Chinese Lantern Festival Welcomes Summer

Last year, it was one of the visual highlights of summer in the City of Brotherly Love. And now, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is back for five weeks of eye-popping Asian lanterns and other festivities in Franklin Square. The Festival opened to the public on Tuesday, to great acclaim. It will run through June 11th. A private event Monday night was a preview of the Festival, with live music, performances, and illumination of the lanterns.

The return of the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is a sign that summer’s coming.

Amy Needle with Historic Philadelphia, one of the organizers of the Chinese Lantern Festival, said that last year’s event had “glowing results.” Residents and visitors alike love the exposure to Chinese culture, she says. Needle also says that visitors from last year can expect a mix of old favorites and new surprises. The massive dragon, big as three school buses, will make a return, along with “29 new lanterns for this year’s festival, says Needle. “We have artisans from China who have been in Franklin Square for over a month creating them, hand making them.”

The traditional entertainment options in Franklin Square, like mini golf and the carousel, will remain in operation during the duration of the Festival. In addition, visitors can sip some brews at a Dragon Beer Garden, see authentic Chinese performers, and watch handicrafts being made.

The city is hoping that the influx of visitors coming to see the lanterns in Philly’s Chinatown neighborhood will bring a surge of money to surrounding businesses. Last year, the area’s restaurants in particular saw a boost in patronage.

“Last year was just try and see how it goes,” said John Chin, executive director of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. “And it went so well that discussions happened immediately afterwards about how to bring this back in a way that it can benefit the city.”

The Chinese Lantern Festival will be held from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. daily, with hours extended until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.