Join us for the River of Light Lantern Parade, January 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Celebrate creativity, community, and light. Artists and community members will showcase handmade lanterns made in our workshops. Experience light through breathtaking performances by local light spinners and dancers. Watertown Free Public Library's Bookmobile will be onsite, and we'll have cookies and hot cocoa inside the Mosesian Center for the Arts at our MBar.

The River of Light is a celebration of light in winter. Presented by the Public Arts & Culture Committee and the Mosesian Center for the Arts in partnership with the Watertown Cultural Council, the lantern-making workshops and wintertime parade build community and bring light, joy, and festivities during the darkest season of the year. 

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Sam Newcomer | Live Music
4:00 PM, Charles Mosesian Theater (full event schedule below)
Sam Newcomer is a singer-songwriter and children's musician based in Roslindale, MA, performing folk-pop originals, pride anthems, and classic kids’ songs. From preschools to coffee shops to senior living communities, he hopes to bring joy through music wherever he goes. Learn more and listen at samnewcomermusic.com.
 

Swati Biswas | Alok- taranga, the ripples of light
5:30 PM, Charles Mosesian Theater (full event schedule below)
Light, an inherent life force from our first breath, guides us physically but also emotionally. The morning sun radiates energy and gives us hope that a new day is here, with renewed dream, promise and inspiration. The inner light, may that be creative, spiritual or however way we define it, guides us to be a better version individually and also as a society. “Alok- taranga, the ripples of light” will present a variety of dance segments based on musics ranging from Indian classical, semiclassical and modern/creative genre. In bengali language, light is called “aalo”, so you will hear that word in many of our lyrics.

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The event is free, but we ask that you RSVP to help us plan for attendance.

Please consider donating during registration to support future free programs at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. 

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A partnership between Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee, the Chinese American Association of Watertown, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts.

Made possible by Watertown Community Foundation, Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts.

 Thanks to our event sponsor: