Two New Lantern Festivals are Coming to Town

With the number of daylight hours getting shorter and shorter, you can bet winter is coming, but a pair of lantern festivals near Bergen County are gearing up to light up the night sky (and warm your spirits) with loads of family-friendly fun and entertainment. 

First up is the NYC Winter Lantern Festival, which will once again transform Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (about an hour-long drive from Bergen County) into a whimsical world of light, thanks to over 1,000 hand-crafted lanterns, each sculpted into magnificent figures of luminescent art. From “Game of Thrones”-worthy dragons to cute and cuddly panda bears and other fantastical creatures outfitted with LED lights, guests jaws are sure to drop as they walk throughout the vast grounds. Also on view are a slew of interactive exhibits and live performances featuring Chinese acrobats showcasing world-class dancers, jugglers, tumblers, and magicians. 

Next up is the Hello Panda Festival, the largest lantern festival in North America, which will light up the night at Citi Field from December 6 through January 26. This bright spot on the holiday calendar celebrates the traditional Chinese art of lantern making with over 120 lantern exhibits, each a  magical display of light and color, handcrafted by world-class artisans. Other attractions include cultural performances and arts experiences, a holiday market, and 60 international food vendors curated by The World's Fare.

No matter which you choose to attend (why not both?), it’s gonna be LIT!