Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia Transforms the City into a Summer Fairy Tale

• The festival has been taking place in Franklin Square since 2016.
• More than a thousand lanterns create fairy tale scenes.
• The centerpiece is a 200-foot dragon.

Philadelphia celebrates the eighth year of the Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square, which has become an important summer tradition for local residents and tourists. This year, the festival once again transforms the historic square into a vibrant fairy tale land.

More than a thousand handmade lanterns showcase intricate scenes that vary from enchanted forests to underwater worlds. The centerpiece is a 200-foot (61-meter) dragon, which has become a symbol of summer in the city.

“This has definitely become a summer tradition in Philadelphia. People have come to expect this,” noted Emmie Niddl, president and general director of Historic Philadelphia, the event's organizer. “People come here who are just passing through. They know that the lanterns are new this year.”

The festival attracts a diverse crowd, where people from different cultures celebrate together. “It was a beautiful night. Just to see different people - whether they are Asian, Black, White... everyone is here to celebrate,” said Tameka Battler, a visitor from Nashville, Tennessee.

Some visitors, like local resident Jamie Lenegan, dress in traditional Chinese attire to fully immerse themselves in the experience. “We love to dress up, so we want to be immersed in the culture. We want to really enjoy the moment,” added Lenegan.

Another main attraction is the visual beauty of the festival. “All the colors and lights, it’s just breathtaking. It’s simply bright and beautiful,” remarked James Rohman, who arrived in the city with his family.

The festival traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year period, but the organizers moved the event to summer to avoid unpredictable winter weather. The Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia runs until September 31.

Tags: USA/Culture