The 2008 Festival of Lights USA will light up Conyers, Georgia, a historic town outside of Atlanta, for the second year running. Based on the annual holiday held in Lyon, France, the event will be held March 7-8.

Twelve international teams of architectural lighting designers will convene in Conyer’s Olde Towne district and each will illuminate the facade of a historic building, similar to what is done in Lyon during the weeks leading up to Christmas. The festival will also feature live music, food, and entertainment for children. New to this year’s festival is the Meet the Designer Night, which gives attendees the opportunity to ask designers questions about their creations and discuss the art and science of lighting design.

Renowned lighting designer Leni Schwendinger, the mind behind the illumination at the iconic parachute jump tower on New York’s Coney Island and the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow, Scotland, will deliver the keynote address at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on March 5.

"We had a tremendous response to the event held during the holiday season of 2006," says Bill Peel, a senior manager at Acuity Brands Lighting, a sponsor of the event. "We felt bringing the program back to Conyers just when homeowners are looking forward to the home-improvement season would be an even more effective way to raise the level of public involvement."