The holidays may be over, but the spirit of the winter season is alive in Ithaca. The town is preparing for Light in Winter, an annual festival that celebrates artistic, musical and scientific endeavors.

This year’s festival begins tonight with the Light in Winter Library Art Show Opening at 5 p.m. downtown and ends Sunday at the State Theatre.

The concept for Light in Winter was developed in the late 1990s and was originally planned as a summer music festival. After being discussed by the artistic and business community within Ithaca, it was decided that the festival would be held in winter.

As in previous years, the shows for this festival will all connect through a common theme. This year’s theme is “forces of nature.”

Alan Singer was in the audience at last year’s festival and is thrilled to be lending his talents to Light in Winter 2006. Singer will participate in “The Art of Birds” at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Statler Auditorium at Cornell University.

“My topic includes a critical appraisal of Audubon and the Ithaca- born Louis A. Fuertes,” Singer said. “So you could say it is 19th century art compared with 20th century art.”

Guitarist Jeff Claus, an associate professor in the department of teacher education at Ithaca College, will perform at Sunday night’s culmination. Claus will play along with his wife Judy Hyman on electric violin, Rick Hansen and Chad Crumm on keyboards and Jay Olsa on bass. Their performance will accompany a video on natural disasters by Charlie Trautmann, the executive director of the Sciencenter in Ithaca.

“We’ve been given an opportunity to collaborate with a number of very creative, interesting people who we might not otherwise have gotten to know and work with,” Claus said. “It’s been a great experience.”

Other events include a play about the life and career of Albert Einstein written by Willard Sims and performed by Tom Schuch, a discussion of symmetry and its relation to human life by Mario Livio, and a dramatic musical presentation of the moon by artist- in-residence of NASA, Laurie Anderson.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the weekend is the international exploration that comes from combining presentations of different cultural backgrounds. A Middle-Eastern music workship will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Women’s Community Building. Simon Sheehan will conduct the workshop, and participants are encouraged to bring their instruments along with them.

Barbara Mink, the producing artistic director of Light in Winter, expects a weekend full of creativity and expression, as the festival has offered in its past two years. Mink scans magazines, newspapers, books and other media outlets year-round to decide what particular artists and performers would make for stimulating additions to the festival.

“Sometimes I have an idea I think is worth pursuing, and I do my best to find the people who might bring it to life,” Mink said.

“Friends and advisers make suggestions that we can then work on together, and sometimes the people come before the concepts.”

On Friday and Saturday night, Moosewood Restaurant and Lost Dog Café will host “Late Night in Winter,” giving audience members a chance to congregate, unwind and reflect on the presentations of that day.

The three-day event culminates at the State Theatre on Sunday night with the aptly titled, “Forces of Nature,” a powerful musical interpretation of man’s relationship with nature, which will feature passionate music and dramatic dancing and movement.

Light in Winter receives funding from various organizations throughout town, like Tompkin’s Trust Company. Mink said that Ithaca has always been revered as a place of free expression, and the local businesses want to help that to continue.

“We rely on this business support to help keep ticket prices affordable, making it possible for as many people as possible to enjoy the festival,” she said.

Travis Knapp, a junior at Ithaca College, attended the festival in 2005 and throughly enjoyed himself.

“Last year’s Light in Winter was a wonderful series of events,” said Knapp. “I got a lot out of the scientific lectures, and the musical performances were all inspired and exciting.”

As for the future, Mink said that each year’s festival builds upon the last, allowing Light in Winter to continue to grow.

“Light in Winter builds on Ithaca’s three strengths: education, natural beauty and a vibrant arts community,” Mink said. “I’d like to expand on that, learning from each year’s new experiences to come up with exciting and informative programs that let us explore new ideas.”