Las Vegas New Years Festival at Area 15: Playa Playground

When most people think of New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, they probably think of gambling in the strip casinos, the fireworks, the traffic jams and the hordes of people they have to fight through to get into their favorite clubs. For those looking to escape the norm and experience something truly inspired, Playa Playground was just off of the Las Vegas strip and hidden from the overwhelming volume of tourist activity. The Burning Man style event was probably the most unique experience to occur in Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve.

While almost everything that Las Vegas has to offer is available 24/7, Playa Playground was a once in a decade experience. Outfitted in all the best ways, the event was a collaborative effort of independent entertainers, production professionals and high profile event planning and production companies with the common goal of expressing positivity through the values held by the Burning Man community. Even with everything that was happening in Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve, Playa Playground served as an excellent alternative to the standard Vegas experience.

PlayAlchemist is a Burning Man Sound Camp that offers a deeply nuanced experience through their mystical ethos. They are known for creating a peaceful and grounding atmosphere that excites the senses and inspires the mind. Lumen and Forge was tasked with helping them to create the centerpiece for the event and like always we came correct. We helped the PlayAlchemist team build a giant pyramid installation and placed it symmetrically at the entrance to the main staging areas in the outside lot. The result was an ever-changing and hypnotic display that beckoned guests to enter in and explore it.

The pyramid was intended to be experienced for those outside as well as inside. The interior was an interactive exhibit completely furnished with Victorian style decor and outfitted to be a warm escape from the cold Las Vegas New Years Eve night. People gathered inside for the warmth but stayed for the ambience. A great place to have a drink and hold a conversation, enjoy the music and take in the scenery. To create an immersive environment, we implemented a custom lighting system. This allowed us to change the colors and textures of the interior of the pyramid on the fly, creating a truly unique experience for everyone who ventured inside the installation.

Projection mapping is the process of using video projectors to display images on physical objects. It can be used to create a variety of displays including three-dimensional shapes and illusions that were impossible to do before. In a time when everyone is competing for everyone else’s attention, projection mapping is one of those powerful tools for cutting through the noise and stopping people in their tracks. People look up from their phones to gaze at the incredible imagery in wonder.

With precision programming software, we can effectively turn any surface into a work of animated art. What better canvas to project onto than a pyramid as the centerpiece to an incredible night like Playa Playground. No matter where you were at the event you could see the apex of the pyramid poking out towards the stars. The first thing you see upon entering and the last sight as you leave. By strategically placing the installation at the main entrance we were able to offer attendees a sensation of wonder as they made their way into the main event.

Out of all the attractions in Las Vegas there are few that push the limits of entertainment farther than Area 15. An indoor psychedelic playground that caters directly to your senses, Area 15 is in a category of its own. Just a short ride from the world famous Las Vegas Strip you can test your ax throwing skills, ride the indoor zipline or explore the infinite space of the mind at Wink World. Area 15 has over a dozen thought provoking and engaging exhibits for all ages.

The moment you step foot through the entrance you can feel like you’ve been transported to another world. Lights and projections illuminate the massive warehouse space with psychedelic art and foliage creating a strange but cozy environment. The exhibits are scattered throughout the venue giving you enough room to explore the decor of the space as you venture deeper. Area 15 also has live music with artists like Paul Okenfold headlining the main stage in the A-Lot. From interactive VR worlds to climbing through a portal into another dimension in Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, you could keep coming back and still find something new every time. For New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas the choice is clear; Area 15 is the only place to be.

For anyone who has been to Burning Man in Black Rock City, the night was a nostalgic representation of the culture and community experience typically felt at an official Burning Man gathering. The team at Playa Playground spent countless hours curating an organic lineup of artists, creators, musicians, vendors and performers to reignite the spirit of Burning Man in veterans of the festival and leave a lasting impression on newcomers.

This was most evident in the Sound Camps which were scattered throughout the three venues. The camps are where you can socialize, dance and create to your soul’s satisfaction. Burning Man Sound Camps are organized by small groups within the BM community that wish to express an artistic vision through music and community interaction. Most camps feature in-demand artists and performers of various art disciplines and offer a unique take on the live music experience.

Another unique element of Burning Man culture is the Art Cars, and they certainly had a large presence at Playa Playground. Art Cars are exactly what they sound like; mobile art pieces that utilize and repurpose older vehicles. These incredible works of art turn heads as they cruise past you and leave you thinking you’ve seen it all. For example; the Dancetronauts Art Car is a double decker spectacle on wheels. The team arrives dressed in Nasa spacesuits, riding in a truck outfitted to resemble a space shuttle. The bed of the truck lifts up on hydraulics to move the party 40ft in the air displaying the Burning Man effigy in LED lights. Accompanied by a world class dance troupe, they are prepared to turn any parking lot into the party to be at. Art cars like Xuza will make your head spin just trying to figure out what you are looking at, but you won’t be able to avert your gaze. You may still be trying to figure out what you are seeing when they park and start to flex their high fidelity sound system. Then you know it’s time to stop thinking and start dancing.

Building the installation was anything but easy and required hours of intensive planning and cooperation from different teams. The pyramid was 50ft long on each side and about 40ft high at the apex. Constructed using steel struts and fiberglass panels; a structurally secure geometric pyramid with the appropriate surface for video mapping on all four sides. The projectors are all mapped and controlled live by one of our elite technicians so that the projected images are sharp and consistent with the canvas throughout the event.

To achieve a high quality projection and offer the spectators a truly remarkable visual experience, we utilized four Barco UDX W32 projectors. At around 200 pounds each, these projectors are nothing to take lightly. The Barco UDX W32 projectors produce 32K lumens and 4K resolution per side of the pyramid. We measured the distance and calculated where to position the projectors. Then, we set up trusses and rigs and placed the projectors in weather proof cases and securely mounted them to the top of a post. Finally we used anchors to secure the truss to the ground and made sure it was impervious to wind. After that we set up our visuals booth and used madmapper software to precision map the visuals to each surface of the pyramid. One extremely powerful projector on each side captured the attention of audiences from across the event.

The experience would not have been the same, and without our bespoke technological solutions, the pyramid, lighting and interactive environment would not have been possible. Technology is essential for visually engaging events like Playa Playground – Las Vegas New Years Eve fundraiser. It’s what helps create an immersive and interactive experience that has a memorable impact on those who attend.