Auckland City Council
Media release

15 February 2010 

Lantern Festival looming

Bright red lanterns are adorning city centre streets in celebration of Chinese New Year – and in anticipation of Auckland Lantern Festival in Albert Park from 26 to 28 February.

Auckland Lantern Festival is one of Auckland’s most popular cultural celebrations.

For three nights, Albert Park comes alive with lanterns of all shapes and sizes, a huge variety of traditional and contemporary entertainment, a magnificent food street, craft stalls and demonstrations.

Highlights this New Year of the Tiger, include:

The spine-tingling growls of Mongolian throat singing from the internationally-acclaimed Hanggai folk band
Performances by top Shanghai musical ensemble Moon – a dynamic ensemble of young musicians who play traditional instruments
Award-winning Taiwanese lantern artist and teacher Mr Wang Chen-Wen, will demonstrate his 20 years’ lantern painting experience
An 800-year-old Rolling Lantern folk dance from south China
A large fireworks display at the end of celebrations on Sunday evening.

Arts, Culture and Recreation chairperson, Councillor Greg Moyle encourages everyone to come along and celebrate this traditional event with Auckland’s Chinese communities.

“This vibrant and energetic festival is one of the highlights on Auckland’s annual events calendar, and it’s a great way for all Aucklanders to share this significant cultural event.”

Auckland Lantern Festival is provided by Auckland City Council in partnership with the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events for more information about Auckland Lantern Festival and other great free events coming up this summer.

Ends

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