The Chinese Lantern Festival has been lighting up the night at the PNE since December 15. If you haven’t had a chance to visit yet, this weekend is your last chance to experience the largest festival of its kind in Canada.
Spread over 14 acres of the PNE Hastings Park site, 35 intricate, illuminate Chinese Lantern displays bring colour and character to the winter nights.
Dozens of Chinese artists, spent a month prior to opening setting up the elaborate lanterns, including the amazing pagoda made of thousands of pieces of Chinese porcelain china set, stacked and strung together to create the massive structure which stands without any glue or fasteners except for thin white twine.
Amongst the Chinese cultural displays unique Christmas themed lantern; Santa, reindeer, snowmen, to bring a festive touch to the site. Some of the colourful, Chinese cultural lanterns tell the story of Confucius, and Chinese Opera while others like the reflect symbols of fortune and good will; pandas, fish, flowers, and the centrepiece 250 foot long Dragon.
With nearly 50,000 people coming through the gates, the Chinese Lantern Festival has proved to be a popular winter event, and will surely grow in popularity when it returns for a second year, next winter.
The Chinese Lantern Festival at the PNE must close January 21, 2018. The site opens at 5pm each day, tickets can be purchased online at vancouverlanternfestival.ca or at the gates at Hastings & Refrew Streets at PNE Hastings Park.