RISE Festival 2025 Las Vegas: Dates, Location, and What to Expect
RISE Festival 2025 will take place October 3-5 on the Jean Dry Lake Bed, just south of Las Vegas. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this unique event is recognized as the world’s largest sky lantern festival, drawing thousands of attendees each year for an experience that blends music, art, and an unforgettable lantern release in the Mojave Desert.
For anyone interested in festivals that create lasting memories, RISE stands out as both a striking visual spectacle and a symbol of hope and unity. The festival’s 2025 edition promises a monumental lineup and immersive activities, making it a significant highlight in the Las Vegas events calendar.
Tickets for RISE Festival 2025 go on sale May 16 at 10am PT, and attendees will have the opportunity to be part of an iconic gathering just twenty miles from the city’s famous strip. Details on performers, festival features, and how to participate can be found on the official RISE Festival website and its Instagram page.
RISE Festival 2025 Las Vegas: Dates, Location, and What to Expect
RISE Festival 2025 Overview
RISE Festival 2025 marks a decade of sky lantern celebrations in the Las Vegas region, drawing thousands to the Mojave Desert for a distinctive blend of music, art, and light. The 2025 event promises expanded programming and commemorative elements, spotlighting both the festival’s origins and its significant 10-year anniversary.
History and Evolution
RISE Festival began as an intimate gathering devoted to the sky lantern ceremony and has steadily grown into a large-scale event. Traditionally held in the Mojave Desert, RISE is known for its immersive combination of art installations and live musical performances, making it a standout among festivals in the region.
Each attendee receives lanterns to participate in a collective release, creating a striking visual experience against the night sky. Over the years, RISE has evolved by introducing more music, interactive art, and wellness activities, appealing to an increasingly diverse audience. The festival places strong emphasis on sustainability and clean-up, ensuring that lantern remnants are collected from the site each year.
10th Anniversary Milestone
The 2025 edition serves as the official 10th anniversary of RISE Festival. Scheduled for October 3-5, this milestone event is set to take place on Jean Dry Lake, south of Las Vegas, with special programming to commemorate a decade of sky lantern traditions and community focus.
For its tenth year, the festival is adding exclusive art collaborations, extended music lineups, and anniversary-themed installations. Expect an enlarged lantern release, celebratory merchandise, and new culinary offerings. Organizers are highlighting both returning traditions and new experiences designed to mark this landmark occasion, making RISE Festival’s 10th anniversary one of 2025’s signature festivals.
Location and Dates
RISE Festival 2025 takes place in the Mojave Desert just outside Las Vegas. The event is scheduled for early October and brings visitors together for three nights of music and sky lantern releases.
Mojave Desert Venue
The festival is held on the Jean Dry Lake Bed, a natural dry lake surface located about 40 minutes southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. This expansive venue in the Mojave Desert provides a wide open, unobstructed landscape that enhances the experience of the sky lantern festival.
The site is known for its flat terrain and panoramic desert views, creating a unique backdrop for musical acts and large-scale lantern releases. Access from Las Vegas is straightforward by car, and on-site infrastructure is set up to accommodate large crowds.
The location’s remoteness allows for minimal light pollution, making the lantern launches especially striking against the night sky. Detailed travel information and directions are available through the official RISE Festival website.
Schedule: October 3-5, 2025
RISE Festival 2025 runs from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5, offering three full nights of activities and performances. Each evening features a curated lineup of musical guests, with artists such as Rüfüs Du Sol, Ben Böhmer, and Oliver Heldens scheduled to appear.
Friday launches the 10th Anniversary edition, with the music and lantern release beginning at dusk. Saturday includes both headline performances and the signature mass lantern release.
Sunday closes the festival with another group lantern launch and additional live acts. More details about ticket packages and specific programming for each day are available on the official ticket page.
Signature Experiences
Visitors to RISE Festival 2025 in Las Vegas encounter an immersive celebration of light, music, and community. Signature experiences at the event center on the magic of sky lanterns, vibrant group art projects, and a collective focus on meaningful connections.
Sky Lantern Festival Highlights
The RISE Festival is known for its expansive sky lantern festival, which takes place in the Mojave Desert about 20 miles south of Las Vegas. During this event, thousands of floating lanterns illuminate the night sky, creating an extraordinary visual display. The Compass, placed in the heart of the festival grounds, serves as the focal point for the lantern releases, gathering participants for each scheduled launch.
Each festival attendee receives two lanterns, one to release during the ceremony and another to keep or dedicate to a personal intention. The sky lantern event is synchronized, with attendees releasing lanterns together using eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. This coordinated effort emphasizes shared intention and sustainability.
Live performances and a diverse musical lineup, featuring artists like RÜFÜS DU SOL, Calvin Harris, and John Mayer, add to the immersive environment. The blend of music and spectacle ensures the festival experience is more than just a visual event; it becomes multi-sensory and memorable.
Lantern Release Tradition
The signature lantern release tradition at RISE is not only a visual highlight but also a key emotional moment for attendees. Participants write messages, wishes, or the names of loved ones directly onto their lanterns before the release, encouraging self-reflection and connection within the group.
As dusk falls, everyone gathers around the Compass and prepares for a synchronized lantern launch. The floating lanterns gradually rise, symbolizing hopes and positive thoughts taking flight into the desert sky. The collective act of releasing thousands of lanterns at once offers a sense of unity, with each person's light contributing to a larger pattern above.
Organizers ensure that all released lanterns are collected after the event, reflecting a commitment to environmental stewardship. This closed-loop approach sets the festival apart, making it both responsible and symbolic.
Community Art Projects
Community art projects at RISE encourage participation beyond the lantern release. Large collaborative installations and group mural activities are available for attendees to join, transforming the festival grounds into a canvas for creativity.
Interactive stations often invite festivalgoers to contribute to evolving pieces of art, such as community murals, sculpture assemblies, or message walls. These projects allow individuals to leave a tangible mark on the event and facilitate collaboration among people who might not otherwise meet.
The emphasis on community art projects cultivates a collective atmosphere, integrating personal expression with a shared experience. Guests participate at their own pace—painting, writing, or building in open, welcoming spaces designed to foster creativity and connection.
Art, Music, and Performances
RISE Festival 2025 in Las Vegas brings together art, music, and light for a unique multi-day celebration. Attendees can expect a mix of emerging talent, headline music performances, and immersive art experiences set against the Nevada desert landscape.
Emerging Artists Spotlight
The festival highlights new voices in both music and visual arts, giving emerging artists the opportunity to showcase their work on a prominent stage. Selected musicians and creators join a lineup that is not limited to global headliners but also features innovative acts breaking into the scene.
A dedicated area will display visual artworks, installations, and multimedia projects from up-and-coming artists. This year, there is a stronger focus on digital art, light sculptures, and experimental performances, reflecting the festival’s theme of artistic elevation and discovery.
Fans can explore these creative displays between main stage acts and even meet some of the artists during dedicated session hours. A rotating schedule ensures a fresh experience with new artists highlighted each day.
Live Music Performances
RISE Festival’s tenth anniversary brings major live music acts such as RÜFÜS DU SOL, Calvin Harris, and John Mayer, delivering headline sets over three days. The event features two main stages in the desert, each hosting a mix of electronic, pop, indie, and acoustic sounds.
Six separate musical performances are planned, with each night presenting both established and lesser-known talents. Attendees can expect carefully curated lineups that blend chart-toppers and new voices for musical variety.
Festivalgoers experience sound and light in a unique environment, with dusk-to-midnight performances creating a memorable atmosphere. The music programming is structured for both high-energy dancing and more relaxed listening.
| Day | Headliner |
|---|---|
| Friday | Rüfüs Du Sol |
| Saturday | Calvin Harris |
| Sunday | John Mayer |
See the complete lineup and headliner details at the official announcement on Billboard.
Interactive Art Installations
Throughout the festival grounds, a series of interactive art installations invite guests to participate, not just observe. These installations combine sculpture, projection mapping, and hands-on elements, allowing attendees to engage with art in direct and tactile ways.
Signature pieces include large-scale lantern displays, immersive light tunnels, and collaborative mural projects. New technology-driven works—including augmented reality—make artwork reactive to both movement and sound.
Schedules and maps are provided onsite and via the festival app, helping visitors plan their own route through the art experiences. Many installations are lit after sunset, transforming the desert landscape into a dynamic canvas of color and light, detailed at the RISE Festival official site.
Participatory Experiences
RISE Festival 2025 in Las Vegas emphasizes meaningful interaction, shaping special moments that invite both self-reflection and vibrant community engagement. The event’s thoughtfully designed experiences draw participants in, encouraging deep connection and a joyful sense of belonging.
Reflection and Connection
Attendees participate in moments designed for personal reflection and intentional connection with others. One standout activity at RISE is the lantern release, where thousands send eco-friendly lanterns into the night sky, each carrying personal hopes, messages, or memories.
Participants often use this time to write or draw on their lanterns, focusing on what has significance in their lives. The shared act of lighting and releasing the lanterns fosters a collective sense of hope and unity.
Quiet zones and mindfulness spaces are provided throughout the festival grounds. These areas give people an opportunity to pause, meditate, or simply take in the visual beauty around them. The experience is crafted to support both solitude and togetherness, blending reflection with connection in a natural setting.
Joyful Gatherings and Community
The festival builds community through interactive art, live music, and group activities. Guests can join workshops, add their own marks to large-scale collaborative art, or enjoy performances by diverse musical artists.
Music and dance zones become social hubs where strangers often become friends, sharing in the celebration of music and movement. People are encouraged to engage with new acquaintances by participating in activities such as communal art installations, storytelling sessions, and on-site games.
Festivals staff and volunteers are present to guide, answer questions, and help connect people with various participatory opportunities. The atmosphere is intentionally welcoming, supporting the creation of joyful memories and a strong sense of shared experience among everyone present.
Ticket Information
Ticket sales for RISE Festival 2025 in Las Vegas feature special pricing for early buyers and options designed to benefit charitable causes. Attendees can choose from several packages that include festival access, amenities, and more.
Early Bird Ticket Pricing
Early bird ticket pricing is available for those who purchase in advance. These tickets offer significant discounts compared to regular pricing, allowing festival-goers to secure a spot at a reduced rate.
Packages for the event include Gold, Platinum, and Diamond options. For example:
- Gold Package: $269
- Platinum Package: $489
- Diamond Package: $989
Each package includes perks such as access to the lantern ceremony and musical performances. Early bird availability is limited, and prices increase as the event date approaches. To buy tickets or learn more about what’s included, see the official RISE Festival ticket page.
Non-Profit Charitable Event Details
RISE Festival is committed to supporting charitable organizations alongside its main festivities. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales has been designated to aid non-profit partners focused on community and environmental causes.
The festival’s charitable initiatives may include donations to local groups, partnerships with national organizations, and on-site awareness activities. Attendees are encouraged to participate in these efforts, which help reinforce the festival’s dedication to positive impact.
By purchasing a ticket, guests contribute not only to their own experience but also support ongoing philanthropic goals within the Las Vegas area. Further information about non-profit collaborations and specific charity partners is generally shared closer to the festival date.
RISE Festival and Las Vegas Festival Scene
RISE Festival 2025 adds a unique celebration of art, music, and sky lanterns to the annual lineup of Las Vegas events. Its blend of large-scale performances and immersive experiences appeals to festival goers seeking something beyond traditional music festivals.
Comparisons to Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC)
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is known globally as a cornerstone of the electronic dance music scene, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. EDC’s focus is on electronic music, massive production, and an all-night party atmosphere.
RISE Festival, by contrast, centers its experience on the peaceful beauty of the sky lantern release, combining live performances with visual art instead of exclusively electronic music. While EDC features major DJs, RISE 2025 will showcase a diverse lineup, including RÜFÜS DU SOL, Calvin Harris, and John Mayer on the dry lakebed outside Las Vegas. RISE also emphasizes environmental stewardship and personal reflection, creating a calmer and more contemplative experience compared to the high-octane energy of EDC.
Life is Beautiful and Downtown Las Vegas
The Life is Beautiful festival transforms downtown Las Vegas each year with a mix of popular music acts, art installations, and food experiences. Its urban setting attracts a younger crowd and often features headline artists such as Kendrick Lamar.
Unlike Life is Beautiful’s downtown urban vibe, RISE Festival takes place on the Jean Dry Lake Bed, offering a desert landscape that contrasts sharply with city lights. While both festivals prioritize creativity and community, RISE centers on the symbolic lantern release, setting it apart from the concerts and street art of Life is Beautiful. Each event celebrates art and music, but their locations and core experiences appeal to different preferences—urban nightlife versus open desert gathering.
