Chinese Lantern Festival Returns to Riverfront Park Today

The Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival, presented by Avista, opens today at Riverfront Park and runs through Oct. 30.

The second-annual festival debuts all new lanterns – about 30 new fully-lit,  colorful displays, each one comprised of hundreds of handmade parts, according to a press release.  Twenty-three electricians, engineers and designers from Sichuan, China have spent months constructing displays. Each lantern is comprised of dozens of separate pieces and figurines.

Additionally, according to a press release, there will be two daily performances by Chinese artisans from Tianyu Culture, the Sichuan, China-based company presenting the Festival. Performances include contortionists, face changing, plate spinners, acrobatics and martial arts. Four times a night, the IMAX will show a documentary about how the lanterns are made and how the festival is produced.  Several local food trucks will serve Asian noodles, teriyaki, street food, and kettle corn, with espresso available on the weekends.

Ticket are:

• Adults / $15
• Youth 4-16 / $10
• Children 3 and under / free
• Family 4 pack / $40

Discount nights – $2 off admission

• Seniors 65+ / Tuesdays
• Active and veteran military / Wednesdays
• College students / Thursdays

Tickets can be purchased through the website or in person at the festival’s ticket booth, which opens at 4:30 daily. Discount tickets must be purchased in person with a valid ID.