers – evenings can be cold and damp.
✅ Bring reflectors – stay safe and visible in the dark.
✅ Pack some snacks – or plan a cozy food stop along the way.
✅ The route is stroller-friendly – easy to explore even with little ones.
Are you looking for something magical to do with the kids in November? Allt ljus på Uppsala is the annual light festival that transforms Uppsala into a vibrant city filled with art, play, and a sense of wonder. For a few weeks in November, you and your family can experience light art, interactive installations, and cozy gathering spots throughout the city center – all for free.
Here’s our family-friendly guide to a light-filled evening in Uppsala.
Start in the children’s area at Vasaparken – play, light, and art
Start your evening in Vasaparken – this year’s dedicated children’s area at Allt ljus på Uppsala, in collaboration with our sponsor Cytiva. Here, two of the festival’s most child-friendly light artworks are waiting:
Pixel Planet – an interactive piece where you can influence the color and movement of the light.
Helicoled – crank up the light and see how energy transforms into an experience.
During the festival, the museum Biotopia is open from 5–8 PM Tuesday to Sunday. Stop by to craft and create your own “light windows” inspired by Biotopia’s large colorful ones. On select days, they also offer special activities – check out our event calendar for more information!
HEXX in Observatorieparken – magical portals and patterns
Continue to Observatorieparken, where the artwork HEXX illuminates the trees with geometric shapes and mysterious colors. Let the kids imagine what the figures represent – perhaps it’s a portal to another world?
L’envol at Gamla kyrkogården – luminescent birds in the trees
Walk along Gamla kyrkogården, where L’envol transforms the treetops into a dreamlike forest filled with glowing birds. A calm and magical experience in the heart of the city.
Royal Sky behind Carolina Rediviva
Follow the cycle path up toward Carolina Rediviva and stop beneath Royal Sky. Here you’ll find a spectacular display of color floating above your heads – an unexpected highlight along your walk.
Warm up in Odinslund – meet our sponsors
In the heart of the festival, Odinslund becomes a warm and welcoming meeting place. Open every day from 16:00–20:00.
Vattenfall’s warming hut: Discover how Uppsala’s heating has evolved over time and try the playful competition “Who’s the hottest in Uppsala?” using a thermal camera.
LF Uppsala hands out reflectors and invites you to a reflector competition – small actions that make a big difference.
As an adult, you’re invited to enjoy a free cup of coffee. But the real warmth comes when you choose to pay it forward – by donating the value of your cup to Uppsala Stadsmission, who work every day to improve the lives of people in vulnerable situations.
Meet Vattenfall and LF Uppsala during the opening on Friday, November 7, and on Saturdays, November 8, 15, and 22.
End the evening in central Uppsala – art, bathtubs, and dinner
Round off the evening at Celsiustorget, where the impressive light installation Aj Vana Be rises like a glittering constellation of 32 bathtubs – representing the amount of water an Uppsala resident uses in a month.
It’s the perfect finale to an evening full of light and imagination. Why not end with dinner at one of Uppsala’s restaurants before heading home?
Plan your light-filled evening in Uppsala
Allt ljus på Uppsala is free and runs from November 7–23. The festival is perfect for families, groups of friends, and curious explorers who want to see the city in a new light.