Chinese Lanterns in the Night Sky.
There were crowds and there was limited parking but people of all cultures gathered in their thousands to enjoy Auckland’s 11th Lantern Festival. As part of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations an inner city park was transformed into a magical nightscape.
The Lantern Festival is a showcase for colourful, people-sized lanterns made from lightweight paper over wire and lit from inside by electric bulbs. This year two illuminated dragons weaved their way around the central water fountain, a flock of glowing sheep grazed on grassy flats and amongst hanging vines and branches a tropical sea story was enacted. A Tiger – the symbol of 2010 – crouched near one of the park entrances. 
Around the park there were rides for the kids and international dance and song performances. In the late afternoon martial artists displayed their skills to applauding crowds and when the sun set, passionate Karaoke singers took to the stage. For the hungry, or the culinary explorer, there were plenty of exotic dishes. In a cordoned-off-street food alley a thirst quenching coconut could be bought. There was deep fried eggplant pie to sample and grilled corn cobs to chew.
Over 200,000 visited this year, so many that there was a sea of people, and walking around often became a shuffle. But the vibe was so pleasant that the mass of bodies became friendly companionship.
The Lantern Festival will be held again next year when the Year of the Rabbit arrives.
loading...
loading...
