The year of the dragon soars into summer 2024 as the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Franklin Square from June 20 – August ...

The year of the dragon soars into summer 2024 as the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Franklin Square from June 20 – August 18, 2024 with magnificent steel-framed and silk-wrapped giant lighted artistic sculptures.

The popular 200-foot-long dragon returns along with never-before-seen giant lantern displays.

In addition to the light installations, visitors can enjoy live cultural stage performances, see the choreographed fountain light show in the historic Rendell Family Fountain, taste expanded food and drink options including Asian cuisine and American comfort food, drink a toast at the Dragon Beer Garden, and shop for Chinese folk artists’ crafts created on site as well as Festival-themed merchandise.

Tickets Info

Monday through Thursday tickets:

· $25 for adults
· $16 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
· $23 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Friday through Sunday tickets (timed tickets required):

· $28 for adults
· $16 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
· $26 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)


The Festival will illuminate Franklin Square nightly at 6th & Race Streets in Historic Philadelphia from June 20 - August 18, 2024. During the Festival, Franklin Square is open and free during regular daytime hours.

The Franklin Square Playground will be fully open and free both daytime and during the evening hours, accessible from 7th Street. The lanterns are able to be viewed for free during daytime, while a ticket is required for nighttime entrance after 6 pm (no re-entry). The park will close daily at 5 pm to prepare for the nightly Festival. Advance tickets are strongly recommended.

Guests can also play Philly Mini Golf and ride the Parx Liberty Carousel at a discounted rate. A portion of the proceeds from the Festival benefits Historic Philadelphia, Inc. for the programming and care of this important public space and its many year-round free events.

Student Design Contest

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Student Design Contest presented by Temple University gives area students the opportunity to design a lantern for the 2024 Festival. Children ages 8-14 are invited to submit a drawing of a dragon to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Winning drawings will be crafted into lanterns and displayed during the Festival. The students will be able to take the lantern home with them at the conclusion of the Festival.

Deadline for submission is May 28, 2024.

Learn more, visit - www.phillychineselanternfestival.org

Each year The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival has a "Student Design Contest" presented by Temple University, which gives loc...

Each year The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival has a "Student Design Contest" presented by Temple University, which gives local students the opportunity to design a lantern for the Festival.

photo credit: Jeff Fusco for Historic Philadelphia, Inc. and Tianyu


Note: I was invited as media to preview the exhibit. However, any views expressed are always 100% my own.

This year the students were invited to submit a drawing of a rabbit to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Then the winning drawings was crafted into lanterns and displayed during the Festival.


While at the festival this year, I saw the student's rabbit lanterns and were so impressed with their creativity and rabbit designs.

To learn more about the contest and how it feels to have your drawings made into an lantern for all to see, I interviewed the 2023 winner Sadie Olszewski.

Motivation to Enter Contest

Sadie Olszewski: My mom's friend daughter entered one year. So my mom wanted me to enter this year. I also wanted to do it, because it looked really cool.

Coming up with Rabbit Design

Sadie Olszewski: I wanted to do a rabbit that was different, so I made it colorful. I wanted it to be colorful, so it can show that I'm creative.

Advice for Students

Sadie Olszewski: When making a design, make it different because if it's just a regular design that people expect to see in the competition, it won't standout.

Just be creative. Make it yours so that it shows "you" through it. So if you win, you get a sense of "you" not just a sense of "art" that you did.

Seeing Her Winning Design as a Lantern

Sadie Olszewski: I felt it was really cool because, I didn't know it was going to be that big. And everyone was taking pictures, it was really cool.


After my interview with Sadie, I briefly spoke with her mom Alison Kurowski, who shared her thoughts about the contest and her daughter being the 2023 winner.

Alison Kurowski: We were absolutely thrilled that she won. It felt so special being in Philadelphia and having the opportunity to participate in this way. As a younger person, in something that is culturally relevant, as well as Philadelphia relevant.

Alison Kurowski: You don't see competitions for younger people all that often, especially one where the recognition is so public. We're always proud of Sadie, we think she's an amazing artist. And to have her lantern sitting in a park in Philadelphia is just such an honor.

Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is currently in Franklin Square, June 21 – August 13, 2023, with magnificent steel-framed and silk-wrapped giant lighted artistic sculptures.

In addition to the light installations, visitors can enjoy live cultural stage performances, see the choreographed fountain light show, taste Asian cuisine and American comfort food, drink a toast at the Dragon Beer Garden, and shop for Chinese folk artists’ crafts created on site as well as Festival-themed merchandise.

The Festival will illuminate Franklin Square at 6th & Race Streets in Historic Philadelphia. Guests can also play Philly Mini Golf, ride the Parx Liberty Carousel, and more.

Tickets Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

Friday and Saturday tickets (timed tickets required):

· $25 for adults
· $14 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
· $23 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Sunday tickets:

· $22 for adults
· $14 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
· $20 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Combination tickets including Franklin Square attractions are available.

A portion of the proceeds from the Festival benefits Historic Philadelphia, Inc., the non-profit that operates and manages Franklin Square, for the programming and care of this important public space and its many year-round free events.

Learn more, visit - www.phillychineselanternfestival.org

While the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival was in Franklin Square, June 21 – August 13, 2023, we visited to see the returned 200-foot-l...

While the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival was in Franklin Square, June 21 – August 13, 2023, we visited to see the returned 200-foot-long dragon, along with never-before-seen giant lantern displays.

Note: I was invited as media to preview the exhibit. However, any views expressed are always 100% my own.


We had an amazing time! Once again we were wowed by the mystical animals and planets lantern sculptures. But there was also so many non fantasy themes to enjoy seeing.


The flower bridge was one of the favorites. But we also enjoyed the plants and animals, especially the panda bears. The teens really had fun there.


This year some of the giant lighted artistic sculptures are interactive and added something fun for families with kids of all ages to do. Truth be told, lots of adults enjoyed the interactive also.


Besides the lanterns, we enjoyed watching the various Chinese cultural performances on stage. So much talent including a Jiu-Jitsu Acrobatics, Face Changers and Ribbon Dancing.


We also saw folk artists at various tables Aluminum Braiding, Inner-Bottle Painting and Lantern Painting. Such a treat to see how they make their crafts.

While this just highlights some of our time at The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, there's so many other activities for families to enjoy I didn't include here.

Make sure you visit and enjoy it all with your family.

Activities Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

In addition to the light installations, visitors can enjoy live cultural stage performances, see the choreographed fountain light show, taste Asian cuisine and American comfort food, drink a toast at the Dragon Beer Garden, and shop for Chinese folk artists’ crafts created on site as well as Festival-themed merchandise.

The lanterns are able to be viewed for free during daytime, while a ticket is required for nighttime entrance after 6 pm (no re-entry). The park will close daily at 5 pm to prepare for the nightly Festival. Advance tickets are strongly recommended.

Tickets Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

Friday and Saturday tickets (timed tickets required):

· $25 for adults
· $14 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
· $23 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Sunday through Thursday tickets:

· $22 for adults
· $14 for children (ages 3-12, 2 and under are free)
· $20 for youth (13-17), senior (65+), and active military (with I.D.)

Combination tickets including Franklin Square attractions are available.

Attractions in Franklin Square

Philly Mini Golf: Putt around the city on this Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course. $13 adults/$11 children (3-12), guests 2 years of age and younger are FREE with paid accompanying guardian

Parx Liberty Carousel: A zebra, a lion, an eagle, horses and more! Hop on this spectacular all-American style carousel with hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones. $4 per person (adult or child), guests 2 years of age and younger are FREE with paid accompanying guardian

Playgrounds: Slides, swings, and spinners…bring the kids and enjoy two playgrounds! Open year-round and free.

Franklin Square Fountain Show: FREE choreographed “performances” of fountain jets dancing magically with dramatic lighting and music, both day and night. April 29 – October 31, with daily performances every 30 minutes from 12 pm until closing

SquareBurger: SquareBurger has a delicious menu operated by Cooperage. Food options include burgers, fries, and classic thick milkshakes including the legendary Original Cake Shake made with Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets®. Hours vary by season, visit historicphiladelphia.org for schedule and full menu.

A portion of the proceeds from the Festival benefits Historic Philadelphia, Inc., the non-profit that operates and manages Franklin Square, for the programming and care of this important public space and its many year-round free events.

Learn more, visit - www.phillychineselanternfestival.org

While touring around Philadelphia this past week, we walked through an area close to Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. We planned to visit t...

While touring around Philadelphia this past week, we walked through an area close to Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. We planned to visit there, but that $15 ticket price changed my mind.

Instead we walked around the neighborhood on South Street, and checked out Isaiah Zagar colorful mosaic murals on buildings and alley walk ways. For free. HA!

I've always liked the colors and patterns of mosaics, but these mosaic murals had extra. While you can see the artwork in large view, when you step in closer, you can see more details and more artwork.


Like with the corner of this mosaic window. After I zoomed in, I discovered so much more. Can you tell which area I zoomed in on? Hint, look for the pink square on the left (right?).

The FREE one-of-a-kind award-winning Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches and History Makers, returns to educate and entertain in Philade...

The FREE one-of-a-kind award-winning Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches and History Makers, returns to educate and entertain in Philadelphia’s historic district and Valley Forge beginning June 10, 2022.

Once Upon A Nation brings history to life with stories about real people and events which occurred in historic Philadelphia and in Valley Forge, in partnership with Independence National Historical Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Details for the summer (and fall) season are below.

Programs Opening on June 10

Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches in Historic Philadelphia

Professionally-trained storytellers perform stories using scripts that are built on careful research to assure accuracy. They cover a variety of topics, including some which speak to issues that connect past experiences with contemporary events and interests. Each storyteller tells the riveting stories of our nation’s history in the locations where they once took place.

Hear from specially trained, uniformed storytellers who delight and entertain with free, short 3-to-5-minute stories while sharing the secrets of Philadelphia’s and America’s history as well as History Makers, which are costumed interpreters from Philadelphia’s past who meet and greet visitors and regale them with tales from their times.

Betsy Ross House
June 10 – September 5, Thursdays through Mondays: 11 am – 4 pm

Franklin Court, Franklin Square,
June 10 - September 5, Fridays & Saturdays: 11 am - 4 pm

Independence Visitor Center
July 1 – September 5, Friday & Saturdays: 11 am – 4 pm

Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Bench at Valley Forge June 10 – October 30, Saturdays & Sundays: 11 am - 4 pm

History Makers
History Makers, the costumed interpreters from Philadelphia’s past, meet and greet visitors and regale them with tales from their times. Meet them, take photos with them, and the memories will linger forever.

Free Quaker Meeting House
June 10 - September 5, Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays: 11 am - 4 pm
September 9 – October 30, Fridays and Saturdays: 11 am – 4 pm
500 Arch Street

Meet the History Makers
July 1 - September 5, Fridays and Saturdays,11 am - 4 pm
Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street

Once Upon A Nation is created and operated by the non-profit Historic Philadelphia, Inc. in partnership with Independence National Historical Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Historic Philadelphia, Inc. makes our nation’s history relevant and real through interpretation, interaction, and education, strengthening Greater Philadelphia’s role as the destination to experience American history.

Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s programs include the Betsy Ross House, Once Upon A Nation storytelling and History Makers, and Franklin Square.

For more about Historic Philadelphia, call 215-629-4026, 877-462-1776, buy tickets online or visit www.historicphiladelphia.org