May 27, 2024 Travel
Running for its ninth year, LUMA Southern Light Project returns for a five-day extravaganza to illuminate King’s Birthday weekend down in Queenstown. For those heading to Otago over King’s Birthday weekend, whether your plan is to hit up the vineyards, catch a breath of fresh air in the Sounds, or relax and soak up the scenery in an onsen pool, we highly recommend including the LUMA festival, held at the Queenstown Gardens, to your itinerary.
Last year, the festival attracted over 45,000 attendees, solidifying its status as one of the most popular immersive art shows in the southern hemisphere. With an increasing number of young families relocating from Auckland to Queenstown, this is the perfect opportunity to check out the immersive experience, which will be held over Thursday, 30th May – Monday, 3rd June. Attendees can expect a sensory symphony of lights in the form of illuminated art, sculptures, interactive performances, live music by both international and local artists, and delicious local cuisine.
Described by LUMA Chairman Duncan Forsyth as “one of the only places in New Zealand where you can experience artistry meeting, technology meeting nature”, each night of the five-day event will showcase a unique theme, allowing festival-goers the opportunity to attend multiple nights and enjoy different experiences each time, or select the theme which appeals the most. Notably, this is the first year in which the themes have been released ahead of time and are currently available to view on the LUMA website – a good way to consult, vote, and coordinate with the group chat before purchasing your tickets online.
Forsyth highlights the return of LUMA’s esteemed team of creative partners, including the likes of Mike Hodgson of the Kiwi electronic duo Pitch Black, Angus Muir from AMD, aerialist Emma Vickers of Fantail Creative, and the talented teams at Creature Post and SILO, alongside a diverse array of up-and-coming artists, entertainers, and performers who will converge for the five-day extravaganza.
Renowned locally and internationally for his light artistry, Angus Muir, the visionary behind some of LUMA’s most iconic installations, is excited to return for this year’s event, stating, “LUMA is the perfect environment to get creative and work simultaneously with nature and technology to create immersive, thought provoking and joyful experiences for attendees. It is always a pleasure to be a part of LUMA and watch the Queenstown Gardens come to life with light, music and art”.
Upholding the $25 ticket price (kids 12 and under are free), the LUMA festival organisers anticipate an even larger turnout than previous years, and in a bid to ensure a memorable experience for all attendees without overwhelming crowds, ticket numbers will be capped. It is encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time to secure your spot for this sensory extravaganza, which promises to deliver an unforgettable experience. Tickets can be purchased here.
