Food, Entertainment & Attractions
LANTERNS
This year’s festival features more than 1,100 individual sculptures placed in nearly 40 all-new, larger-than-life lantern displays! Wander through dazzling forest scenes and glowing underwater worlds, where light, wildlife, and Chinese culture shine bright. Click here for a map of the park with this year’s lanterns listed!
ENTERTAINMENT
In addition to larger-than-life illuminated lanterns, festival admission includes three main stage live performances every night: Bodies in Balance, Chair Hand-Standing, Face-Changing, Hat Juggling, Juggling, Teeter Boarding, and Water Bowl Meteor.
Bodies in Balance – Acrobats perform handstands and other strength-based poses, showcasing balance, flexibility, and control.
Chair Hand-Standing – Acrobats balance on tall stacks of chairs, performing jaw-dropping handstands and poses high above the ground..
Face Changing – This fan-favorite changes brightly colored masks instantly using quick hand, head, and fan movements in this traditional Sichuan opera art form.
Hat Juggling – Performers toss and catch colorful hats while dancing and doing flips, using precision and timing.
Juggling – Performers juggle sticks and other props with speed and rhythm, sometimes while doing somersaults.
Teeter Board – Performers use a teeter board to launch into the air while juggling, skipping rope, and holding handstands with speed and precision.
Water Meteor Bowl – Performers spin glass bowls filled with water on ropes at high speed without spilling, combining dance and acrobatics.
The Fountain Show at Franklin Square in the Rendell Family Fountain sponsored by Temple University features the song, “Little Apple” by Chopstick Brothers, which you can only hear during the Chinese Lantern Festival! Additional shows throughout the evening include “Levitating” by Dua Lipa; “Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti, Theme from Rocky; “Beautiful Day” by U2; “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong; “Motownphilly” by Boyz II Men; “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Under the Sea” by Howard Ashman from The Little Mermaid and “Fun, Fun, Fun” by the Beach Boys.
The Franklin Square Fountain Show and stage performances are included in Festival admission.
Entertainment schedule:
6, 6:30, & 7 pm – Fountain Shows
7:30 pm – Stage Performances
8 & 8:30 pm – Fountain Shows
9 pm – Stage Performances
9:30 & 10 pm – Fountain Shows
10:15 pm – Stage Performances
10:30 pm – Fountain Show
Check out free activities in Franklin Square!
Note: performers are subject to change.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Clicke here for the full Festival Menu!
Chickie’s & Pete’s
A Philadelphia classic, known for its famous Crabfries®
Humpty’s Dumplings
An array of fried dumplings
Octopus Cocktail Garden operated by Cescaphe
Raise a glass in the Octopus Cocktail Garden and enjoy beer, wine, and specialty drinks.
Oishii
Assorted Asian-inspired options from an array of cuisines
Sang Kee
Chinese selections from one of Chinatown’s premier restaurants
SquareBurger operated by Cescaphe
Delicious traditional treats and Philly favorites, including burgers, chicken tenders, and the fan favorite Cake Shake
All food vendors accept cash and major credit cards.
GIVEAWAY NIGHTS
Mondays, July 7 – August 18, are giveaway nights at the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival! The first 500 guests on each of these dates will receive a free giveaway with their ticket:
July 7 – Snake Zodiac Pins
July 14 – Snake Keychain
July 21 – Snake Temporary Tattoos
July 28 – Face Changer Hand Fans
August 4 – Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Drawstring Bags
August 11 – Snake Snap Bracelets
August 18 – Snake Fidget Toy
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Immerse yourself in Chinese culture with Cultural Connections demonstrations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, free with festival admission!
6:30 pm – Meet the Face Changer – Take photos with the Face Changer after you watch them perform on stage!
7:15 pm – Dumpling Workshop with Sang Kee – Hear the history of dumplings and learn to make this favorite bite-sized treat!
8:15 pm – Baduanjin Movement – Learn Baduanjin, a traditional form of Qigong exercise that engages all major joints and muscles, helps regulate breath and mental focus, and promotes the flow of blood and Qi (energy) throughout the body. NEW FOR 2025!
9 pm – Dumpling Workshop with Sang Kee – Hear the history of dumplings and learn to make this favorite bite-sized treat!
FOLK ARTISTS
Authentic Chinese Folk artists create works of art through a variety of traditional art forms.
New for 2025: Light-Up Painting
A glowing tabletop decoration featuring scenes like pandas, butterflies, castles, peacocks, and dragons. Includes three light settings: warm, white, and neutral.
Aluminum Braiding
A traditional folk craft, aluminum braiding is done with colorful oxidized aluminum wire. Artists fold, bend, and weave the materials to create various shapes like mythical animals, plants, vehicles, and other objects.
Inner-Bottle Painting
A Chinese art form where artists paint detailed elegant images and calligraphy on the inside surface of glass bottles using a specialized paint brush through the neck of the bottle. In 2008, inner-bottle painting was added to the Chinese National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Lantern Painting
Lanterns are a traditional handicraft from the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE), developed into regional styles made of bamboo, silk, paper, and other materials. With the establishment of lantern festivals and holidays, colored lanterns became more popular and now include a variety of decorative painting styles.
WEATHER POLICY
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is a rain-or-shine event. Our lanterns are built to withstand all weather; however, severe weather or lightning within a 20-mile radius of Franklin Square can pose a safety concern for our guests and staff. This may cause us to pause the Festival. Thank you for your understanding – your safety is our priority.
If inclement weather is forecasted, please check your email, our social media channels, or our website for updates. If weather conditions force a cancellation, or the Festival pauses and remains closed for more than 90 minutes, guests will be offered a choice of rescheduling or refunding their ticket(s).
ATTRACTIONS
Parx Liberty Carousel
Hop on Center City’s only carousel featuring hometown heroes Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, and other animals. Ticket price with Festival admission: Ages 3+: $3 per ride; children 2 and under: FREE.
INSIDER TIP: Receive a $1 discount on Parx Liberty Carousel during festival hours. Buy tickets HERE
Tickets bought through the above link are only valid during Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival hours with a Festival ticket.
Philly Mini Golf
The 18-hole course features reproductions of Philadelphia icons and landmarks such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Liberty Bell, and the Chinatown Friendship Gate. Ticket price with Festival admission: Adults: $12; children 3-12: $10; children 2 and under: FREE with a paid accompanying guardian.
PRESENTED BY
SPONSORED BY
Proceeds from the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival directly support the operation and management of Franklin Square and many free events and programs throughout the year.
*Photos by Jeff Fusco for Tianyu Arts & Culture