I’m not saying all travel is boring, but I’m starting to realize an issue with it. Sometimes, especially with budget travel, your whole itinerary consists of you looking at things. Look at this historic landmark, leave and look at this landmark, now leave and look at this landmark. You get it.

 

 

I’m just beginning to travel, so I’m trying to find ways to remedy the ‘look at stuff’ part of it. One fantastic way I’ve found is through events and festivals. I jumped at the chance when I heard about the Chinese Lantern Festival in Raleigh through Koka Booth Amphitheater. The tickets weren’t bad; for two people they were $73 (they said $25 each but with so many fees we got catfished). These tickets also paid for our early entry, so if you arrive on time it’ll be cheaper.

 

 

The Chinese Lantern Festival was a great introduction into Chinese culture. There were several lantern displays of their mythology, alongside plaques detailing the myth. Even after my third loop, I found new things to learn. Later, they hosted several performances, each bringing a different part of their culture to the U.S. Let’s get into it.

 

 

Parking and Entry

There were directions provided on the tickets, alongside an address that you could type into Google Maps. The location was easy to find. Parking? A little more difficult. There were different sections that you could easily drive past and then realize that it was your section. We didn’t even park in the twilight ticket parking because we didn’t see the sign until it was too late.

 

As expected, the entrance line was long, so get there early! We went through pretty fast because neither of us had a bag, but if you need yours, check the bag size limits — they’re pretty strict.

 

As you walked through the entrance you were led down a winding path that surrounded you with lanterns portraying different Chinese figures that I wish I could tell you the names of. I’ll admit, I walked through here way too slow. My boyfriend was dragging me and I was dragging my feet.

 

 

 

Lanterns of the Chinese Lantern Festival

After your magical entrance, you emerge into a large park. You see a path winding itself around an outdoor stage, and a huge Chinese palace in the center. Tylor and I decided to make the loop first, which remains my recommendation for you all.

 

There were so many different set-ups it was impossible to take photos of them all. They even put a boat in the water, and a flower and umbrella display next to it. The loop wasn’t long — a half mile at most — but every inch was covered with lanterns, displays of mythological creatures, and lights strung along the pathway. It was truly designed to make you as awestruck as possible.

 

One of my favorite arrangements was the New Year Animals. They had a display of the animal, with a plaque describing what years corresponded to the animal, along with a description of that person’s personality. It was the most photographed display, everyone wanted a picture next to their animal.

 

 

 

Things to do

The displays were so fun to see but were also short enough that you had ample time for other activities. There were several things set up for you to explore alongside the myths and displays.

 

My favorite was the swings. It felt like a huge tire swing, except colorful and plastic. Kids loved these things, and there were always several on each swing at any given moment. They do, in fact, swing, sometimes to the point where you think you’re going to slip and fall, but that was half the fun!

 

 

 

Along the same lines were the light-up blocks. You jumped from one block to another, and it changed colors when you landed on it. I couldn’t find a time when it was empty enough to not run a kid over, but they all looked like they were having the time of their lives.

 

The final mini-activity was something I can only call the dark room. You waited in line to walk into a box, with no knowledge of what is inside. Once inside, all you can see is the stars. Every surface was a mirror, and hanging from the ceiling were several colorful lightbulbs, resulting in a beautiful feeling of being among the stars.

 

 

 

You can also go window shopping. At the end of the loop, there are vendors set up selling various odds and ends. There were lots of little waving cats and very cool metal sculptures I had to drag myself away from.

 

Food

Of course, one of the most important things is food! There wasn’t a wide assortment of options, but there was something for everyone. There were 4–5 food trucks set up at the start of the event, as well as two concession stands. They had everything you could expect — pizza, pretzels, hot dogs — and a few extra things such as Korean barbecue.

 

My personal favorite was a food truck that sold dumplings. My boyfriend got us one order that had six dumplings, and by the time we finished the first order, I was begging for more. They were so good and I would highly recommend them if you’re looking for a little snack while there!

 

Along with food trucks, the festival was prepared for the cold! Several hot chocolate stands were placed along the lantern loop, and it looked like business was booming for them. They had three options, hot chocolate, tea, and spiked hot chocolate. I got the hot chocolate; it was Swiss Miss, but they added enough chocolate mix it still tasted good. Good luck to the brave souls who got the spiked hot chocolate, I didn’t hear any complaints.

 

The Performances

The performances were the center of attention at the festival! Every hour they had a 5-minute performance with four separate people doing various things. The whole thing ended up being about 20–25 minutes each and would start again at the top of the hour.

 

There were different events that were all so fun to watch. They typically opened with face switching, where the two performers switched masks at the speed of light. They were so smooth they could just turn their head and the face would be different when they turned back.

 

 

 

The second performance was the martial artists. They flew through the air with kicks, and punches, and even showed us some swordsmanship! At the end of their performance, they brought up some volunteers and had them practice alongside their teachings!

 

My favorite performance was with a Chinese yo-yo. The music was so upbeat, and the performer brought an energy to his performance that you couldn’t help but love. We watched him toss his yo-yo several feet into the air and catch it with ease. He performed seemingly impossible tricks all with a bounce to his step and a smile on his face.

 

 

 

The last performance changed by the hour. In the first hour, a dancer twisted through the air, flowing like water across the state. Next, a woman twirled water cups in the air and danced around them, all without getting a drop on herself. Then a ribbon dancer, using the ribbons as if they were an extension of her arm, danced across the stage with poise. The last one we saw was a dragon, who jostled its way through the crowd, scaring little kids and giving everyone a laugh.

 

At the very end, directly opposite the stage, there was a moon goddess and Guzheng player. The musician enraptured the audience with her gentle tune while the dancer elegantly flowed around a spinning platform.

 

Conclusion

The Chinese Lantern Festival not only gave me a chance to see another side of Raleigh, but I also learned so much about Chinese performances and myths. It was well worth the price of tickets and kept me entertained for several hours.

 

The myths were so fun to read about, and we walked the loop at least four times so I could soak up as much information as possible. The performances, of course, were awe-inspiring and left me wishing I knew how to do even half of what they could.

 

I encourage you go to outside your normal routine and find something to do! Whether it’s an activity, event, or festival, there’s always more to learn about others and ourselves. Let’s make memories together. Stay brave!