The Festival of Lights is a form of night-time pageantry known as son et lumiere, or "sound and light." The tradition is thought to have begun in 1952, when light was projected onto the Chateau de Chambord in France. Son et lumieres have since been staged in various locations around the world including; the pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the Forum in Rome, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh welcomed its own version of a son et lumiere in October of 2010: The Festival of Lights.

Mox Box Consultants Christine Whispell, Grant Bobitski, and Matt Indovina of Moxie DaDA designed and presented three multi-dimensional window light displays and an outdoor light installation for the Festival of Lights.