Food, Entertainment & Attractions
LANTERNS
This year’s festival features all brand-new, larger-than-life illuminated lantern displays inspired by animals, flowers, and the excitement surrounding Philadelphia this summer! Wander through glowing landscapes filled with magnificent illuminated sculptures, where light, art, and Chinese tradition shine bright. CLICK HERE for a map of the park with this year’s lanterns listed!
LUCKY AUGUST WEEKDAY SPECIALS
Make the Festival’s final weeks even more fun with a different special every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in August. Visit during Festival hours to enjoy food and attraction offers alongside this year’s lanterns, performances, and Fountain Shows.
Dollar Dumpling Mondays
Enjoy $1 dumplings from two Festival favorites:
- Humpty’s Dumplings: Choose any three dumplings for $3, a $5 savings.
- Sang Kee: Get six steamed pork dumplings for $6, a $3 savings.
Year of the Horse Free Carousel Tuesdays
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a free ride on the Parx Liberty Carousel for adults and children.
Pick up your carousel coupon when you enter the Festival.
Get Lucky Date Night Wednesdays
Purchase Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival admission for two and receive free Philly Mini Golf for two, a $30 value.
Pick up your Date Night coupon when you enter the Festival.
Promotions are available on their respective nights through the end of the Festival, and cannot be combined with any other offer.
ENTERTAINMENT
In addition to illuminated lanterns, festival admission includes three live stage performances every night, each including: Face-Changing, Table Foot Juggling, Hat and Sticks Juggling, Head Balancing, and Spacewalking.
Face Changing – This fan-favorite Sichuan opera art form features a performer changing brightly colored masks in an instant with quick fan, head, and hand movements. Each mask reveals the character’s emotions and inner drama.
Table Foot Juggling – A performer spins, tosses, balances, and catches a table using only their feet. This traditional Chinese acrobatic act combines strength, control, and graceful movement.
Hat and Sticks Juggling – Performers toss colorful hats and sticks high into the air while moving with speed, rhythm, and precision. This playful act combines juggling, footwork, and acrobatic skill.
Head Balancing – An acrobat balances a large porcelain jar on the head, forehead, and other parts of the body. This traditional act showcases focus, strength, and control.
Spacewalk – Performers glide, spin, handstand, and appear to float through the air in this space-inspired acrobatic act. The performance combines modern visuals with the strength and precision of traditional Chinese acrobatics.
The Fountain Show at Franklin Square in the Rendell Family Fountain 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. NEW for 2026: “Philadelphia Freedom’ by Elton John.
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!
FOOD & BEVERAGE
CLICK HERE for the full Festival menu!
Chickie’s & Pete’s
A Philadelphia classic, known for its famous Crabfries®
Cocktail Garden operated by Cescaphe
Raise a glass in the Cocktail Garden and enjoy beer, wine, and specialty drinks.
Humpty’s Dumplings
An array of fried dumplings
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.
GETTING HERE
Public Transit
Franklin Square is accessible to and walkable from:
PATCO High Speed Line
Franklin Square Station, is just steps from the Festival entrance, providing easy access from New Jersey and Center City, Philadelphia!
SEPTA Regional Rail
Via Jefferson Station at 11th & Market Streets
SEPTA Market-Frankford Blue Line
Via 8th Street or 5th Street stops
Indego Bikes
Station on Race & 7th Streets
Parking
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservations app.
To reserve your parking spot for The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, visit the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival SpotHero Parking Page.
Limited three-hour metered parking is available along Race Street between 6th & 7th Streets and on 6th Street between Vine and Race Streets. We do not allow re-entry to feed parking meters.
GIVEAWAY NIGHTS
Mondays, June 15 – August 3, 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.
June 15 – Year of the Horse Key Chain
June 22 – Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Drawstring Bag
June 29 – Year of the Horse Pin
July 6 – Face Changer Hand Fan
July 13 – Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Temporary Tattoo
July 20 – Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Koozie
July 27 – Year of the Horse Bracelet
August 3 – Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Folding Hand Fan
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 & 9 pm – Dumpling Workshop with Sang Kee – Hear the history of dumplings and learn to make this favorite bite-sized treat!
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.
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: $14; children 3-12: $11; children 2 and under: FREE with a paid accompanying guardian.
INSIDER TIP: Receive a $1 discount on Parx Liberty Carousel and Philly Mini Golf 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.
Scavenger Hunt
Visit during the day and complete the Lantern Festival Scavenger Hunt to receive a free ride on the Parx Liberty Carousel! Ask about the Scavenger Hunt at the ticket booth!
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