Chinese Lantern Festival Returns For 2025



by Alex Lloyd Gross

The Chinese Lantern Festival returns for another season. Located at Franklin Square, ( 6th and Race Streets) near the Historic District of the city. This features a dazzling display of Paper Mache sculptures, that light up the night.

The park is free to get into during the day. About 5:00 PM it is cleared and then re opened at 6:00 PM. This will cost about $25.00 per person ( some discounts apply). Somethings returned from previous years, like the dragon while other things are new, such as 12 signs of the zodiac. Pigs, Sheep, Tigers, dragons. Each one has the corresponding birth year on it’s pedestal.

There are some interactive displays that you can play with, like hour glass lanterns or a game similar to Frogger. You can compete against others or play by yourself.

Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com an interactive display.

This year there is no souvenir stand, just a few gifts are available towards the back of the area. There is a stage where performers will do insane acrobatics what have them doing handstands on chairs and balancing pottery on their heads.

Alex Lloyd Gross Photo- Delaware Valley News.com Just one of the many performers.

This is a great place to take a date or just go by yourself.