New DC Winter Lantern Festival Lights Up Northern Virginia

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The DC Winter Lantern Festival in Northern Virginia, the new festival at Tysons Lerner Square, is a fantastic addition to the holiday light shows in the DC area. It features a mesmerizing walk-through exhibition of breathtaking Chinese lantern sculptures and engaging displays. Opening its doors for the very first time, this festival is truly a remarkable addition.

Over 10,000 handmade lanterns are featured in the Winter Lantern Festival, crafted by more than 100 skilled Chinese artisans, continuing a lengthy cultural practice. These lanterns range from delicate flowers to enormous sculptures towering at 30 feet high.

The Lantern Festival DC 2022 is open daily during Christmas week, including New Year’s Day. The festival opens just in time for the Christmas break, adding festive fun to chilly winter weekends until mid-February. Read on for essential information, tips, and photos on visiting the festival.

Are you looking for more holiday fun? We highly recommend the Winter Walk of Lights, a beautiful display of holiday lights in Meadowlark Gardens, located in Centreville, VA. In addition to the Drive-Through Holiday Lights Festival at Bull Run, the Winter Walk offers a favorite family activity that has been enjoyed for many years.

We attended a media preview of the DC Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons VA. All photos, text, and opinions are our own.

The theme of the Tysons Lantern Festival showcases Chinese folktales, fables, and astrological signs, similar to previous Chinese lantern festivals held in Northern Virginia (such as LightUp Fest and Luminocity). The sculptures depict a blend of actual and fictional creatures and settings, creating a diverse collection of lantern sculptures.

Take a look at our video showcasing the Winter Lantern Festival for a brief summary of the festival’s main attractions.

The Winter Lantern Festival has impressive lantern sculptures of various sizes and quantities, all of which are designed to provide fun and interactive experiences. The festival takes place in a spacious paved area at Lerner Square, allowing for the sculptures to be spread out throughout the room. However, the setting is not as scenic as a parking lot.

To prepare for a walk around the parking lot, you’ll likely need to see all of them from one end to the other, so the displays in the middle and on both sides of the lot will likely fill up with large, themed groups of colorful lanterns stretching the length of the square.

Each lantern display creates a spectacular backdrop for family photos, with multiple tunnels of planets and flowers brightly-lit, resembling giant sculptures and a maze.

The adorable creatures like squirrels, cats, chicks, and other animated venus fly traps and alligators chomp warmly welcome young guests. Both children and adults will be amazed by dragons, legendary creatures, and vibrant marine animals.

5 Tips for DC Winter Lantern Festival Visitors

Here are five suggestions for a joyful visit to the lantern festival:

  • The festival may need to close due to inclement weather, with high winds and the possibility of snow or rain. There are no heated or covered areas, and the entire festival takes place outdoors. Please dress warmly.
  • Take a stroll to get ready. Scattered across the entire paved area are illuminated lantern exhibits, so it’s advisable to put on comfortable footwear. In the vicinity of the rear section, you can find illuminated benches in case you require a break.
  • Be cautious of your step. Power cords that are covered extend across the exhibits, so remain vigilant to avoid any accidents.
  • There are two food trucks at the food festival. One truck sells Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, chicken strips, corn dogs, fries, and other treats, while another truck offers subs. If you want a more substantial meal, there are plenty of great restaurants in the malls.
  • The Square Lerner festival is an excellent way to reach the Tysons Corner Metro stop, just a 0.4-mile walk away. While parking is available, it is advisable to take the Metro.

    • Interactive Family-friendly Lantern Festival Activities

    In addition to the sculptures, there are a lot of interactive displays and hands-on elements that make the Winter Lantern Festival in DC extra fun for kids and families. We’ve attended more lantern festivals than other fests, and the mix of dazzling displays is a highlight.

    Here are some of the activities suitable for both adults and children at the Winter Lantern Festival:

  • Illuminated plastic swings and teeter-totters add a fresh touch to beloved playground classics.
  • Let the young ones enjoy a ride on a compact roller coaster powered by human force.
  • Put the children inside a Kaleidoscope tube for cool pictures (and a brief break).
  • The entire family can strike brightly illuminated drums to send bursts of colored lights to a central “tree”.
  • Capture enjoyable selfies and photographs alongside beloved lantern creatures, a few of which are animated.
  • Numerous brightly illuminated tunnels provide an ideal backdrop for capturing family photographs.

    • Throughout our visit, entertainers skilled in juggling and a martial arts troupe showcased their talents. Certain presentations occur in between exhibits, while others take place on a platform positioned towards the rear of the celebration. The festival also features live shows happening all evening long, in addition to the engaging displays.

    Playthings and illuminated magic sticks are available for purchase at a compact stall. Ravenous and parched attendees of the festival can locate warm cocoa at a canopy and a pair of food trucks situated on the premises.

    FAQ: Visiting the Winter Lantern Festival

    Below is crucial information and responses to commonly asked questions about the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons, Virginia.

    Add and bundle up fun winter and holiday season events to your list. There are a lot of beautiful lantern sculptures to add extra fun to this new festival. The Lantern Winter Festival in Northern Virginia/DC area is the best Chinese lantern display we have seen.

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