LANTERN FESTIVAL GRAND OPENING WEEKEND FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT ALL DAY, ILLUMINATED LANTERNS AT NIGH WHAT: Lantern Festival Grand Opening Weekend
WHEN: Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day) from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Exhibition continues Thursday-Sunday evenings, May 31-July 29 ......
for both programs and available on a first-come, first-served basis inside the Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
A special presentation on “The Tales of Chinese Lanterns” depicts the tradition and joy of lantern festivals in China. China celebrates the lantern festival 15 days after the Lunar New Year to mark the end of the spring festival. The legend of the cowherd and weaving maid, the lantern dance of the Han nationality and the dance of the Dunhuang Buddha Hands bring the Garden’s Lantern Festival themes alive on the Shoenberg Theater stage daily at 3 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, families can enjoy Chinese arts and crafts inside the Spink Pavilion. Have your face painted with the Chinese Zodiac, make your own lantern, try your hand at Chinese paper cutting and folding, and have your name written in Chinese on a souvenir fan. Children can learn chop stick games and jáinzi, a traditional Chinese folk game. Purchase tokens to exchange for a variety of souvenir items and experiences from traditional artisans at booths throughout the Garden grounds, such as Chinese egg painting, traditional dough figurines, pearl engraving and more.
Visit the outdoor Chinese food court from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to purchase a variety of foods and beverages from different regions in China. Watch demonstrations and exhibits of traditional arts and shop for Chinese merchandise in the Ridgway Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse for more souvenirs at the Garden Gate Shop, open 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. during Grand Opening Weekend, or stop by their merchandise tents on Linnean Plaza from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Lantern Festival Grand Opening Weekend admission is $22 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $10 for children (ages 3 to 12). Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. all three days, with last entry at 9 p.m. each night. Visitors retaining their Grand Opening Weekend admission ticket receipt and intact wristband will be allowed in and out privileges on the same date of their visit. Purchase tickets online at www.mobot.org/lanternfestival or in person at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Join or renew your Missouri Botanical Garden membership on site during the Lantern Festival Grand Opening Weekend and receive free same-day admission for two adults and children ages 12 and under, plus enjoy discounted Lantern Festival evening tickets of $15 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3 to 12) for the remainder of the exhibition (the number of member-rate tickets available for purchase is based on the level of membership). Visit www.mobot.org/membership or call (314) 577-5118.
The Lantern Festival Grand Opening Weekend will take place rain or shine. In the event of rain or ground saturation, some individual events may be relocated, rescheduled or cancelled. Follow the Garden on Facebook at www.facebook.com/missouribotanicalgarden and Twitter at http://twitter.com/mobotnews for the latest updates throughout the weekend.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in south St. Louis, accessible from Interstate 44 at the Vandeventer exit and from Interstate 64 at the
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