The city of Aurora on Monday announced the lineup for the opening weekend of Lumenaura, the city’s upcoming immersive art, light and sound festival.
Opening weekend, taking place Oct. 10-12, is set to feature outdoor live music as well as food trucks, beer vendors and more in downtown Aurora, according to a city news release. The IBEW Locals 461 and 701 Main Stage will be located in the parking lot at the southwest corner of Benton Street and Water Street.
The whole Lumenaura festival, expected to transform downtown Aurora from Oct. 10–26, will be free and open to the public.
The festival’s opening weekend will begin at The Mayan, 77 S. Stolp Ave., at 5 p.m. on Oct. 10 with a Native American ceremony led by “the Firekeeper” who will ignite the Bonfire LED sculpture, marking the official start of the festival, city officials said in the news release.
Later that evening, at 6 p.m., the festival will be opened with music by Motown Nation, expected to play favorites from Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and more, the city news release said. Then at 8 p.m. will be an “’80s experience” by Sixteen Candles, bringing audiences back to the era of Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, Prince and Journey, according to the news release.
On Oct. 11, the main stage will see a celebration of Aurora’s diverse Hispanic culture, beginning with Sin Anestesia at 6 p.m. with a tribute to bands like Hombres G, Los Enanitos Verdes and Cafe Tacuba, officials said in the release. Headlining the night starting at 8:15 p.m. is Selena the Show, set to perform hits like “Como La Flor,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Dreaming of You,” “I Could Fall in Love” and “Amor Prohibido,” the news release said.
The last day of the festival’s opening weekend, Oct. 12, will begin with Fearless – A Tribute to Taylor Swift at 5 p.m., which city officials said with serve as “the ultimate unofficial Swiftie celebration.” Closing out the weekend at 7 p.m. will be Hairbangers Ball, a trip back to the “decade of decadence” featuring the biggest hits from Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Poison, Mötley Crüe and more, according to the news release.
As music plays from the Main Stage, festival-goers will also see roving performers such as circus acts, fire breathers and wandering musicians, the city news release said. Saturday’s festivities will also include a drum circle, storytelling and traditional songs honoring Indigenous history while converging with futuristic art, officials said in the release.
The festival’s second weekend, Oct. 17 and 18, will also include special programing, including an all ages Silent Disco Party and the opening of “Illoominated II” by Todd Moyer Designs, an innovative projection-mapping installation of lasers and projectors, according to an earlier city news release.
And beyond those two weekends, the festival’s art exhibits will continue in downtown Aurora through Oct. 26. Those exhibits are set to include interactive artworks like responsive light sculptures, laser graffiti, “enchanted fountains,” train car installations, rooftop laser shows and other installations that react to people and the environment, the earlier city news release said.
Now in its second year, the festival is being curated by Monochronicle, an urban art and design studio.
“Lumenaura represents the future of public art, where cutting-edge technology enhances, experiences and transforms audiences into part of the artwork itself,” Iryan Kanishcheva, founder of Monochronicle, said in the city’s news release. “This year, we are grateful to the city of Aurora for embracing bold ideas, enabling us to present a diverse lineup, showcase innovation and expand the festival’s impact.”
A roster of national and international artists curated by Monocronicle are set to showcase their artwork at Lumenaura, which will reflect the theme of convergence, city officials said in the news release.
Accessibility and inclusivity are central to the festival, and all installations welcome audiences of varying abilities and ages, city officials said in the news release. Nearly all of the artwork on display is ADA accessible, and the festival will also feature a soothing space for sensory-sensitive visitors, an ASL interpreter and audio descriptions for select installations, according to the news release.
Plus, transportation via golf cart will be offered for guests with mobility needs, and there will be designated pathways suitable for wheelchairs between each art installation, the news release said.
“This immersive experience reflects a heightened focus on creating a space that is more welcoming and considerate of individuals of all abilities, including those with mobility challenges and sensory sensitivities,” Katrina Boatright, Aurora senior and disability services manager, said in the city news release.