Light 'em up
Chinese Lantern Festival shines on at Fair Park with an extended run
Dallasites can't get enough of pretty, shiny things, apparently. Hot on the heels of the Dallas Arboretum announcement that it is extending the Chihuly exhibit through the end of the year, the Chinese Lantern Festival, which was supposed to close along with the State Fair of Texas, has announced that it will reopen at Fair Park on November 1 and stick around through January 6.
Because the festival no longer has the State Fair to draw in the crowds, it won't be open during the day. But nighttime is the right time to see the Chinese lanterns.
The announcement comes with good and bad news. Let's start with the bad. Because the festival no longer has the State Fair to draw in the crowds, it won't be open during the day. But as those who have seen it know well, nighttime is the right time to see this particular show. All of the pieces — which include peacocks, flamingos, a 50-foot pagoda, and a 330-foot dragon made from 15,000 porcelain dishes — light up at night, making it a spectacular feast for the eyes.
The festival will be open daily from 5-10 pm, and it will include folk art demonstrations, such as paper cutting, palm weaving and sugar painting. Chinese food will be for sale in front of the Science Building.