TYSONS, VA — It’s that time of the year to head out and see holiday lights in between Christmas shopping.
One of the options is the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons, a returning experience featuring illuminated Chinese lanterns. Patch got a preview of this year’s festival
1. It provides a unique holiday lights experience.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Winter Lantern Festival stands out from traditional holiday lights, as it celebrates traditional Chinese lantern festivals. The experience features over 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns made by artisans with decades of experience. The Winter Lantern Festival first came to the DC region in 2022 after success in New York.
2. It has plenty of photo ops.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
At the Winter Lantern Festival, you can explore Chinese myths and legends, step inside a giant gator, see all of the Chinese zodiac animals, walk under a giant water dragon, marvel at an icy winter wonderland, and ride illuminated swings and seesaws. There’s plenty to see at the experience, which takes approximately 45 minutes to walk through.
3. It’s in a convenient Tysons location.
The Winter Lantern Festival is located at Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, VA, which is steps away from the Tysons Metro station. In between your stroll through the lantern lights experience, you can pay a visit to either of the Tysons malls nearby.
4. The outdoor lights experience is a safe activity during flu season.
The illuminated lanterns are spread out through the Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, so you’ll have plenty of room to walk around without coming into contact with other guests. But if you need relief from the cold, there’s an indoor area where the bounce house is located.
5. It offers fun beyond the illuminated lantern walk.
A new addition to the experience this year is dino rides, where you’re strapped onto the back of a mechanical dinosaur. Children can also enjoy an indoor bounce house, which has an add-on price to a standard ticket. Guests can also shop for holiday items, artisan gifts and souvenirs as well as purchase wish jars as an add-on to their ticket.
The experience is open Fridays to Sundays through Feb. 18, 2024 and is ADA compliant. Tickets cost $25.99 for adults and children over 13, $20.99 for seniors, students or military and $17.99 for children 4 to 13. Family and group bundles are also offered. For more information and tickets, visit winterlanternfestival.com/washington.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.