Auckland Lantern Festival returns with dazzling light displays

A vibrant silk lantern of a dragon measuring 30 meters in length dazzled thousands at the opening of the Auckland Lantern Festival at Manukau Sports Bowl on Thursday.

The four-night lighting extravaganza is making its first appearance in four years after being affected by adverse weather events and the Covid-19 pandemic since 2020.

Over 170,000 visitors are expected to view the dazzling display of more than 500 hand-crafted lanterns through Sunday.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited group manager of major events Jep Savali expects the festival to make a triumphant return this year in its new location in South Auckland.

"The public can expect the revival of much-loved aspects [of the festival], including more than 500 handmade lantern displays set in a beautiful park, traditional and contemporary performances, cultural displays such as calligraphy and lantern-making, a variety of retail and food stalls, and spectacular fireworks on the final night of the festival," Savali says.

Asked why the festival has moved from its previous location in Auckland Domain, Savali said organisers were attracted by the Manukau Sports Bowl's additional space.

"We considered a number of venues before deciding on the Manukau Sports Bowl," he says. "It has lots of outdoor space for more than 140,000 people that have previously attended the festival over four days and the bowl's park-like setting is perfect for a display of lanterns.

"This is the first time since the festival began in 2000 that the event has moved to South Auckland. It's an exciting opportunity to bring a new audience to the Auckland Lantern Festival, hopefully attracting new visitors south of the city centre."

In China, the Lantern Festival - also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival - is a festival that marks the end of Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) celebrations.

Chinese people typically celebrate this holiday by enjoying colorful lantern displays and eating sweet rice balls called tāngyuán. In some parts of China, lion dances, stilt-walking, traditional riddle games and dragon dances are also included in festivities.

Savali says all lanterns on display at the festival site have been meticulously crafted in China, shipped to New Zealand and stored in Auckland.

Organisers commissioned a new handmade silk lantern in the shape of a dragon to mark the Year of the Dragon in 2024, further enriching visitors' experience.

"The 30m-long dragon lantern is designed and handmade in Zigong, China," he says. "Traditionally, lanterns like these are made with bamboo frames and covered with oiled silk paper. This lantern uses traditional silk but swaps the bamboo for a steel frame for longevity."

In addition to the dragon lantern, hundreds of other lanterns are on display, with some of these being inherited from the first iterations of the festival more than 20 years ago.

A couple of zodiac lanterns, originally commissioned for recent years when the event was cancelled, are also making their debut.

Sichuan province native Lanzhi Zhang attended the opening day of the festival with her young son, noting that the event was a great way to introduce children to traditional Chinese culture.

"I'm from Sichuan," Zhang says. "I heard that the dragon lantern is from Zigong, Sichuan. I'm very interested, so I wanted to come and see it for myself. I feel like I'm back in my hometown.

"My child absolutely loves the [dragon] lantern. He hasn't had a chance to experience this side of Chinese culture before, so it's good to be here and enjoy the festive spirit."

Minrui Yang wore ancient Chinese attire on the opening night to evoke a sense of nostalgia.

"This [Auckland Lantern Festival] has been overwhelmingly positive in my experience," Yang says. "I enjoyed all the lantern variations, especially those near the trees. I was very delighted by them.

"[I thought] it would be fun to dress up in Chinese traditional clothing as well. There's such a big variety here - it's always nice to see [fashion and culture] becoming more and more recognized."

Savali says the Auckland Lantern Festival was first held in 2000. Today, it has become one of the largest cultural festivals in New Zealand.

"In the 24 years since the festival began, it has grown from a one-day event to a four-day-long festival," he says. "It is an iconic and longstanding representation of Asian culture in Auckland."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Labour leader Chris Hipkins, Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson, Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong and other politicians attended the opening ceremony.

Simpson says the Lantern Festival is a unique festival representing the diverse cultures in Auckland.

"The Lantern Festival has been a cultural event supported by the council for 24 years. It's a testament to the rich cultural diversity that makes our city so unique," Simpson says.

"The Chinese community, along with other Asian communities, has played a vital role in shaping the Auckland we know into the vibrant and inclusive city that exists today."

The Auckland Lantern Festival runs daily from 5pm to 10:30pm through Sunday, culminating in a fireworks display from the center of the park at approximately 9:50pm.