Festivitas adds customizable holiday lights to the macOS dock and menu bar. Developed by Simon Støvring, the app transforms these system UI elements into animated decorative displays.
Three animation effects are available: Twinkle creates gentle sparkles, Wave sends pulses of light across the dock, and Chase makes lights race from end to end. Animation speed is fully adjustable.
The app offers multiple light bulb shapes including basic ovals, circles, hearts, stars, candy canes, and seasonal designs. Users can select colors from preset palettes or create custom combinations. Spacing between lights is configurable.
A notable feature is mouse interaction—lights respond to cursor movement by brightening, changing color, or switching patterns. This creates a dynamic rather than purely static decoration.
Display options include dock-only, menu bar-only, or both simultaneously. This flexibility allows users to adjust the festive intensity based on context.
The app runs efficiently with minimal CPU usage during normal operation, including intensive Chase animations. Performance impact on other applications is negligible.
System requirements: macOS 14.6 or later.
Pricing: Pay-what-you-want model starting at €4.
Limitations: On MacBooks with notch displays, menu bar lights may get hidden behind the notch when many menu bar apps are running. The app is purely decorative with no productivity functionality. Light designs are seasonally focused, though shapes like hearts work beyond winter holidays.
Alternatives: No direct alternatives for dock/menu bar light decorations. General desktop customization apps like GeekTool or Übersicht offer different decorative approaches.
The app has received positive coverage from TechCrunch, Forbes, and MacStories. It maintains a 4.9/5 star rating from over 300 App Store reviews, with 95% five-star ratings.
Suitable for users who want seasonal decorations on their Mac desktop, appreciate attention to detail in visual customization, or simply want their computer to feel more festive during holidays.
