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Chasing Lights: NC Chinese Lantern Festival
Updated: December 3, 2019
We had the opportunity to experience an ancient Chinese tradition over the weekend – it was illuminating!
The Chinese Lantern Festival is back for another great season. The festival travels around the country, showcasing amazing lantern displays that will transport you to China from your hometown. The festival is currently at Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, North Carolina and ends on January 12, 2020.
The Origin of Chinese Lanterns
Chinese lanterns originate from the Eastern Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). They can be made with different materials such as silk, paper, wood, bamboo and straw. They were used as lights for homes, palaces and streets. The common red lanterns (oval, decorated lanterns) are hung as a symbol for prosperity in life.
Emperor Han Mingdi of the Han Dynasty got the idea to hang lanterns after learning Buddhist monks lit lanterns as a sign of respect for Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The Emperor ordered that everyone in his realm should do the same. It quickly became a widespread festival celebrated in February or March each year.
The Displays
Walk the trails and enjoy the well-crafted lanterns created by a talented team of artists. There are 20 all new displays at this year’s festival with the return of its 200 foot long Chinese Dragon on Symphony Lake. Believe me when I say this: it is a huge dragon! Its body seems endless!
Ambiance
Cultural performances and artisan crafts are another addition to this year’s festivities. We really enjoyed the solo dance performance and the acrobats. The performances, decorative lanterns and music combined created an ambiance of a genuine Chinese festival.
Fun for Everyone
The NC Chinese Lantern Festival is a great option for people who want to have a unique cultural experience during the holidays. I recommend a visit to the festival for anyone who is looking for a fun night out. We saw couples, families and people of all ages who were enjoying themselves. Not to mention we had one of the best outings ever!
You can purchase tickets upon arrival (the line can get very long though!) or buy them online. Parking is free of charge and there are food vendors available for drinks and meal purchases.
We had an amazing time and would love to return again! I will leave you with a few more photos of the lanterns we saw on our visit.
Have you ever been to a lantern festival? What is your favorite lantern? Comment below and share this post!
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In 2016, we were invited as guests by the Koka Booth Amphitheater, as always my opinions are my own.
Staycation: Little Passports Early Explorers
It’s almost time for the holidays, which means a lot of parties, food and gift giving over the next couple of months. I know a lot of people opt to use this time of year for a vacation, but we stay home. Over the next month, I will share my Staycation Holiday Guides to help you have a cozy staycation and find the right gifts for your loved ones!
We were so excited when we received Tristan’s first Little Passports Early Explorers box in the mail! I love that Little Passports offers boxes based on the appropriate age range for children 3 – 14 years. Tristan has played with his new box of goodies ever since it arrived at our home a week ago.
What is Little Passports?
Little Passports is a monthly subscription box that allows the child in your life to learn and discover things about the world in the comforts of home. There are four types of subscriptions: Early Explorers (Ages 3 – 5), World Edition (Ages 6 – 10), USA Edition (Ages 7 – 12) and Science Expeditions (Ages 9 +). We chose the Early Explorers subscription for Tristan.
Early Explorers – What’s inside?
The first month’s box is a Travelers Kit as a fun introduction to the Early Explorers program. One of the highlights of this kit is the bright orange suitcase. Tristan has carried it around our house since the day he got it! Have you seen our video yet?
The first box also include:
- 20-page activity booklet
- Wall-sized world map
- Stickers and photo
- Luggage tag
- A fun orange suitcase
Each month subscribers will receive a different world theme kit featuring souvenirs, an activity booklet, trading cards, stickers, letters from Max, Mia and Toby (their dog) and much more!
Subscription Information
There are three subscription plans to choose from: Monthly ($17.95/mo), 6 Month ($16.95/mo) and 12 Month ($14.95/mo) plans. They auto renew and can be cancelled at anytime. You could also subscribe as a gift for someone.
Our son absolutely loves this box as you can also see in our video. If you have kids in your life who are budding travelers and looking for a fun, educational gift Little Passports is the one! Happy staycation and happy travels!
Although this product was kindly given to me by Little Passports, my opinions are always my own.
**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.
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