Rotation and Mutual Eclipse Events Season in the Kuiper Belt: (524366) 2001 XR$_{254}$
(524366) 2001 XR$_{254}$ is a dynamically Cold Classical Kuiper Belt Object that is a nearly equal-sized wide binary whose upcoming mutual events season makes it a particularly valuable target for physical characterization. In advance of the mutual eclipse events, we conducted a ground-based photometric observing campaign between 2021 and 2026 using the \textit{Lowell Discovery Telescope} to investigate the rotational and physical properties of the system, to refine predictions for its future mutual events, as well as provide a lightcurve we can use as a baseline to identify eclipse events superimposed with the rotation. We derive a double-peaked asymmetric rotational lightcurve with a period of 11.17$\pm$0.04 h and a lightcurve amplitude of 0.42$\pm$0.04 mag. The lightcurve presents a sharp V-shaped minimum consistent with the primary being a close/contact binary, possibly making this a triple system. Using the Keplerian mutual orbit solution, we model the upcoming mutual event season expected between $\sim$2031 and $\sim$2040 and present some individual events for future campaigns. 2001 XR$_{254}$ is one of the few wide binary Kuiper belt systems with a well-determined mutual orbit and a soon observable mutual eclipse event season. Mutual event observations of this possible triple system will provide a rare opportunity to improve component sizes, shapes, densities, and surface properties, offering insights into the formation of the Kuiper Belt.