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Chinese Artists Creating Displays with Seven Days Out from Dragon Lights Festival

It’s just seven days until the legendary dragon of Chinese mythology lights up Chilhowee Park and Exposition Center at the Dragon Lights Festival, held Friday, March 16, to Sunday, April 22, 2018.

In East Asian culture, the dragon symbolizes power and strength, making it the perfect ambassador of the second largest Chinese lantern show to hit the United States—and it’s happening right here in Knoxville! The largest ever was in Phoenix, Ariz. with 75 lantern displays.

Dinosaur lantern at Dragon Lights Festival

Dinosaur lantern at Dragon Lights Festival

The festival in Knoxville will showcase 42 displays and will be larger than festivals recently held in cities like Nashville, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Syracuse, and others.

The festival taking place in the Midway of Chilhowee Park will span 17 acres (774,000 square feet), and will include varied displays of large mythological creatures, flowers, and animals designed and created by hand here on site by Chinese artists.

“Dozens of artists have traveled across the world to create these magical displays on site,” said Mary Bogert, General Manger of SMG, who manages public facilities in Knoxville like Chilhowee Park. "The versatility and size of our event space has given these artists freedom to expand the lantern displays beyond their original plan.”

In addition to the impressive, 200-foot-long dragon display, there will be peacocks, pandas, dinosaurs, hammerhead sharks, and even Silvered Leaf Langurs, commissioned specifically in honor of Zoo Knoxville’s new Gibbon Trails and Langur Landing exhibit, which opened this week.

Langur at Dragon Lights Festival

There will be food and beverages on site for families to purchase and eat while enjoying Chinese acrobat performances and folk art demonstrations.

“Being able to provide cultural, affordable, family-friendly entertainment to the heart of East Knoxville makes me very proud,” Bogert said.

Knoxville’s Dragon Lights Festival will run from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly. Ticket prices will range from $10.50 to $16.50. Discounted tickets are available for military, seniors, students, and groups. Event parking will be free of charge.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Box Office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Peacock display at Dragon Lights Festival

Peacock display at Dragon Lights Festival

Posted by On 09 March, 2018 at 4:34 PM