LUMA tickets on sale

Mar 04, 2024

Queenstown's botanical gardens are set to be transformed again by an annual festival that lights up mid-winter nights.

Tickets are now on sale for LUMA24, that will see artists and performers take over the central green space with immersive entertainment and light sculptures.

This year's theme: 'Arborea', which loosely translates to 'Life in the trees'.

LUMA creative Luke Baldock says, "This year we’re aiming to build an environment where technology merges with nature in new and unexpected ways".

The light festival started in winter 2016 as a startup event designed to test the theory that Queenstown was ready to embrace a weekend-long festival celebrating arts, culture and performance.

It was. Last year festival goers were charged an entry fee for the first time, partly to allow event organisers to limit the huge crowds through the gates, and ticketing will continue this year.

LUMA Arts Trust chair Duncan Forsyth says the event is a way to "celebrate the town’s unique location and relationships with a host of national and international artists".

Over the years LUMA has built its community credentials through the development of an extensive schools programme and efforts to 'green' the event.

"In 2018 we helped to launch Sustainable Queenstown’s Dishrupt Programme, last year we added LUMAbility to the mix and this year we plan to launch a new initiative to assist with predator control in the botanical gardens,” Mr Forsyth says.

A free park and ride service from Frankton will be available again to ferry people into the gardens.

Last year saw upwards of 40,000 visitors enjoy a variety of performers, artists and soundscapes spread throughout the space over five nights.

Festival goers are being invited to 'come lit' as a way of adding to the festivities and keeping track of family and friends.

The details: