MISSION STATEMENT Light in the Dark Fest is an annual music, art, and literary festival in the heart of Southeast Florida that brings socially and environmentally conscious artists and speakers. These events feature critically acclaimed national acts, rising and local artists ranging from the visual arts to the oratory arts with a focus on themes such as environmentalism and unity. As a "Be Here Now Event", we strive to be free of social media during the event and in promotion leading up to the event. Additionally, we have a no cell phone, no filming, and no photography policy once the festival or affiliated event begins.
The 2026 Festival Theme:Peace and Environmentalism (☮️, 💗, & *Eutierria). The festival will include a great deal of music and creative arts expounding upon these topics, as well as a free creative writer's workshop for the afterglow event the following day. [*Eutierria is a term to describe a feeling of oneness and enlightenment when being emersed in nature. This is the opposite of psychoterratica- which refers to the feeling of alienation and malaise of a disconnection to nature. This occurs through too much modern technology, smart phones, social media and modern civilization, etc.)
The 2025 Festival Theme: Global Poverty- How we can change local culture to make a large impact. This included poetry and speakers on the topic at the festival and an after-party event that was a benefit concert for Covenant House FL.
The 2024 Festival Theme:What is Humanity? A critical look into AI and social media. This involved a Discussion Panel led by techno-critical University Professors and Musician Johnny Delaware speaking about his music video, AI.
BACKGROUND Light in the Dark Fest began during peak Covid 2020 as two music video and recorded quarantine performances as a Fundraiser Festivals for Food Chain Workers Alliance and Save Our Stages. It featured original new recorded performances and debut music videos by critically acclaimed artists such as SUSTO, International Folk Music Awards’ Artist of the Year, Allison Russell(with Birds of Chicago), legend Robyn Hitchcock, ambient music pioneer,Laraaji, and many others. The online events also included a short film contest judged by the founders of the Denali Film Festival, along with a visual art contest facilitated by university faculty.