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Why the Kennedy Center is lighting up with rainbow colors

It’s in celebration of the venue’s Honors event

For the fortieth year in a row, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will celebrate five artists who have in some way shaped cultural life in America by hosting the Honors Gala. To celebrate the recipients of this year’s award, the venue will light up with rainbow colors every night until December 3 as a nod to the rainbow ribbons on the Kennedy Center Honors medallions.

According to the Kennedy Center’s website, this year’s awardees are dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, Cuban-American singer-songwriter and actress Gloria Estefan, hip-hop artist and entertainment icon LL Cool J, television writer and producer Norman Lear, and musician and record producer Lionel Richie.

Those who won’t be able to make it to the event on December 3 still have the chance to see it through the Kennedy Center’s Facebook Live broadcast, which is expected to start at 5 p.m. CBS will also feature the event on December 26 at 9 p.m.

Notice something different? We're getting ready for this weekend's 40th Annual Kennedy Center Honors festivities! This new lighting feature is a nod to the rainbow ribbons on the #KCHonors medallions.

Posted by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, November 27, 2017

Honors Gala [Kennedy Center]