The Lumina Theater is more than a movie venue—it’s now a hub for community gatherings, offering everything from student nights and bar trivia to open mics and a new Art Deco lounge. In the 24 years since The Lumina turned on its big screens, this locally owned and operated theater has evolved into an innovative and unique cultural centerpiece for student and resident communities alike.
“We’re right at the center of Southern Village. It’s walkable to that entire community,” says owner Jeremy Welman.
Following the pandemic, The Lumina welcomed audiences into a completely remodeled theater. Visitors can easily park and are greeted by the vibrant murals of local artist, Loren Pease. Her work adorns the building’s exterior with golden embellishments, angel wings and with popcorn illustrations playfully bursting through the sheet metal of the screening rooms. Inside the theater, visitors are tempted to linger in the lobby. As visitors enter into the inviting lobby of the theater, they are welcomed with warm lighting and Art Deco design, emulating the magic of golden age cinema.
The lobby is just one of several inviting gathering spaces Lumina has introduced, alongside a taproom, multipurpose room, and various outdoor areas.The taproom not only serves beer and wine, but also hosts trivia on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. and karaoke on Saturdays at 8 p.m. Once a month, poets, musicians and comics flock to The Lumina’s Friday open mic night at 7p.m. This space, and the adjoining multipurpose room, can also be rented out for private functions through the Carolina Cinemas website. Whether it be Super Bowl Sunday or the Academy Awards, all private bookings are handled personally and carefully by general manager, Jim Lee.
The Tap Room is a great location for any party or get together.
Lee notes that a key piece of building community at The Lumina is keeping its opportunities accessible and affordable to students. The theater is just two miles from the university and accessible by public transportation; the NS bus line stops just a block away from the front doors. Discounted student tickets are sold daily, but on Thursday nights anyone with a university identification card— students, staff and faculty— can see a movie for only $5.50. This UNC Night is even more of a deal considering its time of the week. Typically, movies premiere on Thursday nights, giving Tar Heels special access to Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.
Welman says this same low price, “...about as cheap as you’ll find it anywhere in the country,” is available to everyone on Lumina’s weekly Terrific Tuesdays. On this day, The Lumina also offers a concessions deal: $9 for a small popcorn and drink.
Once the credits roll, moviegoers can unpack what they watched with a beverage on The Lumina’s new patio space or over dinner at Southern Village’s many restaurant offerings. Hankerings for local favorites, such as Al’s Burger Shack and Market and Moss, or even trendy new spots, such as Rasa Malaysia and Xolos Tacos + Tlayudas, can be satisfied only a block away.
The Lumina’s patio gazes out on the theater’s fifth auditorium: an outdoor cinema on the sweeping lawn of the Southern Village’s town green area. On warm Saturday nights, neighbors commune on the grass with folding chairs and picnic blankets for $8.50 movie screenings. On these summer nights, the setting sun is replaced by the glow of classic films and the decade’s most popular family movies across The Lumina’s 36-foot outdoor film screen.
The Lumina Theater’s outdoor movie screen.
This November, visitors to Lumina can anticipate the arrival of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters: Gladiator II, Wicked, Moana 2, Red One, Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Beyond, Welman hopes to continue sharing the diverse offerings of The Lumina with generations to come.
“Everybody loves having this little gem of a theater in their neighborhood, but for it to remain… we hope that everyone will support it.”
