CARY, N.C. (WPTF) – The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival will continue during the holiday season for the next eight years.
The Town of Cary has extended the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre through the 2033-2034 season,
The announcement in a press release (March 11) follows the festival’s milestone 10th anniversary, which the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (visitRaleigh) reported generated $11,661,189 in direct economic impact and more than $528,000 in local tax revenue. More than 249,000 visitors attended this season, including guests from all 50 states and eight countries, with nearly two-thirds of total attendees traveling from outside Wake County.
“For the past decade, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival has been a shining example of how the arts can bring people together and showcase Cary to visitors from across the country and world,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “We’re grateful to our staff and partners whose hard work makes this incredible experience possible and proud to continue sharing it with our community.”
The Town-owned amphitheater has ranked in the top 10 percent of comparable venues nationwide during festival months, according to independent visitor analysis from The amphitheater also has earned the No. 1 ranking in North Carolina in each of the past two years.
“For many families, the festival has become a yearly tradition,” said Cary Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources John Collins. “People return year after year to see what’s new and to experience the artistry and cultural storytelling that make the festival so special. Extending this partnership means we can keep building on that tradition and continue bringing something truly unique to Cary each winter.”
The Town will continue its partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., a global leader in handcrafted lantern installations. Since the festival began in 2015, Tianyu has transformed the amphitheater and its wooded walking paths into an illuminated showcase of large-scale lantern sculptures — including installations that appear on the waters of adjacent Symphony Lake — along with cultural performances and immersive experiences.
“We greatly value our partnership with the Town of Cary,” said Vice President Ai Luo. “Together we have built an event that celebrates tradition, inspires wonder, and welcomes families from across the state and beyond. We are excited to continue bringing new lanterns, new stories, and new magic to the festival for many years to come.”
The festival runs for eight weeks each year, beginning in November and ending in January.