Everything you need to know about the Taiwan Lantern Festival
Kicking off to mark the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, 2025’s event is being held in Taoyuan
If you thought celebrations for Chinese New Year were over, think again, because the Taiwan Lantern Festival is set to kick off later this week.
Held on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year to mark the first full moon, celebrations this year will run from Wednesday 12 February until Sunday 23 February.
A highlight of the cultural calendar, the lantern festival tours Taiwan each year, and 2025’s event will be held in Taoyuan, a city around an hour’s drive to the south east of the capital.
Wondering what to expect at the Taiwan Lantern Festival? Here’s everything you need to know…
What to expect at the Taiwan Lantern Festival
First held in 1990, the Taiwan Lantern Festival has been held annually every February or March, depending on when Chinese New Year falls.
This year’s event will be split into two zones: The main lantern exhibition area in front of A18 Taoyuan HSR Station, and the lights playground, which will have five lantern displays aimed at little ones around A19 Taoyuan Sports Park Station. There will also be lantern installations across all 13 administrative districts within the city, with smaller performances.
At the main exhibition zone, you’ll be able to see a mix of modern and traditional lanterns, including one themed around The Wizard of Oz. The main stage will see performances from groups including the National Taiwan Sport University’s Dragon Dance Team, performers from the Philippines’ Bailes de Luces light and dance festival, and the Coming True Fire Group. Plus, to mark the start of the festival, there will be a parade in the afternoon on 12 February.
As for the lights playground, families can enjoy shows from The Bouncing Circus at the Bright Horizons Theater.
Food at the Taiwan Lantern Festival
Chinese New Year brings with it plenty of traditions, from gifting money in red envelopes to spring cleaning. A number of these traditions revolve around food, and during the lantern festival, it’s common to eat tangyuan, a kind of sweet glutinous rice ball.
The festival itself will be home to nearly 150 food stalls, serving a mix of international dishes like burgers, pizza and ice cream as well as authentic Taoyuan street food like oyster omelette, dumplings and taro soup.
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