Koka Booth Chinese Lantern Festival Returns November 18th

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For the 7th year in a row, the Chinese Lantern Festival at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre will return from November 18th to January 8th.

Celebrating a nearly 2000-year-old eastern tradition, Chinese lantern festivals occur worldwide to celebrate Chinese culture. In Cary, the Chinese Lantern Festival became a must-see event for its citizens, with 200,000 attendees last year.

There are several different ticket options to choose from. If you aren’t sure which date you are planning on attending, you can purchase the “any night” ticket for $30. If you know which date you would like to attend, the price varies based on the date and age of the visitor (most dates have ages 13+ being $20 a ticket, and children 3+ being $11, but check the ticket website to confirm as the prices will rise as the festival dates become closer). Children under 3 are free and do not need a ticket. You can view the available tickets here.

On December 6th, We Rock the Spectrum Cary (an indoor playground franchise that specializes in creating sensory-safe spaces for children with autism) will be hosting Sensory Friendly Night. On this night, the music will be at a lower decibel, no strobe or flashing lights and a designated quiet area. You can purchase those tickets here.

You can also purchase Twilight Tickets, which give you access to the festival 90 minutes before it usually opens at 4:30 PM so you can witness the sunset backdrop behind all the lights. Twilight Tickets are offered Tuesday-Sunday only. Those tickets are $25 ($15 for children under 13), and a limited number is available. You can purchase them here.

On Mondays, you can attend the Very Important Panda (VIP) tour. You will follow a guide through the festival and learn more about the history of the event as well as more about the Chinese village that creates the lanterns. Some days are already sold out, but you can look at available tickets for the tour here.

The Chinese Lantern Festival will run nightly from November 18th – January 8th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. It is recommended that you arrive at least an hour before closing to experience the event entirely. You can learn more from the official page here.

About Article Author

James Tuliano

Founder of The Cary Report. When I am not keeping up with local news, you can find me riding my bike around the Greenway trails or lying by the pool.

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