There are also several pop-up vendors offering a variety of Asian (not just Chinese) dishes. Square Burger, which has a permanent stand in Franklin Square, offers several Asian-themed dishes during the event. I also enjoyed the variety of food available during the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival.

The first of several lantern tunnels at the festival. 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. The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philly also features live performances from Chinese performers. The panda lantern is one of only two that returned from 2017. So, if you’ve visited in the past, it’s well worth taking the time to visit again. In 2022, many lanterns will be different from 2019, the last time the festival was held. In fact, only two of the lanterns on display in 2017 returned in 2018. Many of these pieces rotate out each year. Looking through the dragon’s tail towards another Chinese lantern. These pieces of artwork were all quite large including several large tunnels that visitors walk through. When I visited the festival in 2018, it featured 28 different lanterns and utilized 15,000 LED lights. The 200-foot dragon is the highlight of the festival. In 2022, the dragon lantern will be returning to the festival. Dragons are popular imagery in Chinese culture and seeing such an imposing lantern is both beautiful and impressive. The highlight of the festival was the 200-foot dragon. The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia comes to life after dark as the lanterns begin to glow. The entrance to the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival on the eastern side of Franklin Square. 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. Begun in 2016, this festival showcases more than two dozen large Chinese lanterns and offers a great look into the culture of this amazing country. The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia, PA, is held each year in Franklin Square. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something at no additional cost to you. Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links.

Chinese lantern festival