The Essentials
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square is a celebration of light and culture that debuts dozens of larger-than-life, never-before-seen lantern displays by artists from China and the Philadelphia region.
The festival also features a variety of live Chinese cultural stage performances, which in the past have included contortion, acrobatics, martial arts, folk dancing and more. Festival-themed merch and beautifully crafted artworks (created on-site by Chinese artists) are all available for purchase.
Thirsty guests can quench their thirst at the vibrant Dragon Beer Garden, while dining options on the festival grounds range from traditional Asian cuisine to classic American eats to Franklin Square’s SquareBurger, which remains open with staples like burgers, fries and shakes.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Attendees are also invited to enjoy the other attractions that Franklin Square has to offer, including the Parx Liberty Carousel; the Philly-themed mini-golf course; choreographed, illuminated water shows at the Franklin Square Fountain; and family-friendly playgrounds. (Note that additional tickets are required for the carousel and golf.)
— Photo by J. Fusco for Tianyu
Admission & Tickets
During the daytime, admission to Franklin Square is free to the public, as always, and festival lanterns are freely viewable. At 5 p.m. daily, Franklin Square is cleared of guests and the park closes in preparation for the festival.
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival begins at 6 p.m. sharp and tickets are required. While tickets are often available for purchase at the festival entrance, sales may end when the park is at capacity — so advance tickets are strongly recommended.
Sunday through Thursday: general admission tickets can be used anytime from 6 to 11 p.m. to the tune of $22 for adults, $14 for children (ages 3-12), and $20 for youth (ages 13-17), seniors, and active military.
Fridays and Saturdays: to manage park capacity, timed tickets are required, which allow festival entry at any point after the printed time and run $25 for adults, $14 for children (ages 3-12), and $23 for youth (ages 13-17), seniors, and active military.
Folks looking to experience everything Franklin Square Park has to offer can pick up combo festival tickets, which include discounted tickets to the Parx Liberty Carousel (+$3), Philly Mini-Golf ($+12) or both (+$15).
Kids 2 years and under (accompanied by an adult) can enter the festival and join in on attractions free of charge any day, but ticketholders are not allowed re-entry after leaving the festival grounds.
Check back here for the latest festival updates and highlights. For more information on the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival and to purchase tickets, click the button below.
