Journey to the Magic Ocean with this Creative Lantern FestivalJourney to the Magic Ocean with this Creative Lantern Festival

When you think of lantern festivals, you probably think about letting a few lights float into the night over a shimmery body of water. This can be what lantern festivals look like, but Chicago-based Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc, the largest lantern festival producer in North America, goes above and beyond what the average person might picture. 

Back in November, Tianyu kicked off their annual Lantern Festival in Stockton, CA, and they just wrapped up the show last week. The festival is an interactive walking experience that leads attendees through an exquisite story journey—this year’s theme was Koda’s Journey to the Magic Ocean. 

The story emphasized the theme of protecting the ocean by weaving a vibrant narrative around the main character Koda’s journey through a stunning marine adventure. 13 lantern scenes illustrate the story, with lantern designs crafted with the exquisite artistry of traditional Chinese lantern-making, each bringing a sea creature to life. Also among the new lanterns were a towering 49-foot interactive coral structure, a kelp octopus lantern that mimicked an octopus hiding in seagrass and opening its mouth to catch prey, and mesmerizing lanterns that imitate a shoal of fish, where visitors could light up individual fish by striking a drum, creating the enchanting sensation of being surrounded by magical sea life. 

Click through the photos to see inside this fantastic event! 

All photos courtesy Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc.