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This year, the festival once again transforms the historic
square into a luminous wonderland.
More than a thousand handcrafted lanterns depict intricate
scenes from enchanted forests to the underwater world. The
centerpiece, a 200-foot-long (61-meter-long) dragon, has become
an iconic symbol of summer in the city.
“It has definitely become a Philly summer tradition. People
really have grown to expect it,” said Amy Needle, president and
CEO of Historic Philadelphia, the event organizer. “We have
people that come back every year. They know that every year the
lanterns are all new.”
The festival’s appeal spans generations and cultures, drawing
diverse crowds who come to immerse themselves in the
breathing-taking displays.
“Tonight, it was a beautiful night. Just seeing the different
people out, just different cultures out, whether you’re Asian,
Black, white ... everybody is here to celebrate,” said Tamea
Butler, a visitor from Nashville, Tennessee.
Some attendees, like Philadelphia resident Jamie Lenegan, dress
in traditional Chinese attire to fully embrace the event.
“We love to dress up because we want to be immersed in the
culture. We want to really embrace the moment and just take it
all in,” said Lenegan, who visited the festival for the first
time with friends.
For others, the visual splendor is the main draw.
“All the colors and the lights and stuff like that, you can’t
get enough of it. It’s just vivid and beautiful,” said James
Rohmann, who was making a day trip to the city with his son.
Traditionally, the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Lunar
New Year period. However, organizers moved the event to the
summer to avoid unpredictable winter weather. The Philadelphia
Chinese Lantern Festival runs through Aug. 31.
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