The Unique Festival In North Carolina That’s Absolutely Mesmerizing
It’s like walking through a fairytale — animals you’d otherwise rarely see sit in their natural habitats, stories are told through the setup, and somehow the darkness of night is the perfect time to view it all. But they’re not regular animals: they’re glowing, bobbing, and wondrously animated. The Chinese Lantern Festival at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens allows visitors to witness otherworldly attractions. as well as an inside peep at the unique works of masters of the craft.
Deemed "The Wild," more than 800 handmade lanterns fill the 12-acre garden, showcasing life-size (and sometimes larger) displays of animals from all seven continents and the surrounding oceans.
You'll see a great migration featuring lions, rhinos, giraffes, jellyfish that seem to float in the air, curious and brave tigers, and even panda bears amongst vibrant green bamboo.
The lanterns were handmade by masters of the craft in Zigong, China — a region rich in the country's lantern heritage. The unique lanterns are shaped to resemble everything from dragons and peacocks to giant peals. They've been described as glimmering like "crystal rainbows."
Daniel Stowe's largest exhibition to date runs from September 7 through October 29. It features more than just lanterns, though: guests can witness a kung fu show, watch authentic shadow plays, and peruse the marketplace. There's also the mid-Autumn festival October 4th celebrating the full moon as part of Chinese and Asian tradition.
While the Chinese lanterns are indeed mesmerizing, the new accompanying Asian-themed display is also stunning. Guests will witness gorgeous Japanese maples, bamboo, grasses, iris, ferns as well as traditional touches like rock and raked sand.
According to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, "Admission with Chinese Lantern Festival tickets begins at 5:30 p.m. These tickets are not valid for daytime admission or before 5:30 p.m. Daytime admission is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with entry ending at 4 p.m. and requires the purchase of a general admission ticket or Garden membership."
What a unique event! How cool would it be to walk through this magical setting? For more information visit their website here.
Emory was born and raised in North Carolina. She enjoys writing, photography, filmmaking, travel, wine and cheese. You can find more of her work on emoryrakestraw.com
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