A dragon and other wonders: the Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square

Thousands of years ago, ornate Chinese lanterns were on view only for emperors and their entourage, but today, this unique and venerable art form is spreading to the public across the world. This summer, at the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square, locals and visitors can enjoy wine, beer, burgers, and noodles under the gaze of a glowing 200-foot Chinese dragon.

For almost 2,000 years, the Chinese Lantern Festival has been celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar, which is the last day of the lunar New Year festivities. This year, that date was February 22, but that’s not a hospitable time of year in Philly to stage a giant lantern display outside, so it’s lighting up Franklin Square through June 12.

A garden and menagerie of lights

The installation is happening thanks to a partnership between Historic Philadelphia, Inc. and Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. (its parent company is Sichuan Tianyu Culture Transmission Co., Ltd). The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation is also behind the event, along with Franklin Square sponsor PECO, Visit Philly, and other city groups.

The Franklin Square fest features 28 different lantern displays throughout the seven-and-a-half acre park, illuminated by over 15,000 LED lights. There is a fantastical, immersive Welcome Gate arching over the main path into the park from the northwest corner of 6th and Race Streets, a windmill gallery, fish, frogs, giraffes, zebras, pandas, and flamingoes, a four-story pagoda, terracotta warriors, lotus flowers, and much more to captivate the eyes of all ages.

Each lantern sculpture was made by hand (some exclusively for this festival) in Zigong, Sichuan, a center for the art form for thousands of years. Nowadays, LED lights shine through colored silk fabric stretched over steel frames. Their weight and structural complexity belies their magical, airy look: the dragon weighs 18,000 pounds, and its head, rearing up 21 feet, was installed with the help of a crane and a 15-person crew. In all, 20 Chinese artisans have been in town for the last six weeks, assembling and decorating the displays.

Food and other fun

Attendees can purchase a round of mini golf and a carousel ride for the kids. There are also two 30-minute performances each night, included for the price of admission. These will encompass many traditional Chinese song and dance forms, including the ancient Sichuan opera art of “face-changing” dance, in which a fan-flourishing performer swaps from mask to mask in the blink of an eye. It looks like magic, and don’t ask the dancer how it’s done: true face-changers pass their art down through the generations and won’t share the secret with the audience.

There will also be a nightly market of Chinese handicrafts, food and drink from the Dragon Beer Garden, and burgers from SquareBurger, offering special menu items like cheesesteak egg rolls, a Fortune Cookie milkshake, and more. Snacks like chilled Chinese vegetable noodles with teriyaki mojo will be available in the beer garden.

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square will be open every night through June 12, 2016. The park and the Franklin Square playground will still be free and open during the day, with tickets required for entry to the Festival after 6pm. The Festival will run from 6-10pm Sunday through Thursdays, and 6-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Advance tickets are recommended ($12-$17, with group rates available), with timed tickets on Fridays and Saturdays. Performances will be at 6:30pm and 8:30pm Sunday through Thursday, and 7pm and 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

At right: the Festival's Welcome Gate. (Photo by Jeff Fusco for Tianyu.)