Chinese Lantern Festival at Centennial Olympic Park (Ice Skating, Too)
If you want a different way to celebrate the holidays in Atlanta, head down to the Chinese Lantern Festival at Centennial Olympic Park.
It’s the first event of its kind and ties into the park’s 20th anniversary.
The event runs from December 9th until January 15th, from 6pm until 11pm tonight, and tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for kids (with special discounts available for students and seniors). Combo packages are also an option.
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) is behind this bright new tradition.
The South part of the park, including the Southern Company Amphitheater, is illuminated with 25 decorative lanterns, handcrafted giant flowers, a three-story pagoda and a 200-foot-long Chinese dragon.
Artists from China constructed all of the colorful creations. There are also craftsmen sprinkled through out the park with booths with items for sale, from foods to paintings. There is also live entertainment each night, including acrobatics, dancers, theatre and more.
You’ll find facts about the lanterns scattered throughout the park, explaining their significance in Chinese culture, including why certain animals or symbols have significance.
You can buy tickets in advance by clicking on this link:
https://centennialpark.freshtix.com/
Or, you can buy them in person at the park.
If you go with the kids, I highly recommend you pick up a combo package online before you go. You can combine ice-skating (which is a fun twist from the arts and culture of the Chinese Lanterns) or a trip on SkyView (perfect if you’re with a date).