Your Guide to the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square
The dragon is back! From photo ops to 2026 nods, here’s everything to see, do, and eat as Franklin Square lights up.
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Franklin Square. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
Franklin Square is once again lit up with giant, colorful sculptures of steel and silk. From the fan-favorite 160-foot-long dragon to an entire section dedicated to Philly’s biggest summer ever, nearly 40 all-new illuminated installations will light up the square from June 5th through August 16th.
With larger-than-life displays, performances and other special features, there’s so much to see and do (and photograph) at this family-friendly festival. Here’s what you’ll want to know for your visit.
The Basics
Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
Now through August 16th, Franklin Square is filled with gigantic, colorful Chinese lantern displays — forest life here, a butterfly garden there, dreamy tunnels and, of course, a giant dragon. The park will be open (and free as always) during the day, but will close at 5 p.m. each night to prepare for the festival. The ticketed portion of the festival runs every evening from 6 to 11 p.m.
The festival showcases the amazing craftsmanship, cultural significance and artistic beauty of the lanterns, which were shipped from China and assembled in Franklin Square over a one-month period. While the lanterns look light and ethereal, they each have a steel frame that is welded into shape, wired with a series of LED lights (over 15,000 lights!), wrapped with large sheets of silk, and hand-painted.
The Lanterns
A “radiant rainforest” made of lanterns / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
This year features all-new lantern designs (over 30 installations), many of which have additional features like movement and interactivity. Some feature single- and multi-player games — “Insect Operation,” anyone?
One of several games you’ll find among the lanterns. / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Others produce fun effects — like drums that trigger light-up “fireworks” in the trees, bikes you pedal to animate displays, buttons you press to make pandas climb bamboo or friendly forest animals come to life. Elsewhere, you can hop a swing bench across from an affectionate monkey couple.
Pandas at the lantern festival / Photograph by Laura Swartz
There are also plenty of built-in photo ops. While most displays remain roped-off to protect the art, a few invite you to take a seat — on pineapples and flowers — or give yourself giant rainbow butterfly wings.
Perhaps most notably, this year’s Chinese Lantern Festival has plenty of nods to the epic year Philly is experiencing. Follow the “Tunnel of Champions” to a section dedicated to the summer’s events, including FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, and America’s 250th birthday.
The “Tunnel of Champions” at the Lantern Festival nods to this summer’s World Cup and MLB All-Star Game in Philly. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
Photograph by Laura Swartz
World Cup display at the Lantern Festival / Photograph by Laura Swartz
There’s something a little surreal about seeing Independence Hall rendered in lantern form, and I imagine the artists who come from a country that’s thousands of years old find it rather quaint that we’re celebrating 250 with such pomp. Note to visitors: Pedal the little bikes to make the fireworks burst.
This year’s Chinese Lantern Festival also celebrates America’s 250th birthday. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
In addition to the more overt references, this year’s Lantern Festival also celebrates America with its choice of animal lanterns — many are distinctly American species that don’t usually get the Chinese lantern treatment, from bears fishing for salmon to crafty little raccoons.
Photograph by Laura Swartz
Franklin Square’s usual attractions – mini-golf and carousel — will continue to run during the festival as well, but they will not be open to the public during those hours. The park’s playground will remain open (and free) during festival hours, but you have to enter from 7th Street.
During the day, you can stroll around and see the lanterns for free. The lanterns’ animations only occur when the sun sets and they turn on, so you won’t get the full effect, but it’s a great option for little ones who can’t stay up for summertime’s late sundown anyway. You can also go on the Lantern Scavenger Hunt during daytime hours to win free carousel tickets. Visit the ticket booth for information and to start your quest.
Performances and Activities
A face-changer performs at the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco for Tianyu
In addition to the lantern displays, the festival also includes live stage performances and, of course, the fountain show.
Visitors can head to the Great Lawn to watch various cultural performances, including folk dance, circus arts, and the clear crowd-pleaser: face-changing, where a performer quickly changes a series of masks with just a subtle movement of their hand or fan. Describing this 300-year-old Sichuan tradition does not do it justice; you really need to see it for yourself.
The stage performances are free with admission and will take place in three 30-minute intervals, at 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10:15 p.m. (So time your tickets accordingly.)
The Franklin Square fountain is also decked out for the festival. And there’s a special fountain show set to “Little Apple” by Chopstick Brothers. (Other shows include U2’s “Beautiful Day,” the Rocky theme, Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly,” and other pop hits.) You can catch a fountain show every 30 minutes, aside from the three times the stage performances are running.
Returning from previous years, folk artists will be on site demonstrating crafts like lantern painting and aluminum braiding. You can find them in the cocktail tent, and purchase their creations there, as well.
Artists at work at the Chinese Lantern Festival / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
In addition, there will be free hands-on activities on weekend evenings. At 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m. you can participate in a dumpling workshop with Sang Kee. And you can meet one of the face-changers (and take a photo with them) at 6:30 p.m. Your ticket includes all activities.
Eat and Drink
The Franklin Square fixture SquareBurger will be operating as usual, with familiar favorites like burgers, fries, and shakes. In addition, Sang Kee’s pop-up stand has a variety of Chinese specialties in combos and à la carte options, including spicy dan dan noodles and dumplings. Sang Kee also has a pineapple smoothie that comes in a pineapple, so live your best life.
Pineapple smoothie at the Chinese Lantern Festival / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
You’ll also find pan-Asian cuisine, courtesy of Oishii, including seaweed salad, mochi ice cream, bubble tea, and bao buns. Plus, Humpty’s Dumplings and Chickie’s and Pete’s Crabfries, so there’s really something for everyone.
The cocktail garden tent is serving up signature cocktails — plus mocktails, beer, and wine. The crowd favorite? The Koi Krush, which is served in a fishbowl for some added whimsy. And, of course, there’s also a 250th Birthday Bash cocktail (vodka and iced tea) this year. The cocktail garden is open till 10 p.m., and you can stroll through the entire festival in the square with your adult beverage in hand.
Not enough? There’s also the ultra-popular cotton candy art, in shapes like Hello Kitty, Pikachu, and cute animals.
Plan Your Trip
Photograph by Laura Swartz
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival takes place at Franklin Square, located at 6th and Race streets. The show is outdoors, and it’s rain-or-shine. You can reschedule your tickets with 24 hours’ notice. If the conditions are so severe as to force a cancellation, ticket-holders will be emailed.
Tickets are available online and on-site, though purchasing online in advance is strongly recommended because popular times sell out. Mondays through Thursdays, tickets are $16 for ages 13 and under, and $28 for adults. Adult prices prices go up by $4 on weekends. Kids age two and under are free. Or you can spring for the all-festival pass for $90 ($50 for kids). There’s no re-entry, but you can stay as long as you want once you’re inside the festival.
