North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Closing Early Due to Storm Damage
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary is having to close up shop early this year, as some of the displays sustained damage in the recent storms.
“Cary officials, Koka Booth Amphitheatre management, and Chinese Lantern Festival partner Tianyu Arts & Culture have made the difficult decision to close the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival effective today, January 11, 2024,” officials said in a news release. “The Festival was originally slated to end on Sunday, January 14, 2024.”
When storms came through the region Tuesday, officials said that some of the larger, signature displays sustained “severe structural damage” that could not be repaired in time to open back up before the scheduled final day.
“Our heart breaks for those who had plans to attend the Festival in its final few days,” said William Lewis, Cary’s Cultural Arts Manager. “Public safety is paramount, and we appreciate the careful analysis and thoughtful conversations with all stakeholders in making this joint decision. It’s a reminder that these grand outdoor art exhibits are ephemeral, and we enjoy and appreciate them while they are here.”
But don’t fret, if you missed the show this year, you can see what some of it looked like in their online flipbook here.
Refund options are coming in email to current ticketholders, and the Festival will be back for the 2024-2025 season from November 22, 20224 through January 12, 2025.