Wednesday, June 18, 2025
HomeNewsFriday Night Live returns to the ROM

Friday Night Live returns to the ROM

Now in 10th season, after-hours event to take place Fridays through November

Published on

Hundreds of people gathered at the Royal Ontario Museum on Friday to kick off the Friday Night Live ROM season and explore colour, light, and form, with complimentary access to the special exhibition, Chihuly.

“I’ve been coming to this event for a couple of years,” said Josh Parto, a recent University of Toronto graduate. “It’s always been a tradition for me and my mom to come to as many Fridays as we can.”

As people made their way through the museum, almost all of the exhibits were accessible, but it was Dale Chihuly’s showcase of hand-blown glass sculptures that stole the show.

“Chihuly blows glass and he uses the same tools and techniques that were used 2000 years ago,” said Deirdre Keleher, a learning teacher at the ROM. “What’s so amazing about the exhibit is that for thousands of years when artists looked at glass as a medium, they made little bottles. But Chihuly decided to make 20-foot-tall sculptures.”

Chihuly is an American sculptor whose work is included in more than 200 collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass.

The evening, presented by Ford and sponsored by Peroni Italy and NOW Magazine, invited guests to enjoy live entertainment, interactive gallery experiences, local food vendors and featured exhibitions.

Every Friday night from Sept. 30 to Nov. 25, the ROM will be transformed with new themes that vary by week.  While the re-launch of the event was titled Spark, ticket holders can expect to see a number of different showcases, including Thanks Canada (Oct. 7), Goosebumps (Oct. 28) and Afterglow (Nov. 25).

The exhibition at the ROM is Chihuly’s first major exhibit in Toronto and will be on display until Jan. 2.

Details and ticket information for Friday Night Live at the ROM can be found online. This is a 19+ event.

Chihuly's Laguna Torcello installation at the ROM.
Chihuly’s Laguna Torcello installation at the ROM.  (Ashley Bruzas/Toronto Observer)
Chihuly's Jerusalem Cylinders on display at the ROM.
Chihuly’s Jerusalem Cylinders on display at the ROM.
 (Ashley Bruzas/Toronto Observer)
Learn about Centennial College's School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design

Latest articles

Stampeders crash Argos’ party, hand Toronto 2nd-straight loss

Strong defence and an attack that came alive in the final quarter led the...

RBC Canadian Open fans an advantage to country’s golfers

CALEDON, Ont - Waves upon waves of Canadian fans have come through the gates...

Hughes surges to contention as RBC Open heads to final round

CALEDON, Ont. – Mackenzie Hughes wrapped up Saturday’s third round of the RBC Canadian...

Matthew Anderson soars to new heights on home soil

CALEDON, Ont. - After only his third event, Mississauga native Matthew Anderson made his...

More like this

New theatre project shares real-life stories of former youth from care

A script reading held May 8 at the Young People's Theatre in Toronto was part of an event for the project that celebrated the "little wins" in the lives of young people in and from care, ahead of Children and Youth in Care Day on May 14.

Toronto Public Library’s Photoshop challenge celebrates ‘Buy Canadian’ movement

The Toronto Public Library (TPL), has resurrected the spirit of those wartime posters with a modern twist: They're hosting a challenge for participants to remix historical WWI and WWII posters to reflect the current landscape in Canada.
02:00:04

Canada’s federal party leaders: What are their plans and priorities?

The nation’s political leaders are ready for an election day that will shape Canada's future