We strive to provide a positive experience for all guests. Our goal is to facilitate accessibility on our website and mobile site to better allow patrons to learn about events and purchase tickets with ease.

Planning on visiting our venue for this event and need to take advantage of our Accessibility Services? Let us know your needs by filling out the form below.  This is not required. 

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION FORM

ACCESSIBILITY ASSISTANCE

If you have difficulty using or accessing any element of this website or the Koka Booth Amphitheatre mobile site, please feel free to call us at 919-462-2025 or email us at info@boothamp.com. We will work with you to provide the information, item, or transaction you seek through a communication method that is accessible for and consistent with applicable law. 

FEEDBACK
Please contact us at 919-462-2025 or email us at info@boothamp.com if you have any feedback or suggesstions as to how we could improve the accessibility of this website. 

More information may be found HERE. 

To expedite entry into the festival, we recommend packing as light as possible. We encourage guests to leave bags/purses at home.

Look for our “No Bag line” at the main entrance. 

Types of bags allowed:

• Bags 6"x 8" or smaller are permitted.
• Clear Bags no larger than 12" x 12" x 9"
• Medical, Parenting, & Camera Bags.

All bags are subject to search.   

Physical Address: 8003 Regency Parkway Cary, NC 27518 - located at the Main Entrance Gate 1.

Method of Payment: Koka Booth Amphitheatre is a cashless venue. Accepted Method of Payments: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, & American Express, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. 

Tickets: 

• Call ETIX at 800-514-3849 to purchase tickets by phone. You will pay processing fees to use this service. 
• Tickets may be purchased at the venue Box Office during operating hours. We are NOT able to sell tickets by phone at the ticket office. You will not pay ONLINE fees when purchasing tickets at the box office. 
• Tickets are MOBILE ONLY. Tickets will be delivered 4 days prior to the event date. Display your tickets on your mobile device and turn the brightness to high once you approach our ticket scanners. 
• We strongly encourage purchasing tickets in advance.  Tickets may not be available on the day/night of the event.

Taxes & Fees:

• Koka Booth Amphitheatre uses all-in pricing. The total price listed on the purchase page includes ticket fees, excluding any applicable taxes.
• When ordering Online or by Phone through Etix additional fees will be added on top of the ticket price. A $2.50 order fee will be added to each order.
• When purchasing in person at the Box Office a 3% processing fee, plus taxes will be added on top of the ticket price. 

Discounts are available Sunday-Thursday Nights for Military, Senior 55+, and College Students (valid ID required).

For this event, guests are not allowed to bring in outside food & beverages. 

Our concessions menu will be available soon!

Did you know?

• The ancient art of Chinese lantern making began in the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), a significant period for science and innovation. Each year during Chinese New Year, families view colorful lanterns to symbolize respect and prosperity.
• Our community is host to more than 25 Chinese artisans and performers who arrive in North Carolina in late October to hand assemble lanterns and prepare for exciting Chinese cultural performances during this annual celebration.
• The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is produced by Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., in cooperation with the Town of Cary.
   

Fast Facts

• Each lantern is created by hand on silk fabric stretched over steel frames and then lit with upwards of hundreds of LED.
• Lanterns are designed exclusively for this event with materials shipped from China into the North Carolina Ports in Wilmington.
• It takes 15+ tractor-trailers to deliver materials for our visiting artisans to assemble this year’s 36 lantern groupings.
• Most lanterns are made in only one city: Zigong, in the Sichuan province, the lantern capital of China for many centuries.
• Our visiting artisans have lantern-crafting skills that are passed down from one generation to the next.
• Most traditional Chinese lantern festivals are celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar, marking the last day of the lunar New Year. This tradition dates back 2000 years.
• In ancient times, lanterns were fairly simple and only the emperor and noblemen had large, ornate ones. In modern times, lanterns have been embellished with complex designs such as the ones on display here in Cary.

Instagram: @booth_amp and @NCChineseLanternFestival
Facebook: @BoothAmphitheatre and @NCChineseLanternFestival
Share photos by tagging us and including #CaryNC #NCChineseLanternFestival

Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27) and Christmas Eve (December 24):

• No Twilight Session
• Gates open at 6:00 PM, event closes at 9:00 PM
• Performances at 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM only

To expedite entry into the festival, we recommend packing as light as possible. 

We recommend no bags. However, if bags must be brought in:

• Clear Bags no larger than 12" x 12" x 9"
• Medical, Parenting, & Camera Bags
• Bags 6"x 8" or smaller are permitted.

All bags are subject to search.                                                                     

Guests are welcome to bring the following items:

• Factory Sealed Bottled water (2 per person - No glass/canned or flavored water)
• Cameras, tripods & selfie sticks
• Tablets
• Blankets
• Raincoats
• Ponchos
• Strollers/Stroller-wagons
• Mobility devices such as Scooters, Walkers and /or Wheelchairs for our guests with disabilities
• Umbrellas

Please Note: All guests pass through metal detectors for most events. If metal detectors are not in use, security will be wanding individuals.

Prohibited items will need to be returned to the guest's vehicle before entering.  

Please leave the following items at home: 

• Alcohol                                                                                                 
• Backpacks
• Bags larger than 6" x 8"
• Balloons, Banners & Signs 
• Brochures/Stickers/Handouts     
• Confetti/Glitter                                                                          
• Coolers of any kind                                                                       
• Drones                                                
• Fireworks
• Food & Beverages (Except Factory Sealed Bottled water) 
• Glass Bottles of any kind                                                
• Grills & Open Flames                                            
• Illegal Drugs                                      
• Laser Pointers                                   
• Lawn chairs                               
• Mats of any kind, including yoga mats                                                 
• Noise Makers                                    
• Pets of any kind (Excluding service animals)                                      
• Re-Usable water bottles (Water fill stations are closed)
• Sporting equipment                        
• Tables of any size                                           
• Tarps, plastic sheeting                   
• Tents/Stakes                                                       
• Wagons/Carts                                  
• Weapons of Any Kind (Including but not limited to knives, guns, tasers, chains, studded/spiked jewelry)                                                                                   

Looking for a fun way to keep students learning? Check out our free NC Chinese Lantern Festival Lesson Plans. From the history of the festival to how these sculptures are crafted, we have four days of lessons and activities created and ready to go for your students grades K-5. Download today!

• How are lanterns made.pptx
• History of Lantern Festival.pptx
• Lanterns.pptx
• Lesson Plans.docx
• Maps.pptx

• Please include children ages 3 and older when making your purchase. 
• Children 2 & under are free for this event and do not need a ticket. 

Celebrate a decade of the NC Chinese Lantern Festival with our exclusive commemorative merchandise! This year, we're excited to offer vibrant t-shirts for both kids and adults, as well as elegant tree ornaments. Be sure to check out our cozy hoodies and long-sleeve options. Don't miss this chance to commemorate 10 incredible years—grab your apparel during your visit to KBA!

PREFRRED PARKING: A limited number of preferred parking passes will be available in advance ($10) and the night of the event for $15.00 per car.  When purchasing please make sure you are choosing the correct date you will be attending.

PURCHASE PARKING

GENERAL PARKING: Koka Booth Amphitheatre has approximately 1500 free spaces available.  Parking is free of charge in Amphitheatre-owned lots. Some local businesses may charge a fee for parking in their lots. 

ACCESSIBLE PARKING: A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis with the proper hang tag or license plate.

BUSES: Please contact us at info@boothamp.com or call 919-462-2025 ahead of time if your group is arriving on a bus of any size.  We need to be able to plan to accommodate bus drop-off, pick-ups & parking if needed.

• Pets of any kind are not allowed. 

• Trained service animals are permitted in the amphitheatre. Each service animal must remain with its owner and be restrained. If a service animal interferes with other guests, corrective action may include re-arranging seating or removal of the service animal from the amphitheatre.

  Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not Service Animals as defined by the 2010 ADA Guidelines and are NOT allowed.

• Lines and wait times may be extended for purchasing tickets and entering the festival during weekends, holidays, and warm weather evenings.
• Please pack as light as possible when attending the festival. Leave bags at home if possible. 
• Please review our Clear Bag Policy, Items Allowed and Items Prohibted prior to your visit.  
• Patrons will be walking through (not driving through) the venue to observe the light displays, however, there will be limited seating on the crescent deck for those who want to relax and take in the view!
• Venue food & beverage stands will be open selling an assortment of asian inspired food and holiday treats. Top off one or more of these items with a yummy hot chocolate, plain or spiked, before or after your walk through the lantern displays. 
• Food Trucks will be on-site Friday & Saturday only. A list may not be provided as food trucks are subject to change. 
• This is a walkthrough festival and it takes most guests about 45-75 minutes to view all the displays.
• We are an outdoor amphitheatre, so please dress appropriately for the weather.
• Wear comfy shoes. While the walkways are paved, there are some grassy and pine straw areas that may get muddy after a hard rain.
• Bring a fully charged phone. You'll want to take several pictures and videos!
• Start following us on social media and tag us so we can share your posts or stories. Instagram: @booth_amp and Facebook: @boothamphitheatre

EXCLUSIVE HOTEL DISCOUNTS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TIANYU CULTURE

Traditional Chinese performances will take place each night on the main stage.

Non-Holiday Nightly Performance Schedule:

5:30 PM -Twilight Session
6:30 PM -Evening Session
7:30 PM -Evening Session
8:30 PM -Evening Session

Thanksgiving Performance Schedule: 

6:30 PM
7:30 PM

Christmas Eve Performance Schedule: 

6:30 PM
7:30 PM

PLEASE NOTE: Performances are included in the ticket price; however, performances may be cancelled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances for the safety of the performers. If a performance or performances are cancelled, there will be no refund or compensation given.

Treat yourself to a memorable stay and discover what Cary has to offer! Several attractions are just minutes from Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Make sure to book your hotel stay with our partner, CMC Hotels for exclusive discounts!

Downtown Cary
Downtown Cary offers a mix of outdoor recreation, arts and history, and dining, anchored by the new seven-acre Downtown Cary Park. Other attractions include the Cary Arts Center, numerous restaurants, breweries, and shops throughout the downtown area

Disc Golf

Downtown Cary Park
Downtown Cary Park is a place of wonder, imagination, pure joy and natural beauty. The park features a great lawn, dog park,  

Cary Downtown Farmers' Market
Held on Saturdays, this market features local produce and other vendors. 

Greenway Trails
Cary loves its greenway trails! They’re shared-use trails for those walking, running, cycling, skating, or using an ADA mobility device. Cary has over 39 Greenways!

Cary Arts Center
A hub for arts with performances by the Cary Players, a gallery, and public art integrated into the building's design. 

The Cary Theater
A historic venue that screens movies and hosts live performances. 

Page-Walker Arts and History Center
A complete restoration in the 1990s converted the old Page-Walker Hotel into a living resource for the citizens of Cary. Today, the Page-Walker Arts & History Center is alive with classes, events, concerts, social gatherings, and historical and fine arts exhibitions.

Visit CaryNC.GOV

This event will go on Rain or Shine.  Please visit our website, social media, sign-up for SMS alerts or call our weather hotline 919-459-8332 in the case of extreme weather conditions and/or slippery road/surface conditions.

SMS ALERTS

Patron safety is our top priority. In the best interest of our guests, we may decide to close on nights we feel walking conditions are unsafe.

The venue is not able to provide wheelchairs for patron use. Guests with disabilities may bring in a wheelchair or scooter to use for the event. These are the only type of scooters allowed.

Venue walkways are paved and are wheelchair accessible.