John Mayer, Calvin Harris to light up lantern festival’s return

RiSE Festival is the biggest sky lantern festival in the world, which means it can reach for the skies for headliners in its music lineup.

Superstar DJ and frequent Vegas headliner Calvin Harris, guitar great John Mayer of Dead & Company and Australian alt-dance group Rüfüs Du Sol are to play the annual event, set for Oct. 3, 4 and 5 at Jean Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert south of Las Vegas.

Announced Thursday via news release, the festival’s array of artists features “electronic, indie, folk, and experimental genres.” For evidence, add to the lineup Ben Böhmer, Goose, Elderbrook, LP Giobbi, Oliver Heldens, Emmit Fenn, RY X, Patrick Watson, Coco & Breezy, RIVO, Forester, Eduardo Castillo, Carrie Keller and City of the Sun. The daily schedule is listed below.

The event celebrates its 10th anniversary, though it premiered in 2014, an inauspicious start marred by substandard transportation service. NobleLight Foundation acquired the event last year, turning it into a nonprofit, philanthropic exercise. The festival was paused for improvements last year, hence the 10th anniversary recognition.

Organizers say the festival’s infrastructure has been enhanced to include an expanded Compass area, the festival’s central hub. This area accommodates a higher volume of visitors. Each sky lantern is biodegradable and “symbolizing personal hopes and messages.” The event is a grand, collaborative art installation.

Curated zones include the Path, where guests detach from stress on a sensory journey through art installations; the Compass, where lantern launches coincide with the live performances; and the Horizon, which is a dancefest under the stars.

Tickets for RiSE Festival are on sale 10 a.m. Friday, at RISEfestival.com

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.