2015 Lantern Festivals Across Taiwan — A Roundup of Central, Southern, and Eastern Events

Written/Compiled and Reported by the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

As the 2015 Yuanxiao Festival draws near following the Lunar New Year celebrations, cities such as Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien County are each holding unique lantern festivals and light events. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has even been recognized by international media as a "must-visit carnival in a lifetime." Take the opportunity to enjoy the festivities with family and friends over the weekend, extending the joy of the traditional New Year celebrations.

● New Taipei Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
The "New Taipei Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival" is a major annual celebration during the Yuanxiao Festival in Taiwan and has been listed by international media as one of the "bucket list" international festivals. In 2015, it officially enters its 17th year. This year’s event, themed “Winter Splendor, Dreams Soaring,” will follow tradition by holding prayer lantern releases in three locations within Pingxi District—Jingtong, Pingxi, and Shifen. Each event is expected to release 8 waves of sky lanterns, with a total of over 3,500 lanterns available for free release across the three sessions.

On February 22 at Jingtong Elementary School, the festival kicks off with the ultra-popular cartoon “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf,” featuring adorable “8? Kids' Sky Lanterns.” On February 27, Pingxi Junior High School will host, for the first time, a cross-regional collaboration with Taitung County to release “12? Large Hot Air Balloon-Shaped Sky Lanterns.” Additionally, the highly artistic “Paper-Cut Sky Lanterns” will make their grand finale appearance on March 5, Yuanxiao Festival, at Shifen Square. New Taipei invites everyone to visit the most colorful and unique Pingxi to witness the heartfelt creativity of the Sky Lantern Festival.

[Info] The 2015 Taipei Lantern Festival officially begins on February 14, with the “Love? Embrace the Sea of Lights” display on Section 2-3 of Zhongshan North Road lighting up first. The main exhibition runs from February 27 to March 8 at Yuanshan Park in the Taipei World Flower Expo site, offering a 10-day lantern art extravaganza. The much-anticipated mini lanterns for both kids and adults will make their official debut in Taipei on the 28th. The adorable little sheep named “Xi Mei” (“Happy Sheep”) features deep night-sky-colored eyes, a gentle and cute smile, and nimble limbs. From March 1 to 2, starting at 1 PM, the little sheep will appear in 12 districts of Taipei. Yuanshan Park at the Taipei World Flower Expo will also extend its lantern giveaway period to five days for the first time, distributing lanterns from March 1 to 5 at the Long Corridor Plaza in the park.

[Info] The 2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival “Taichung Soaring” will be held from February 27 to March 15, with lantern displays successively illuminated at three major zones: the Fengyuan Miaodong Commercial Area, Taichung Park, and the Wurih High-Speed Rail Special Zone. The festival introduces 12 distinctive lantern zones and features two adorable mascots, “Fei Fei” and “Yang Yang,” who will make surprise appearances at various tourist spots in Taichung during the Lunar New Year holiday.