The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival will be held in Franklin Square from June 21 – August 13, 2023 at 6th and Race Streets, Philadelphia PA 19106. (No festival on July 4.)

Click here to use Google Maps to help plan your trip.

Franklin Square is wheelchair accessible.

This is an outdoor event, rain or shine unless for extreme weather conditions. The lanterns are weather resistant.

Please check current weather conditions prior to your visit and dress appropriately. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

Please note 7th Street is partially blocked from Race to Vine streets due to construction and traffic delays are possible.

Sunday through Thursday tickets:
• $22 for adults
• $14 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
• $20 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Friday and Saturday tickets (timed tickets required):
• $25 for adults
• $14 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
• $23 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Group rates for groups of 20 or more. You can contact our group sales department at 215-629-5801 ext. 209 for details.

Once you are in the Festival, you may stay until closing. Exit and reentry are not permitted.

On-site ticketing is limited, so we strongly encourage you to purchase tickets in advance online or via your smartphone at www.phillychineselanternfestival.org. There are no fees to purchase online. 

Advance ticket purchase will help you avoid lines and enhance your Festival experience. 

When purchasing tickets online, please be sure to double check that your email address has been entered correctly to ensure that you receive the tickets.

You may also purchase tickets in person at Franklin Square at the ticket window during the day.

Festival admission includes viewing all of the amazing lantern displays, live performances, and the Franklin Square Fountain Show.

Tickets do not include merchandise, food, beverages, or admission to the Parx Liberty Carousel and Philly Mini Golf.

For admission, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Amex. Please note this transaction will appear on your credit card statement as “HISTORICPHILA”. We do not accept Venmo or Cash App cards.

Attractions, SquareBurger, Oishii, Sang Kee, and Folk Artists all accept Cash, Credit and Apple Pay.

The Dragon Beer Garden & Pagoda Shop accept Credit Cards and Apple Pay.

Bring the printable ticket with the barcode

OR

If you cannot print the ticket at home, your ticket can be scanned on your smartphone. When you arrive at the gate, go to the pre-purchased tickets line, open your email, and click the link to retrieve your e-tickets. Turn your phone’s brightness up and show the ticket with the barcode to be scanned. Do not screen capture your ticket, as it will not work. Once scanned, tickets are void.

Note: There is a second entrance at 7th & Race streets on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Yes, visitors are welcome to being bottled water and reusable water bottles into the Festival.

Timed tickets are required for Fridays and Saturdays. You may enter 15 minutes prior to the time on your ticket or any time after. Tickets are not valid after the close of the Festival that day.

Note: There is a second entrance at 7th & Race streets on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square is a rain or shine event.

Tickets may be rescheduled with 24 hours advance notice. Weekday tickets may be rescheduled for another weekday; Friday or Saturday tickets may be rescheduled for a Friday or Saturday.

No tickets may be rescheduled with less than 24 hours’ notice. There are no exceptions.

All requests to reschedule should be directed to reschedule@historicphiladelphia.org.

Please include your order number and the requested new date/time. No phone calls please.

If conditions force a cancellation of the Festival, ticket-holders will be notified via email. In the event of a cancellation, ticket-holders have the option to request a refund or to reschedule their tickets for a comparable day.

We do not offer refunds for unused tickets unless otherwise noted.  Please visit  “Can I reschedule my ticket” for options on how to attend another day.

Franklin Square is open daily. The park and playgrounds open at 6 a.m. The Parx Liberty Carousel and Philly Mini Golf open at 10 a.m.

The Square closes each day at 5 p.m. for preparations for the Festival to begin. The park is cleared of guests during this time.

To ensure complete gameplay, final ticket sales and entrance to Philly Mini Golf is 45 minutes prior to closing for the Festival. Final ticket sales and entrance to the Parx Liberty Carousel is 30 minutes prior to closing for the Festival.

The playground will not be accessible from inside the park on festival days from 6 – 11 pm. The playground will remain open and accessible from the corner of 7th & Vine Streets. All regular entrances will be accessible during Franklin Square’s operating hours OUTSIDE of the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival hours.

Yes, Franklin Square is wheelchair accessible.

Unfortunately, wheelchairs are not for rent onsite at the Festival.

Yes, Franklin Square welcomes leashed dogs. Please be aware that the Festival attracts large crowds; please consider if the Festival is the best experience for your dog.

Visitors are encouraged to park at PPA AutoPark @ Independence Mall, located between 5th and 6th streets and Market and Arch streets (directly underneath the Independence Visitor Center).

Please note 7th Street is partially blocked from Race to Vine streets due to construction and traffic delays are possible.

Franklin Square is a smoke-free park. This includes vaping.

The following items are prohibited on Franklin Square park grounds during the festival.

• Aerosol cans – with the exception of sun screen, bug spray & hygiene products
• Lawn chairs and folding chairs
• Glass bottles
• Hard-sided or Styrofoam coolers or thermoses
• Knives, weapons or chains
• Spiked clothing or jewelry
• Bags or backpacks larger than 16” x 16” x 8”
• Fireworks and explosives
• Firearms and ammunition
• Chemical weapons, including mace and pepper spray
• Marijuana and other illegal substances
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones)

See the Festival Details page here.

See the Festival Details page here.

All visitors will be scanned using weapons detection devices prior to entering the Festival. All bags and personal belongings are subject to search by prior to entering. Please see our “What items are prohibited” list.

Philadelphia Police officers and Emergency Medical Personnel will be present in addition to Event Security Staff.

The entrance at the corner of 6th & Race Streets is open daily for Festival admission.

The entrance at the corner of 7th & Race Streets is open Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays for Festival admission.