The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia, PA, is held each year in Franklin Square. First held in 2016, this festival showcases more than two dozen large Chinese lanterns and offers a great look into the culture of this amazing country.
Having personally visited several lantern festivals in Asia, I can attest that the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is amazingly well done and offers an authentic look into these great cultural events.
The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia comes to life after dark as the lanterns begin to glow.
For me, the highlight of the festival was the 200-foot dragon. Dragons are popular imagery in Chinese culture and seeing such an imposing lantern is both beautiful and impressive. Since 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, the dragon lantern will be returning to the festival this year.
When I visited the festival in 2018, it featured 28 different lanterns and utilized 15,000 LED lights. These pieces of artwork were all quite large including several large tunnels that visitors walk through. And the festival has only grown bigger since my visit!
Many of these pieces rotate out each year. In fact, only two of the lanterns on display in 2017 returned in 2018. In 2024, many lanterns will be different from last year’s event. So, if you’ve visited in the past, it’s well worth taking the time to visit again.
The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philly also features live performances from Chinese performers. Three shows are held every night of the event, so make sure to plan your visit around the showtimes to make sure you see these great artists at work.
I also enjoyed the variety of food available during the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival. Square Burger, which has a permanent stand in Franklin Square, offers several Asian-themed dishes during the event. There are also several pop-up vendors offering a variety of Asian (not just Chinese) dishes. Visitors can also sip both local and Asian beers and Asian-inspired cocktails at the festival’s beer garden.
Overall, I’d highly recommend a visit to the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia.
In 2024, the festival will be held nightly from June 20 through August 18. It will be open from 6-11 pm nightly. Due to the festival’s popularity, timed tickets are required on Friday and Saturday nights.
If you can’t visit in the evening or just have a passing interest in seeing the lanterns, the park is open for free during the day. While seeing the lanterns lit up is well worth paying the price of admission, they are still neat to see during daylight hours.
If you’re looking for something to do after the festival, take a stroll through nearby Chinatown. The lights and atmosphere of this area of town really come out at night, and it’s almost like taking a trip to Asia without leaving Philadelphia.
If you can, visit on a weeknight, not only is it less crowded, but you’ll save a few dollars on your ticket costs and don’t have to worry about arriving at a certain time.
For more information or to purchase tickets for the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, visit the festival’s website.
Still not convinced? Scroll down to see even more photos of the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philly. Looking for more? Check out our favorite things to do at Christmas in Philly, our favorite breweries in Philadelphia, and the best places to get an authentic cheesesteak.
Note: My visit to the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival was hosted by the event. However, the opinions expressed are my own.
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One word: stunning! Is this done every year?
They have done it every year for the last few. I hope it’s continued in the future as it is quite amazing.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures and story on the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia. We are studying it in class this week and the students love all the colorful photos.