Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Last Days of Astra Lumina Los Angeles!

Astra Lumina is a stunning experience wandering gardens at night to see the stars nestling in trees. It was created by Moment Factory who also worked on the Las Vegas Sphere and the Happie than Ever World Tour for Billie Eilish.  This is the seventeenth experience in their Night Walk Series and the first in California. 

It started on November 9th last year and tomorrow, March 10th, is the last day! The experience is at the South Coast Botanic Garden at the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I went to Astra Lumina on March 8th which had a Wish pop-up that concluded today, March 9th. It was a sold out event. Hopefully, everyone can attend, or that Astra Lumina will return. Infomation and tickets is at: https://astralumina.com/los-angeles/ 

Astra Lumina at the South Coast Botanic Garden, author’s photo. 


The South Coast Botanic Garden, itself, is 87 acres which was beautiful even at night. I saw bamboo and various cacti. There was a few benches along the trail. The people who worked at the event were incredibly helpful. One of the considerations is a release form since it may be tricky walking in the dark on uneven terrain. It is explained that there are nine areas that last around three to four minutes. 


There are a few visitors who just walk though, but the experience has to start a new cycle. Each area like the Astra Archway has a small circular sign with a QR code. Only a few took the time to read up on the experience and it has a really good storyline. The trees were illuminated in different colors and the archway was a series of curved columns filled with lights and mist. The music and sound effects are great way to bring visitors into this otherworldly experience. 


Starlight Beacon, photo by the author. 


Another sign was set on a trellis and set against the night sky asking “What if the stars could reach for us?” A walk around a dark path leads to the Starlight Beacons. The beacons, dark cylinders that projecting sparkles on the area. One notes that this a place “where humans and stars are united by a common light.” The lanterns explain that falling stars have landed “after a long voyage.” 


You are encouraged to “follow the stars as they regenerate, rise, and regain thir place in the sky above.” This is the basic story. Then, you walk to the Falling Stars, this is a circular structure that has light effects running down poles, stirring music, and thunderous booms. I was just saying wow recording video. There was a worker there who pointed out when to be ready with your phones, without using flash. I asked him what to do if I saw an alien and he said they would be there the next day! Funny! There are strobing light effects. 


Stardust Rays at night, author’s photo. 

The next area is Stardust Rays that just stunned me, “a place where stars and nature are one.” There was a clearing of trees and it felt like stars were nestled there light rays and sparkles. I really wanted to stay there all night! The fifth area was Celestial Trail, there were tiny lights along the gardens below trees while a guitar plays. Surreal. Another amazing area was Stellar Visions, “Observe the cosmos to uncover the story of the fallen stars.” 


This brought many people to watch what was a stargate. Five stars travel through the galaxy together, the orangish globes shatter like rose petals, turning into purplish starstuff. Then, the new stars streak across the night to find their place in the sky above the Earth. The show is impressive with colors and spacescapes. Cosmic Choir is the seventh area. This has New Age-like chorus music while stars like globes floating in the trees. Another area where I wanted to stay, but I did want to stay too long. 


Wishing Well from Wish, photo by the author. 

Astral Genesis has the regeneration of a star. This looked like a sparkly disco globe, glowing and surrounded by lights, among rocks with desert plants. It was challenging walking up the steep part of the trail from there. One of the last areas is the Rise of the Stars as the stars return home in the experience’s climax. Several tall light poles had light features, music, and mist. This felt the most like a Las Vegas light show. You just walk on the path between them to reach the photo op, Beyond The Horizon. 


This has the Astra Lumina sign with various poles behind a stone-rimmed place to take photos. The light directed at you is so blinding you just have to trust the pictures are coming out right. The Wish pop-up was just before the exit. It had a karaoke booth with a screen showing lyrics to songs from the movie. Next to it is a well and tables to write you wish to drop in the well. There were buttons and keychains that were given away. Astra Lumina is an experience not to be missed and a chance to walk in a garden with stars! 

#AstraLumina, #SouthCoastBotanicGardens, #AstraArchway, #StarlightBeacons, #FallingStars, #StardustRays, #CelestialTrail, #StellarVisions, #CosmicChoir, #AstralGenesis, #RiseOfTheStars, #BeyondTheHorizon, #WishMovie 


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