Illuminares Lantern Festival

Basking hippos, floating fish, dragons and fairies come alive at the annual Illuminares Lantern Festival at the picturesque Trout Lake Park in Vancouver. This event is a family favorite, and the best way to enjoy the festival is to go early and picnic, and then watch the park transform into a twinkling, glittery magical realm as the sky darkens. There is plenty to see and do and people relish the opportunity to go all out, with fantastic lanterns of all shapes and sizes on display, and outrageous costumes too. Fire jugglers, spinners and dancers; fairies on stilts and roving singers all create a carnival atmosphere, and a group of drummers parade around the lake, with people joining in, lanterns ablaze. Lantern workshops are on offer at the Trout Lake Community Center several weeks before the festival, as well as the day before. There are also several food stalls available and the event is free.