I’m a sucker for light displays — especially around this time of year. So when I had the opportunity to check out the inaugural DC Winter Lantern Festival, I was delighted.
As my boyfriend and I made our way toward Lerner Town Square in Tysons II, we immediately saw some of the lanterns peeking out from within the fenced-in area as we found parking. My excitement instantly started to grow.
The first of its kind in the DMV, the Winter Lantern Festival creates a dazzling world of light with over 10,000 Chinese lanterns — all handmade by highly skilled artisans and illuminated by LED lights.
When you first walk in, it can be a bit overwhelming — but in a good way. You immediately notice the large lighted heart-shaped tunnel with tons of decorative flower lanterns. It truly is the kind of thing that makes you stop and say, “Wow!”
As it was definitely “Insta-worthy,” we stopped to take a quick photo before making our way through. It was giving me major throwback vibes.
Once we made it out to the other side, we noticed yet another photo-worthy opportunity (there is clearly no shortage of those here). Waiting at the end of the tunnel were a handful of kaleidoscope tubes. Festival-goers could sit inside to take a photo or video as the colorful patterns moved behind you. The eye-catching attraction was really neat and not something that I’d ever seen before. But be aware that people were waiting in line for a photo.
Next, we made our way over to even more life-size lanterns. At a light display of this size, almost everywhere you look, there is something interesting or unusual to check out.
There were grasshoppers, squirrels, ducks, and flowers all lit up and ready for you to strike a pose with. And that’s just to name a few. Keep an eye out because some creations were even moving!
With no set path, the festival is set up where you can visit the various displays in whatever order you’d like. We decided to go clockwise around the paved lot, stopping randomly for the things placed more in the middle.
Visitors can expect to wander through a wonderland of light that includes Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs. Making sure that we took the time to stop and notice the intricate details of each lantern display, it took about an hour for us to get through the entire spectacle.
While it was difficult to choose, I think my favorite piece was a lantern placed toward the middle as you walk out of the heart-shaped tunnel. It’s hard to miss this gigantic art piece. It appears to be a green tree trunk with a woman’s head sprouting out of it, covered in various leaves and flowers. It felt very powerful and the eyes even blink, which I thought was a really fun and different inclusion.
In addition to live performances, there are also several interactive displays and activities for children to do. For instance, there is a small human-powered roller coaster as well as a playground area with plastic swings and seesaws. And you guessed it — they light up, too!
While the food options appeared to be a little on the pricier side, the food truck smelled amazing as we walked by. There was also hot chocolate and coffee available, which we made sure to snag as it was a pretty chilly December night.
This festival — originally held in New York — is open Friday through Sunday (and daily from December 23 to January 1, 2023) from 5 to 10 p.m. It will run through February 12.
Tickets for the event are $19.99 for children ages 3-12 and $31.99 for those 13 and older.
Whether you’re looking for something different to do on date night, a family-friendly outing, or just a place to spend time with your friends and grab some new Instagram shots, the Winter Lantern Festival is worth checking out. You won’t leave disappointed! 8025 Galleria Dr., Tysons
Feature image by Megan Herr
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