Mark your calendar: Hoan Bridge lighting set for Oct. 22

MILWAUKEE - The first phase of the Light the Hoan project has wrapped up and the west side of the bridge will officially be lit on Oct. 22. This, after a three-month installation period. The bridge will be lit daily after that date.

Light the Hoan co-founders Michael Hostad and Ian Abston raised $3.5 million to make this happen. 

The lights are remote-controlled, and can change for a holiday or event -- even when the Green Bay Packers score a touchdown!

Many local businesses contributed to the project, as did thousands of people. Each of the LED lights represents a story or memory -- uniting the community in light and love.

"The stories people have about that bridge is really remarkable," said Hostad. "We have the pleasures of reading more than 2,000 dedications people have made to help light this bridge."

"This is something that people can get excited about and rally behind, so I think it's coming at the right time," said Abston. 

A news release Wednesday said during the official bridge lighting, Light the Hoan, Code the Hoan and 88Nine Radio MKE will partner to broadcast a music-driven light show, to demonstrate the unique capability of the bridge lights and share the celebration city-wide.

Test lighting of the newly installed west side lights will continue through the remainder of this week; lights will then go dark until the October premiere.

The Light the Hoan team will continue to fundraise the last $1.1 million of the $4.6 million project to light the east side of the bridge.

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Beyond animation and changing colors, the lights on the Hoan can be synchronized to respond to external events such as Brewers’ home runs, big plays at the Fiserv Forum or even live music.

All funds raised for the lighting, installation and maintenance were raised privately between May 2018 and January 2020.