This Chinese-inspired Winter Lantern Festival: This winter, two venues in the New York City area will be illuminated by over a thousand lanterns inspired by Chinese culture. The first, the Winter Lantern Festival, will take place at the American Dream in New Jersey beginning on October 26, and the second, at the Queens County Farm Museum beginning on November 17, will be the return of this popular event.

These ornamental lanterns take their cues from conventional Chinese lantern festivals that have been going on since the Han era (206 BCE to 220 CE), making them ideal for Instagram shots and establishing a warm and welcoming holiday atmosphere.

Attendees are invited to meander through a dazzling display of lanterns and lights, each one hand-crafted by skilled artisans—some of whom have been in the trade for more than 20 years. As they marvel at the lifelike lantern animals, festivalgoers can gain a better understanding of the art and culture that goes into traditional Chinese lantern celebrations.

Legend has it that the Jade Emperor was about to light a town on fire as vengeance for the death of his goose. But a fairy told the villagers to light lanterns, so it appeared as though the town was on fire. The community lights lanterns on the 15th day of every Lunar New Year as a gesture of gratitude for this cunning trick, which saved the town.

The Winter Lantern Festival showcases intricate light forms at various locations, including the two in the NYC area, Atlanta’s Gwinnett County Fairgrounds from November 10, 2024, to January 2, 2025, and additional locations in Virginia (to be announced). The festival is inspired by these traditions, even though the Lunar New Year doesn’t begin until February 10, 2024, and the lantern festival technically occurs at the end of that month.

Every place has its own special things to offer. In New Jersey, visitors can engage with prehistoric dinosaur models while making paper lanterns at the arts and crafts station. At the same time, guests in Atlanta, Queens, and New York City can partake in sugar paints, light swings, see-saws, and tunnels.

Depending on the venue, adults may expect to pay anywhere from $17 to $26 to enter, while children aged 4 to 13 can expect to pay $10 to $18. Everyone who attends the Winter Lantern Festival, no matter where it is held, may look forward to a fanciful stroll through an experience that will brighten and warm the season.