Chinese Lantern Festival lights up ‘The Wild’ side of garden

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s new, and largest ever, exhibit brings hundreds of glowing animals from around the world to the shores of Lake Wylie.

The Chinese Lantern Festival -- “The Wild” -- showcases 800 handmade life-size, and some larger than life, illuminated bears, lions, elephants and more from the world’s seven continents. The lanterns are made by masters of the craft in Zigong, China’s center of lantern heritage.

Others pieces are made up of small glass medicine bottles filled with colored liquid, or even dishes.

There also will be kung fu shows, Shadow Plays and a Chinese folk art marketplace held nightly when the exhibit is open 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday through Oct. 29.

On Oct. 4, celebrate the full moon as part of Chinese and Asian tradition at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sample mooncakes, play games, create crafts and watch a lion dance.

Admission with Chinese Lantern Festival are not valid for daytime admission or before 5:30 p.m. Festival tickets in advance cost $21.95 adult, $19.95 senior, $14.95 children 2-12. Tickets at door are $24.95, $21.95 senior 60 and older, $15.95 children 2-12.

The exhibit fills 12 acres at the garden at 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, N.C. For more information, visit dsbg.org or call 704-825-4490.

This story was originally published September 15, 2017 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Chinese Lantern Festival lights up ‘The Wild’ side of garden."