What to Expect at the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia

Undoubtedly one of the most colorful displays in a city known for its art, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival brings over 1200 creations to Franklin Square each summer. The structures are intriguing to view during the day, but after dark is when they are truly impressive.

The hand-painted, lighted sculptures are made using traditional Chinese methods and take weeks to install around the square. The individual creations come together in nearly 40 outstanding displays depicting traditional elements of Chinese culture.

Every year, all (or nearly all) of the lanterns are brand new to the city. That means, if you go year after year, there are always unique pieces to see and experience. We have been to the festival numerous times and are consistently blown away by the artistry and creativity. The combination of the beautiful lanterns, unique entertainment, and food makes the Chinese Lantern Festival a must do in Philadelphia. (The photos in this article span multiple years and are representative of the inventiveness of the pieces.)

The lantern displays

Around the grounds, pandas eat in a bamboo forest, a towering Palace of Heaven changes colors, and birds move and fly. You can walk through a corridor surrounded by sunflowers and animals, and enjoy a fountain show with choreographed lights, water, and music that plays multiple times throughout the evening.

Because 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, the festival features more dragons than ever. There are 18 three-dimensional dragons or sculptures of the mythical creatures. A few of them even fly and breathe smoke.

In addition to the static lanterns, many of the works at the Philly Lantern Festival move or are interactive. Visitors will find flowers that open and close on demand, light-up walkways that change color when you step on them, and other pieces with sound effects.

A section of the festival features animal-shaped musical instruments you can play. So, if you have ever wanted to play the xylophone on the side of a flamingo, this is your place. There is also a honeycomb game on the side of a beehive.

Every corner of the park holds a new, illuminated surprise with over 10,000 LED lights in total. Every year, we make numerous loops around the square to see the lanterns as it gets darker and to appreciate all the creative elements.

Entertainment & art

Nightly entertainment adds another component to the festival. Artists from China include folk dancers in traditional costume, acrobats, and performers who complete balancing acts that seem nearly impossible. We’re particularly intrigued by the dramatic Chinese art of face changing in which a performer instantly changes masks quicker than the blink of an eye. There are 3 30-minute performances every night interspersed with fountain shows–there is something happening at least every half-hour from 6:00-10:30pm.

In addition to the performances, there are also folk artists selling their creations and demonstrations. Artists on site create and sell fantastic aluminum creatures like peacocks, lions, and dragons, while others paint lanterns and decorate the inside of bottles with intricate images and calligraphy. On Friday through Sunday evenings, visitors can also take folk dancing lessons or learn how to make delicious dumplings.

Food

There is also more food to choose from than ever this year. Franklin Square’s SquareBurger has burgers, ice cream, and chicken tenders, and several kiosks–including the always popular Sang Kee–serve Asian specialties. You can try everything from Dan Dan noodles to spring rolls and chicken satay. New this year are the incredible dumplings from Humpty’s Dumplings (we’re partial to the cheesesteak variety) and pizza. Plus, the Dragon Beer Garden has cocktails, mocktails, wine, and beer.

We’ve sampled steamed buns, General Tao’s chicken, satay, meatballs, and more across our visits. Prices are average (or maybe even slightly below) for a festival of this kind, with a platter of teriyaki grilled chicken and vegetable fried rice running $16, 3-piece vegetarian spring rolls for $8, and a 9-inch pepperoni pizza for $14. The quality of food and drinks is also far superior to what we’ve experienced at similar events.

Don’t miss the drinks at Lotus Cocktail Bar or the pineapple smoothie at Sang Kee that is served in a whole pineapple. There are plenty of options for drinks around the event. It is worth noting that this summer has brought more heat and humidity than normal, so staying hydrated is important. Visitors can bring in both bottled water and reusable bottles for water.