2025 Chinese Lantern Festival. Photo Suraj Sansi 

Lanterns Light Up Philadelphia: A Family’s Journey Through the 2025 Chinese Lantern Festival

By Suraj Sansi

Hey, New York. It's a fast ride (2 hours) from the Big Apple to the City of Brotherly Love. There are many excuses to take the adventure (like tasting a Philadelphia cheesesteak or hoagie), but also to check out the annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival.

Under a canopy of glowing silk lanterns, Franklin Square in Philadelphia has once again been transformed into a spectacular showcase of light and artistry. Each summer since 2016, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival has brought a centuries-old tradition—originating during the Han Dynasty in China—to the heart of the city. This year’s edition, celebrating the Year of the Snake, dazzles with more than 1,100 handcrafted lanterns, each a testament to both tradition and innovation.

For visitors, the festival is as much about wonder as it is about heritage. Among their number was a local family—three generations, from a wide-eyed toddler experiencing her first festival, to grandparents deeply appreciative of the craftsmanship and symbolism on display. Their evening began at the entrance, where a colossal 200-foot-long dragon, an enduring symbol of power and good fortune, welcomed guests. New this year, the centerpiece pulses with shifting hues and gentle undulations—a modern twist on a beloved icon.

Perhaps the biggest draw this season is the array of interactive installations. Illuminated forests beckon children and adults alike, while a glowing underwater tableau—complete with a “volcano” emitting gentle plumes of smoke—invites curiosity and play. Interactive games and creative photo opportunities abound, from leaping alongside lantern-lit frogs to standing inside the illuminated jaw of a lantern shark.

Yet the festival’s allure runs deeper than bright lights and playful moments. In a nod to Philadelphia’s creative spirit, student-designed snake lanterns—winning entries from a local design competition—adorn the square. It’s a tribute to community involvement and the festival’s enduring commitment to education and inclusivity.

On the stage, centuries-old traditions are brought vividly to life. Visitors crowd in to watch gravity-defying acrobatic acts, balletic jugglers, and, in a much-anticipated highlight, the ancient Sichuan art of Bianlian—face-changing opera. The performer, in dazzling robes, changes masks in seconds, a skill that has captivated audiences for generations.

Suraj Sansi and his daughter, Kiara Sansi, at the Chinese Lantern Festival. Photo Mrs. Sansi

No festival would be complete without culinary delights. Families picnic on dim sum and noodles, savoring lychee lemonade and other Asian-inspired treats beneath the glow of silk lanterns. Parents and children linger, laughter mingling with music as the evening winds on.

A new feature this summer—the Festival Pass—allows enthusiasts to return again and again, a nod to just how treasured this event has become. From its roots thirteen years ago, inspired by lantern festivals that illuminate Chinese cities during the Lunar New Year, the Philadelphia festival has grown into a beloved summer tradition, bringing together people from all walks of life.

More than simply a night out, the 2025 Chinese Lantern Festival stands as a celebration of cultural connection, imagination, and family. For this Philadelphia family, as for many others, it is a nightlong enchantment—and a promise of memories still to come.

Official Website: phillychineselanternfestival.com