Austin Embraces a New Holiday Tradition with Illumaverse

Austin is jam-packed with holiday traditions that draw out thousands of locals looking to enjoy festive sights and sounds. But this year, a brand new event is coming to town. Creative companies Nelda Studios and DadaLab have joined together to present Illumaverse, an imaginative exhibition highlighting how people celebrate the season around the globe — except there’s a futuristic twist.

DadaLab will host the spectacle at its East Austin studio during the weekends of December 8 through 30, infusing familiar traditions with otherworldly influences to construct a completely reimagined environment. The groups worked with Austin-based artists and the team from Texas Performing Arts Fabrication Studios at UT Austin to develop the inaugural show, which was inspired by works from Bee Cave Arts Foundation and the recent Creek Show. Running from 45 minutes to an hour, it will feature multiple rooms of light-filled installations, ethereal music and astonishing landscapes.

“When we opened our new space earlier this year, we knew that we had to do something for the holidays,” says Kyle Evans, co-founder of dadaLab. “We’re excited to work alongside the Nelda Studios team and many of our artist friends to bring that vision to life.”

With a mission to produce thought-provoking experiences using art, science and interactive technology, immersive events like this are a regular thing for dadaLab. Nelda Studios, on the other hand, was founded by Karl and Nelda Buckman in 2022 to help foster artists and organizations that work to expand our creative scene across multiple mediums. The ideal match up is sure to build something truly memorable for family and friends this winter.

See the holidays in a whole new light and connect with your community in Austin and beyond at Illumaverse. Tickets are $15 for kids ages four to 12; $25 for adults; and $20 for students, seniors and military. Visit the website for more information.