On Thursday 18 February 2016, I went to the Lantern Festival which celebrates the Chinese New Year and it was held in the Auckland Domain. It had previously been held in Albert Park but was moved this year to accommodate the crowds which have been growing year by year.
Auckland Festivals – free to visit but escorted tours can be arranged: $45 per person half day / $65 full day.
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Lantern Festival 2016
The festival proper runs from Friday to Sunday, with Thursday being a night with lanterns only. Friday to Sunday, there are all the other components of a festival: food stalls, dance, and live music. The festival is open from 5pm to 10.30pm (7 to 10.30 Thursday) but the best time to go to fully appreciate the lanterns is after dark.
However, this year I chose the Thursday night, and it is often the best time to see lanterns as there are fewer people on this night. Most prefer to go to the festival proper from Friday to Sunday. The finale on Sunday is a fireworks display.
This year celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Monkey, so among the more than 800 handmade lanterns there were several with this theme. There were lanterns hanging from the trees, and others standing on the ground. The lanterns depict traditional Chinese life, as well as featuring the various animals in the 12 year cycle.
As part of the Chinese theme, the museum which is located at the Domain and the Skytower in the central city were both lit with red and gold, which are traditional Chinese colours.
