A Nanaimo festival found itself under a favourable light with a nation award program.

Luminous Paths: Nanaimo's 150 and Beyond festival won the Creative Cities Impact Award in the cultural events category, noted a City of Nanaimo press release.

Presented annually by the Creative City Network of Canada, the Impact Awards honour municipalities that demonstrate creativity, innovation and leadership in cultural development.

The award recognized the winter festival's outstanding contribution to community connection, creativity and cultural celebration and acknowledged how it "reflected the city's values of diversity, inclusion and environmental stewardship while showcasing the power of public art to strengthen a sense of place," the release noted.

Luminous Paths was set up at Maffeo Sutton Park in January and February with illuminated art installations, projections, performances and interactive experiences with local and regional artists, performers and community organizations. The festival highlighted Nanaimo's arts and culture community and invited residents to recognize Nanaimo's past, present and future.

The city counted more than 18,000 visitors who stopped by the park during the festival and planning is underway to hold the event again.

"Luminous Paths captured the spirit of our community," said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog in the press release. "It was a beautiful and unifying celebration that highlighted local talent, and invited residents to see our waterfront in a new way."