Event Lighting Rental Guide: Uplighting for Holiday Parties & Corporate Events

The right event lighting changes how a room feels the second guests walk in. A plain wall turns into a backdrop. A dark tent turns into a glowing centerpiece. If you’re planning a holiday party or a company event in Virginia, uplighting is one of the simplest ways to get that effect without redecorating the whole space.

This guide covers how uplighting works, what it costs, what Lights Around includes, and how to plan your event lighting so the night goes smoothly.

Quick answer: Event uplighting uses lights that sit on the ground and shine up to wash walls, trees, columns, and tents in color. At Lights Around, outdoor uplighting starts at $500, and our crew handles setup and takedown.

What Is Event Uplighting?

Uplighting is exactly what it sounds like: LED lights placed low that shine upward onto a surface. Instead of lighting the whole room evenly, they paint color onto the things you want people to notice, like a brick wall, a row of trees, tent poles, or the front of a building.

Our outdoor uplighting uses commercial-grade LEDs that come in a wide range of colors. Color-changing units can be set to match your palette, so you can go with a classic warm glow, deep red and green for the holidays, or your company’s brand colors.

Christmas Uplighting for Holiday Parties

Holiday parties are where uplighting really earns its keep. Christmas uplighting gives a backyard, patio, or venue a festive look without stringing lights across every surface. A few ideas that work well:

If you want your home lit for the whole season too, our Christmas light installation service puts up your roofline lights and takes them down in early January.

Uplighting for Corporate Events

For grand openings, fundraisers, client parties, and year-end celebrations, lighting is an easy way to make your brand show up. We can light a tent, a patio, or the front of your building, and set the uplights to your brand colors so the space feels like yours.

Good places to use uplighting at a corporate event:

If you want lights that stay up past one night, our commercial lighting options include year-round color-changing systems for storefronts and offices.

Pair Uplighting With Other Lights for Events

Uplighting looks best as part of a plan, not on its own. Here are the other lights for events that people most often add:

Bistro string lights: Our backyard bistro lighting comes in 100-foot packs starting at $500, with 25-foot add-ons. On open lawns, we add 10-foot light posts from $75 each, about one per 50 feet of lights.

Pin spot lighting: Pin spot lighting puts a tight beam on one thing, like a cake table, centerpiece, or awards display.

Pillar wraps: Pillar light wraps start at $90 and cover columns and posts up to 8 feet tall in six colors. They’re a nice touch at an entrance.

Planning a wedding instead? Our wedding lights page shows the same products styled for receptions, tents, and barns.

What's Included When You Rent Event Lighting

You don’t have to figure out cords, layouts, or cleanup. Every event lighting rental from Lights Around includes:

Layout planning for your space
Commercial-grade, weather-proof LED lights
Setup by our crew
Extension cords to reach your outlet
Takedown and removal after the event
A free rain reschedule with 24 hours' notice

Light posts are added only when your space needs them, and they’re listed on your quote so there are no surprises.

Event Lighting Pricing at a Glance

Your final quote depends on the size of your space, how many posts you need, and how long the lights stay up. Prices include installation and takedown.

Planning Checklist for Your Event

A few details make setup smooth on the day:

Book early. October through December is our busiest season, so holiday party dates fill fast.
Find your outlet. You'll need a working outlet within 50 feet of the lighting area.
Keep it separate. That outlet shouldn't be shared with high-draw equipment like catering warmers or sound systems.
Watch the weather. If rain moves your date, give us 24 hours' notice and we'll reschedule at no extra cost.
Pick your colors. Bring your palette or brand colors to the quote so we can plan the look.

Event Lighting in Ashburn and Loudoun County

Searching for event lighting near me in Northern Virginia? We serve Loudoun County, which includes Ashburn, along with Fairfax, Arlington, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Richmond, Charlottesville, and more across Central and Northern Virginia. If you’re planning event lighting in Ashburn, reach out with your address and we’ll confirm it’s in our area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is event uplighting?

Event uplighting uses LED lights placed on the ground that shine upward to wash walls, trees, columns, and tents in color.

How much does event uplighting cost?

Outdoor uplighting from Lights Around starts at $500. That price includes installation and takedown.

Can you do Christmas uplighting for a holiday party?

Yes. Our color-changing uplights can be set to red, green, warm white, or any palette you want for a holiday party.

Can uplighting match our company colors?

Yes. For corporate events, we can set the uplights to your brand colors.

What do I need to provide?

Just a working outlet within 50 feet of the lighting area that isn’t shared with catering warmers or sound systems. We bring the lights and extension cords.

Is there an event lighting company near me in Ashburn?

Lights Around serves Loudoun County, including Ashburn, and much of Central and Northern Virginia. Send us your address to confirm.

Light Up Your Next Event

Whether it’s a holiday party in your backyard or a grand opening for your business, uplighting makes the space feel planned and polished. As a full-service event lighting company, we handle the layout, setup, and takedown so you can focus on your guests. Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a free quote.

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