Life is Beautiful Festival: A Celebration of Art, Music, and Ideas
Life is Beautiful Festival is an annual celebration of art, music, and ideas held in downtown Las Vegas. The festival was first launched in 2013 and has since become one of the most popular cultural events in the United States, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
It features an exciting mix of music, culinary experiences, art displays, and learning opportunities. Since the launch of the three-day event, it has since grown into one of the most highly anticipated cultural events in the region. According to reports, the 2019 edition of the festival generated an impressive $17.7 million in revenue, making it one of the most lucrative festivals in the world. In February 2022, Penske Media Corporation (PMC) announced that it had acquired a controlling stake in the festival. Although the terms of the deal were not fully disclosed, it was revealed that the acquisition was made through Rolling Stone, a subsidiary of PMC.
The festival is unique in its mission to create a space where people from all walks of life can come together and celebrate the beauty of life, while also exploring and discussing important issues facing society today. Over the course of three days, festival-goers can enjoy a wide range of activities, including music performances, art installations, keynote speakers, and more.
Music
Music is a central component of the Life is Beautiful Festival, with a diverse lineup of artists spanning multiple genres taking to the festival’s various stages. From mainstream pop and hip hop to indie rock and electronic dance music, there’s something for everyone. Past performers have included headliners such as Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Chance the Rapper, and Imagine Dragons, as well as up-and-coming acts and local artists.
Art
One of the standout features of the Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival is its commitment to showcasing art alongside its musical performances. Attendees are treated to an impressive array of murals and interactive sculpture exhibits created by both local and international artists. Additionally, the festival has incorporated recycled installations from Burning Man, a well-known annual event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.
One of the festival’s most notable art exhibits was the “Art Motel” created by art collective Meow Wolf in 2017. The exhibit transformed an abandoned motel into a digital wonderland of art, featuring custom-made sound, lighting, and projections. The collective revamped 17 rooms and the space’s 5,900-square-foot courtyard to create a truly immersive experience for attendees. Although the art motel did not return in 2018, the space was used to host a new installation by Portuguese artist Bordalo. The installation, entitled “Wild Wild Waste,” showcased six enormous animal structures created using 10,000 square feet of recycled trash.
The festival’s commitment to inspiring and uplifting its attendees extends beyond art and music. The Life is Beautiful Ideas series began in 2015 with the goal of spreading positivity and inspiring messages through a variety of speakers. The list of speakers has included notable figures such as Bill Nye, IN-Q, Joe De Sena, Stacy London, Ru Paul, and Karamo Brown, all of whom have shared their perspectives on a range of topics to encourage and motivate festival-goers.
Ideas
The Life is Beautiful Festival aims to inspire and engage visitors with a variety of thought-provoking talks and presentations. From social justice issues to environmentalism and sustainability, the festival’s speakers cover a range of topics that are relevant to today’s world. Past speakers have included prominent figures such as former Vice President Al Gore, author and activist Glennon Doyle, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Hsieh.
Food and Drink
The festival also celebrates Las Vegas’ vibrant culinary scene, with a variety of food and drink options available throughout the festival grounds. From gourmet food trucks and pop-up restaurants to craft beer and cocktail bars, festival-goers can indulge in a wide range of culinary delights. The addition of the culinary lineup has been a recent draw for attendees, overseen by culinary director Lee Flint. The goal is to collaborate with local talent and provide more opportunities for restaurants that may have been excluded in previous years. The 2018 culinary lineup featured esteemed chefs such as Justin Kingsley Hall of The Kitchen at Atomic, Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf, Royd Ellamar of Harvest, Hemant Kishore of The Toddy Shop, and Vincent Rotolo of Good Pie.
Community
The Life is Beautiful Festival is more than just a music and arts event. It’s a celebration of community and a platform for positive change. The festival partners with local organizations to promote social and environmental causes, and it also features a variety of interactive experiences that encourage visitors to engage with one another and with the world around them.
The Life is Beautiful Festival is a unique and inspiring celebration of the beauty of life, art, and community. It’s a place where people from all walks of life can come together to enjoy great music, explore new ideas, and connect with others in meaningful ways. If you’re looking for a festival experience that goes beyond the typical music event, the Life is Beautiful Festival is definitely worth checking out.
As for what LIfe is Beautiful Festival intends to showcase for 2023? Promoters have offered a glimpse into the lineup which will feature headlining acts Kendrick Lamar, the Killers, and Odesza. The opening night, headlined by the Killers, will showcase performances from artists such as Flume, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blxst, Bebe Rexha, Cloonee, Raye, and Dayglow. Day two, with Lamar closing the night, is set to feature performers such as the 1975, Omar Apollo, Madeon, Ferg, Cigarettes After Sex, Yung Gravy, Renée Rapp, Chika, and Purple Disco Machine. The festival will conclude with Odesza on Sunday, and feature artists Khalid, Nelly, Kim Petras, Rina Sawayama, Baby Tate, Claptone, and Jessie Murph throughout the day. Snakehips, Babytron, Talk, and Wilderado are also set to perform.
