Things to Do: Biltmore After Dark: Luminere now open
The Biltmore Estate has launched “Luminere” at the estate and guarantees to wow guests! Jamarcus stops by the estate to chat with Director of Events Travis Tatham about what you can expect when you visit.
Created with acclaimed Philadelphia-based experiential design studio Klip Collective, Luminere blends cutting-edge projection mapping with the estate’s architecture and landscape, creating a dreamscape of color, motion, and sound. The studio has also worked on projection mapping for Sundance Film Festival, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, and Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia, among others. Luminere runs on select evenings through Oct. 18, 2026, and marks a new era of evening experiences at Biltmore.
AdvertisementA New Chapter for Biltmore After Dark
Debuting during Biltmore’s 130th anniversary year, Luminere reflects both legacy and innovation. It is Biltmore’s first large-scale original evening experience beyond the holiday season. Inspired by an enduring appreciation of art and design, as well as by archival accounts of lantern-lit garden parties held on the estate in the 1920s, Luminere draws on the past while embracing modern storytelling.
“Opening Luminere is an incredibly meaningful moment for us,” said Chase Pickering, vice president of guest experience and great-great-grandson of Biltmore’s founder, George Vanderbilt. “My family has always believed in preserving the past while embracing the future. With Luminere, we’ve created something entirely new. It honors our legacy while inviting our guests to see the estate through a lens of wonder and creativity.”
Storytelling Through Light, Sound & Design
Luminere unfolds along a self-guided path through seven outdoor settings, including the façade of Biltmore House, gardens, the Conservatory, and a treescape. Each area is brought to life through projection, custom lighting, and an original musical score.
The gardens are integral to the experience. Plantings are designed to interact with light and evolve across the seasons, blending technology with the natural landscape.
Music is central to the storytelling. The original score, composed by Julian Grefe and featuring the Asheville Symphony, includes some recordings captured inside Biltmore House, inspired by its acoustics and legacy as a home for appreciating the arts.
Biltmore House becomes both a canvas and a character during Luminere. Cinematic projections reveal key moments in the estate’s history, from its construction to the Vanderbilt family’s enduring story.
“Using Biltmore as our canvas, we’ve created a visual and emotional journey that honors the estate’s history and natural surroundings,” said Ricardo Rivera, creative director and founder of Klip Collective. “We’re telling stories with light in a way that stirs the senses. It’s at times playful, it’s at times emotional, at times cerebral.”
Elevated Evenings
Luminere is designed to unfold at an unhurried pace as day turns into dusk, complemented by culinary offerings. Guests can pre-order artisan picnics, from charcuterie and regional cheeses to caviar and sparkling wine, or the Vanderbilt Gourmet Picnic featuring lobster and estate-raised beef, each presented in a keepsake cooler with sustainable packaging.
Restaurants across the estate offer seasonal menus, including handcrafted cocktails and desserts made with estate-grown ingredients including honey, herbs, and edible flowers.
Artistic Legacies Tour, Exclusive to Luminere Evenings
For those seeking a deeper connection, the new Artistic Legacies tour explores the art collection within Biltmore House and the Vanderbilt family’s own creative story. Works by masters like Monet, Renoir and Whistler are featured, alongside original artwork by Cornelia Vanderbilt on view for the first time.
What Luminere Guests Can Expect:
- Large-scale lighting displays integrated into the landscape and historic architecture
- An original musical score that brings visuals to life
- Nighttime views of Biltmore House and grounds that reveal the estate in a new light
- Culinary offerings such as artisan picnics and handcrafted cocktails and wines
Get tickets: www.biltmore.com
