
Any Night tickets are the best option for ultimate flexibility; attend on any night of your choice (one-time use). Any Night tickets are an ideal gift option.
- Gates open at 6 PM. Please arrive by 9 PM.
Experience the Magic of the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival.
Join us in Cary, North Carolina, for the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, a spectacular holiday event perfect for the whole family. From November 15 through January 11, immerse yourself in a world of wonder with thousands of handcrafted, illuminated lanterns showcasing various themes. This walk-through experience also features captivating cultural performances, a variety of concessions, and interactive elements that delight both children and adults.
This year, we are thrilled to celebrate a decade of dazzling displays. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this enchanting tradition!
Any Night tickets are the best option for ultimate flexibility; attend on any night of your choice (one-time use). Any Night tickets are an ideal gift option.
Enjoy the lanterns during the “Golden Hour". This ticket type presents the perfect backdrop for memory making photos!
Select the date you want to attend!
Ticket prices increase if purchased on the date of the event.
Join us on December 2nd for a Sensory-Friendly Night, which will feature lower volume music, reduced attendance, and will not include strobe or flashing lights. Additionally, there will be access to a designated Quiet Area for those in need of a break from sensory overload.
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!
The Kona Big Wave Club offers a private area for your group to relax, mingle, share a hot cocoa and more. Those interested in private rentals should get in touch with our Group Coordinator to secure a reservation.
The following will come with your rental:
Accessibility Information
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.
Bag Policy
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:
All bags are subject to search.
Box Office Information
Koka Booth Amphitheatre is a cashless venue. Accepted Method of Payments: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, & American Express, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
FAQ's: Tips on planning your visit
Food & Beverage
For this event, guests are not allowed to bring in outside food & beverages.
Our concessions menu will be available soon!
Fun Facts
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 early November 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.
Only the select communities of Seattle, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and suburban Orlando join Cary as hosts to Tianyu-produced Chinese lantern festivals during this holiday season.
Fast Facts
The spectacular Chinese Dragon floating on Symphony Lake is longer than three school buses at approximately 200 feet. It stands 21 feet high and weighs 18,000 pounds.
Fun fact: its head was installed by a crane with a 15-person crew!
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.
The prominence of red in the designs symbolizes good fortune in the new year.
Instagram: @booth_amp; @NCChineseLanternFestival | Facebook: @BoothAmphitheatre; @NCChineseLanternFestival Share photos by tagging us and including #CaryNC #NCChineseLanternFestival
Items Allowed
To expedite entry into the festival, we recommend packing as light as possible.
We recommend no bags. However, if bags must be brought in:
All bags are subject to search.
Guests are welcome to bring the following items:
Please Note: All guests pass through metal detectors for most events. If metal detectors are not in use, security will be wanding individuals.
Items Prohibited
Prohibited items will need to be returned to the guest's vehicle before entering.
Please leave the following items at home:
Kids Tickets
Media Images
Please feel free to use these images for promoting the NC Chinese Lantern Festival and please be sure to include photo credit to Liz Condo Photography when using in any pr, social media, blog, etc. Thank you!
Merch Available at The Shirt Shop
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!
Parking & Buses
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.
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
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.
Re-Entry
Re-Entry is not allowed for this event.
Related Links
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TIANYU CULTURE
Stage Performances
Traditional Chinese performances will take place each night on the main stage.
Nightly performance times:
5:30 PM -Twilight Session
6:30 PM -Evening Session
7:30 PM -Evening Session
8:30 PM -Evening Session
Thanksgiving performance times:
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
Christmas Eve performance times:
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.
Weather Policy
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.
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.
Wheelchairs/Scooters
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.
MAKE THE JOURNEY PART OF THE EXPERIENCE. Take the train to see the NC Chinese Lantern Festival!
With 10 round trips daily between Charlotte and Raleigh, 7 stops in between and service beyond North Carolina to the Northeast, your travel possibilities are endless. Let NC By Train be your #1 travel choice to sporting events, concerts, festivals, dining and more! Comfort, convenience, and affordable ticket prices guarantee there’s a perfect trip for everyone!
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