[2017 Lantern Festival]Come here for a colorful Lantern Night—events all across Taiwan!

By 0??, written by Jenny Lee

The Lantern Festival is also known as Little New Year, and the festive atmosphere still fills the whole of Taiwan. With the main lanterns of the 2017 National Lantern Festival being lit one after another, this weekend will see the peak of crowd attendance. Various small yet charming Lantern Festival events are taking place around the island. Families can choose their favorite spots to admire the lanterns while enjoying a day out, or attend the lantern festival in their nearby city or county for a fun shared experience. Let’s all soak up the lively spirit of the Lantern Festival together—but don’t forget to keep warm at night this weekend as a cold front arrives!

| Photo source: 2017 Taipei Lantern Festival Official Website |

Full area lighting time: 17:30–23:00 | Performance time in exhibition areas: 19:00–22:00
※ Main performance area: Little Chick Family
Shows every 30 minutes, last show at 21:57
※ Light sculpture area: Beimen and Zhongshan Hall
Beimen shows every 20 minutes, last show at 21:55
Zhongshan Hall shows every 30 minutes, last show at 21:57

Additionally, each of Taipei’s 12 administrative districts has its own unique lantern area. For details, please visit the official 2017 Taipei Lantern Festival website: https://2017.lanternfestival.taipei/zh/

Event address: No. 2, QianSui Street, Shulin District, New Taipei City
※ Lantern Festival activities
On 2/11 (Sat) and 2/12 (Sun), free DIY workshops for parents and children will be offered: including sock puppet making with Gugu Chicken and lucky chicken lanterns… etc., with a limit of 60 participants per session.
On 2/11 (Sat), the day of the Lantern Festival, a large lantern riddle evening party will be held, featuring performances by celebrities as well as prizes for correct answers.
On 2/12 (Sun), starting at 6:00 pm, a large-scale prayer and parade event will commence, with elaborate art float processions and creatively designed teams parading along the streets. The parade will begin at Hai Ming Chan Temple, proceed along the major roads of Shulin District, and conclude at Zhen Nan Temple for a closing ceremony.
Event website: http://www.shulin.ntpc.gov.tw/webpage/Lantern-Area/

Event dates: 2/10–2/19
Event time: 16:00–21:00
Event address: Shenlong Road, Longtan District, Taoyuan City
※ Lantern Festival activities: Water-based high-altitude light show every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 pm
Taole Chicken mini lanterns given out daily at 17:00, limited quantity.

Event website: http://www.2017lanternfestival.tycg.gov.tw

Event dates: 2/5–2/19
Event time: 19:00–22:00
Event Location: Taichung Park | No. 8-1, Park Road, and Port of Kaohsiung Art Center | No. 21, Zhongzhen Road, Qingshui District
※ Lantern Festival Event: The main lantern show begins at the top of every hour each night during the festival period.

Event Official Website: http://2017taichunglantern.com/index.php?lang=tw

Event Dates: 1/21–2/28
Event Hours: 16:00–23:00
Event Location: Yuezin Harbor, Tainan
※ Lantern Festival Event: Unlike other city lantern festivals that revolve around a central lantern, the Tainan Lantern Festival adopts the curatorial theme of “Tribute to the Four Seasons,” featuring nearly 50 art lantern installations, including 7 large-scale land art pieces and 4 works by international artists, creating a seasonal ambiance through lighting for the first time.
Event Official Website: http://www.2017yuejinlanternfestival.com.tw/

Event Dates: 1/30–2/12
Event Hours: 16:00–22:00
Event Location: Both banks of the Love River, Kaohsiung
※ Lantern Festival Event:
Grand Lantern Parade | 2/11 (Sat) 16:00–22:00 from the intersection of Hedong and Minsheng Roads to the intersection of Qixian and Wufu Roads
Love River Fireworks | Daily at 19:00
Glory Pier Fireworks | 2/12 (Sun) 21:30
Dagang Fireworks Show | 2/11 (Sat) 24:00 at the north and south embankments of Pier 1
Water Theater | Daily 19:00–22:00, one show every 30 minutes (each show lasts 6 minutes)
Event Official Website: http://www.2017khl.com

Event Dates: 1/20–2/19
Event Hours: 16:00–22:00
Event Location: Around the moat area of Hsinchu City
※ Lantern Festival Event: Creating a lantern area full of romantic atmosphere with installations around the moat and Dongmen City.
Reference Website: http://tourism.hccg.org.tw/index.php

Event dates: Feb 3–Feb 12
Event address: Cultural Park, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County
※ Lantern festival activities: Weekend band and singer performances.
Feb 10 (Fri), Feb 11 (Sat) 18:00 – Mini lantern distribution, queuing begins at 17:00.
Reference URL: https://www.facebook.com/pg/2017Zhubei/about/?ref=page_internal

Event dates: Feb 6–Feb 12
Event address: No. 69, Long’an Street, Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, Houcuo Dragon and Phoenix Temple
※ Lantern festival activities: Miaoli Lantern Festival creative lantern exhibition, Hakka folk dance competition, Nanzhuang Xiangfei Lion Drum Troupe, Shih Yen-wen on filial piety, and other events.

Event dates: Feb 8–Feb 25
Event address: No. 542, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Changhua City
※ Lantern festival activities: Feb 11 (Sat) 16:00 – Mini lantern and raffle ticket distribution

Event dates: Jan 21–Feb 19
Event address: No. 26, Zuzu East Road, Nantou City
※ Lantern festival activities:
Mini lantern distribution | Daily 18:30, pick up a number at Service Counter 2, mini lanterns given out at 19:00
Main light show | Daily 18:00–22:00, every 30 minutes
Special performance | Tongliang Fire Dragon in Nantou, Feb 10 (Fri) 19:00, Feb 11 (Sat) 19:00 & 20:30
Reference URL: http://www.rs-event.com.tw/2017NTL/

Event dates: Jan 20–Feb 19
Event time: 16:00–22:00
Event address:
Huwei Main Light Zone | High-Speed Rail Special District, Nongbo Ecological Park
Beigang Light Zone | Zhongshan Road Commercial Area, Sightseeing Bridge, Shuidao Tou Cultural Park
※ Lantern festival activities: Yunlin Lantern Festival is divided into Huwei Main Light Zone and Beigang Light Zone, with main light shows at Huwei.
Main light show | Every evening, every 30 minutes
Fireworks show | Feb 11 (Sat) 19:26 (480 seconds)
Reference URL: http://2017taiwanlantern.net

Event dates: 1/21-2/19
Event hours: 14:00-22:00
Event locations: Sixth Redevelopment Zone｜Intersection of Zhongshan Road and Chongqing Street, Zhushang Li, Hualien City; Liyu Pond｜At the foot of Liyu Mountain, Chinan Village, Shoufeng Township
※Lantern Festival activities:
Main light show at the Sixth Zone Lantern Area｜18:30-21:30, every 30 minutes (each show lasts 3 minutes)
Humanities & Water World Light & Sound Show at the Sixth Zone Lantern Area｜18:45-21:45, every 30 minutes (each performance lasts 5 minutes)
Water Dance Show at the Liyu Pond Lantern Area｜14:00-16:00, every 60 minutes; 18:00-21:00, every 30 minutes
Reference website: http://www.hualien-lantern.com.tw

Further reading: