Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill is back with its bright lights nearly a year after going dark, reports Greg Payne for FOX 29.

Last March, the iconic Boathouse Row lights were shut off to replace the existing lights, which needed to be repaired and refurbished.

During a public relighting ceremony on Thursday, March 7, the lights were shone once again for the community to see and enjoy.

Kim Picard, an East Falls native, rides past the location frequently, and admits it was quite a bummer to have the lights out for so long.

However, she is excited to see the lights return. 

“It’s great, it’s a Philly icon,” said Picard. “It’s so fun to see all the different combinations of lights that we can do for all the different holidays or organizations that want to donate to light it up for their colors.”

The new upgrades allow for 16 million light combinations, and features 6,400 LED lights. 

According to project officials, the cost to get the lights upgraded and shining again was about $2.1 million. 

Learn more about the lighting ceremony that led to Boathouse Row being lit after a year of darkness on FOX 29.

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