January 13, 2016
Sichuan Tianyu/Historic Philadelphia
An illuminated dragon that will be on display at the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in April. The dragon and other lanterns were designed by Chinese design company Sichuan Tianyu.
Franklin Square is about to experience a Chinese makeover.
Historic Philadelphia, which manages the seven-and-a-half-acre square at 200 Sixth St., announced Wednesday afternoon that it will use the space to launch the first-ever Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, which will be a celebration of Chinese culture through 25 flower displays, a larger-than-life Chinese dragon and a three-story pagoda -- all adorned with thousands of LED lights.
An illuminated swan and array of flowers that will be on display at the festival. The pieces were made in China specifically for Franklin Square.
According to a press release, the 25 flower-lantern displays will be made by Chinese artists with the festival in mind, taking the form of pandas, peacocks, lions swans, dragons and figures dressed in Chinese costumes. A red aesthetic will be prominent among the designs, which are described as more contemporary and complex than they would be by tradition. The lantern decorations will be rounded out with a carousel, mini-golf and event programming that ranges from craft-making to culinary lessons to artist performances.
The festival is intended to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a $6.5 million investment to revitalize Franklin Square in 2006, as well as the end of Chinese New Year celebrations -- though, because of Philadelphia's climate during the winter, the festival will not take place on Feb. 22, as it would by Chinese custom.
The festival kicks off on April 22 and runs through June 12. The festival will be open nightly from 6-10 p.m.
