The 2019 Lantern Festival Chinese New Year in Auckland

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The Auckland Lantern Festival happens every Chinese New Year.

In celebration of the Year of the Pig (2019), Auckland Domain was once again filled with incredible lanterns, depicting Chinese myths and legends, dragons, and more. This was my first time attending the festival (I tried to go to the Lantern Festival last year but there was parking drama – long story), so I made the most of it and ended up going twice. It’s held for four evenings over the course of a weekend (Thursday – Sunday), with food trucks galore, rides for the kids, karaoke opportunities, traditional Chinese performances, martial arts, music, arts and crafts, and of course, lanterns.

The lanterns were different that I was expecting. When I picture lanterns I think typical red lanterns, that’s like a barrel shape almost, that you either string up, or your hold on the end of a stick. You know the ones I mean? The emoji red lantern. But I was so pleasantly surprised at the other lantern creations that went along side those ‘typical looking’ lanterns; the intricate details of the clusters of animal and human shaped lanterns that created a little tale along the paths of the domain. Thankfully I have a few friend familiar with Chinese tales, so they were able to interpret some of the most interesting collections of lanterns for me.

If you get the change to go next year (be prepared to park somewhere far away and walk, or get the train), then I highly recommend it! The crowds are insane, but the food lines moved at a decent pace, and if you can cope with all the people, then the performances and lights are well worth elbowing you way through the mobs. Thursday night is a little different, as there are no food vendors, just the lanterns, and Sunday night is also different, as they end the festival with an amazing fireworks display that was better than the New Year’s ones, I hear. Well worth going on the Sunday night for those!

Did you got to the Auckland Lantern Festival this year?