Festival of Lanterns at Cowabunga Bay showcases handcrafted luminous Chinese Lanterns for guests to experience the magical wonderland featuring the imagination of skilled Artisans who will bring exquisite designs to life now through select dates until February 2022.
Lantern festivals, which date back more than 2,000 years, feature gorgeous handcrafted lanterns displaying the creativity and amazing engineering feats of skilled artists. A team of 25 artisans will begin to sculpt, assemble and illuminate these works of arts in early September on-site at Cowabunga Bay.
The artisans will create larger than life illuminated masterpieces from thousands of feet of silk fabric. A colorful 26-foot tall dancing lion will greet guests as they enter the park and entice them to wander through a gallery of spectacular Lanterns before arriving at the foot of the Asian Tower, a two-story dazzling magnum opus.
A dreamy peacock with exotic bursts of color will delight all ages along with playful pandas frolicking on a playground, a colorful underwater world with fantastic sea life and scuba divers, acrobatic dolphins, a lush jungle with giant ladybugs, trees and flowers, and the iconic landmarks of the world showcased across 65 feet of shimmering silk and twinkling lights.
Three unique celebrations during the Festival of Lanterns will bring new tastes, sights, entertainment and adventures to the one-of-a-kind holiday festival.
Throughout November, celebrate the Fall Harvest with special Autumn decor, a petting zoo, hay maze, and a farmer’s market. Giant jack-o-lanterns will light up the night to the delight of children of all ages. An extraordinary Fall Harvest Menu with seasonal specialties such as grilled corn on the cob and roasted turkey legs, homemade tomato basil soup with specialty grilled cheese and turkey cranberry sliders on a sweet Hawaiian roll. Relax with a tangy Thanksgiving margarita and savor a funnel cake drizzled with spiced pumpkin maple syrup.
In December, experience a holiday spectacular with all the festive trimmings. Absorb the joyful sounds of merry carolers, then have an unforgettable photo taken with Santa. Vibrant vistas bring the magic of the Christmas Lanterns to life with Santa Claus, Candyland and a spectacular 20-foot tall Christmas tree, the ultimate backdrop for picturesque family photos. The Holiday menu will feature unique delicacies such as chili on a cornbread waffle, scrumptious Monte Christo sandwiches, French bread pizza and chicken with cranberry BBQ sauce. Holiday cocktails include a Christmas Citrus drink and a festive Mojito. Complete the culinary venture with a peppermint brownie truffle or a gingerbread funnel cake with cream cheese drizzle.
January rings in the Lunar New Year celebration as the park showcases a magnificent Chinese wonderland. Asian folklore and Chinese cuisine will transport guests to the farthest reaches of the Orient. Daring acrobats and astonishing fountains of sparkles amuse and astound guests throughout the celebration. And a majestic 45-foot-long dragon king emerging from Cowabunga Bay’s wave pool is sure to be memorable.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to experience a unique excursion that is the only one of its kind west of the Mississippi,” said Shane Huish, owner of Cowabunga Bay. “We have partnered with Zigong Lantern Group, the premier leader in the world of Lantern Arts, to bring this enchanted experience to Cowabunga Bay for everyone to enjoy.”
Beginning at 4:00 pm each day, guests can stroll through the outdoor festival enjoying the wonder and phenomenon of the lantern exhibits at their leisure. Tickets are $25.95 for adults and $21.95 for children 12 and under.
