Courtesy of Astra Lumina via YouTube
A trip through Astra Lumina is guaranteed to be unlike any hike you’ve ever been on. The trail is shrouded in darkness, transforming into a celestial pathway before your very eyes. As you hike through the Great Smoky Mountains, stars descend from the heavens, lights shoot up tree trunks, and astral song surrounds you.
This immersive nighttime adventure takes place nightly at Anakeesta, an adventure park in the Great Smoky Mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, starting Oct. 21. The park’s natural setting sets the tone for a nighttime adventure that marries the wonder and beauty of nature with the enchantment of high-tech lights, projection, and sound.
At the start of the Astra Lumina journey, guests pass under the Astra Archway and enter a world where the stars descend from the sky in a beautiful symphony of light and sound. Hikers meander through a forest that is amplified by eight distinct astra zones, each more enchanting than the last. Highlights include the sound-laden Cosmic Choir, the visually stunning Stardust Rays and Stellar Visions, and the Celestial Trail. Before the hike is over, travelers will watch the regeneration of the stars and their return to the inky-black skies above.
Courtesy of Astra Lumina via YouTube
Astra Lumina is the first experience of its kind in the U.S., but the Lumina Enchanted Night Walks have already taken off in 14 locations around the world, including in Europe and Japan. According to the website, “Each Lumina Night Walk is a luminous journey that reveals the exceptional beauty of a natural site. They use seamlessly integrated multimedia to immerse visitors of all ages into an imaginative world and to spark emotion.”
The nighttime adventures are created by Moment Factory, a Canada-based multimedia entertainment studio.
The Astra Lumina exhibit at Anakeesta opens on Oct. 21 and runs nightly from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The experience is an add-on to the multitudes of adventure found at Anakeesta, so park admission must be purchased. The online price for both park admission and Astra Lumina is $49.99 with reduced fares for children and seniors. Children ages 3 and under are free. Tickets are available now.
In addition to the new, after-dark Astra Lumina experience, Anakeesta is home to the longest treetop skywalk in North America, a mountain coaster, a zip line, a scenic chondola, and a handful of other adventures.
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