Originally intended as a five year initiative to culminate with the 2018 New Orleans Tricentennial, LUNA Fête is back for its sixth year! LUNA Fête is New Orleans’ annual festival of light, art, and technology. The spectacular light show, which in the past has attracted more than 50,000 people to Lafayette Square, is unique in the United States.
As in past years, light-based art is projected onto historic Gallier Hall in the New Orleans Central Business District. The 2019 Luna Fête will take place from from December 12 through 15, with shows beginning each hour on the hour from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Festival goers will enjoy a magical laser show illuminating the night sky plus an art market. They’ll also experience the interactive installations and digital sculptures by local artists that line Lafayette Street and connect all the way to Fulton Street where visitors can enjoy another holiday attraction: Miracle on Fulton Street.
About Projection Mapping
Also called video mapping or spatial augmented reality, projection mapping transforms irregularly shaped objects, such as buildings and landscapes, into a display surface for video projection. Two-and three-dimensional objects are mapped and projected onto building facades using specialized software. Audio can then be added to the experience to create an immersive storytelling platform.
France-based La Maison Production was the original lead artist studio for the launch of LUNA Fête, due to its experience mapping video on to landmarks like the Damascus Gate and the Bolshoi Theatre.
LUNA Lounge
Luna Fête is free and open to the public, but if you’re looking for a VIP experience, LUNA Lounge tickets are available for purchase starting around $50. Access to the LUNA Lounge lets you watch the show under a heated tent, with private bathrooms. Complementary food and drinks will be served from some of the best restaurants in the city, like Cavan, Longway Tavern, Sylvain, Meauxbar, and Barrel Proof.
Improvisations Gala
This year LUNA Fête will light up the grounds and gardens of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, transforming its historic architecture into a playground of light, art, and music. The show will take place during the Improvisations Gala on December 7 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Gala attendees will also sip cocktails and taste New Orleans cuisine while enjoying a Sound Collage installation and the LUNA Fête projection show.
Musical lineup includes Lena Prima, Meschiya Lake, the Pinettes, Big Queen Mary Kay Stevenson of the Original Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians and Carol “Kit” Harris and the N’awlins Dawlins Baby Dolls, Treme-Lafitte Brass Band, and Seth Finch Trio.
