The NYC Winter Lantern Festival will light up Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on Staten Island this holiday season.
Beginning Nov. 28, over 40 LED installations will decorate 7 acres of Snug Harbor as part of a Chinese tradition that has been around for more than 1,000 years.
A total of 3,000 lanterns were handmade by 200 craftsmen in China over a 30-day period. Each of the lanterns traveled 7,252 miles to New York City, where members of the Haitian Cultural Center for Traditional Music and Dance assembled them on the grounds of Snug Harbor.
As the China National Tourist Office New York 2018 signature event and sponsored by Empire Outlets and Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, the event features seven acres lit up by 40 LED installations that stretch up to 30 feet tall. The LED lanterns will be accompanied by live performances of traditional Chinese dances and art. Meanwhile, NEWYORKEE is partnering with a variety of holiday vendors to create an experience for guests of all ages.
The lanterns will feature different designs and themes. Visitors can expect to see flamingos, lions, flowers, sea creatures, Christmas decorations, Chinese dragons and more.
In addition to the lanterns, the festival features live performances of traditional Chinese dances and a martial arts show.
Aileen Fuchs, president and CEO of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, said it's extraordinary for an event this immersive to come to the borough.
Date and Time:November 28, 2018- January 6, 2019
Location:Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden New York.