Chinese lantern festival is coming to California

What has more than 70 large-scale eco-friendly light displays, millions of LEDs, 100 tons of steel and 200,000 feet of silk?

Global Winter Wonderland, the largest Lantern Festival outside of China, will be held at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California, from Nov 22 to Jan 4, 2015.

In China, the Lantern Festival is celebrated on Jan 15 of the lunar calendar, immediately following the Spring Festival.During the festival, lanterns are embellished with many complex designs.

"Since 2011, the Global Winter Wonderland has brought Chinese lantern art to people in the US," China's Consul General in San Francisco Yuan Nansheng said. "The festival opens a window for California residents into Chinese culture and adds more color to the coming US holidays of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day."

It is the fourth Global Winter Wonderland held in the US. In 2011 and 2012 the event was held at Great America in Santa Clara, CA and in 2013 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GA.

The lantern festival and multicultural theme park will be staged on 17 acres at Cal Expo with light displays, carnival rides, international food, shopping and entertainment, according organizers.

Music star Jana Kramer and acrobats from the Circus of Light will perform at the opening ceremony on Nov 22. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet well known Chinese artists face-to-face, including Hou Yaohua, an actor on Stories of an Editorial Board.

"We explored many cities around the country and chose Sacramento because of all the culture, beauty and convenience the region has to offer," said Huang Lulu, president of the International Culture Exchange Group and founder of the event.

"Global Winter Wonderland offers visitors a unique holiday experience that is sure to make lasting family memories, much like the California State Fair," said Rick Pickering, CEO of Cal Expo.

zilian@chinadailyusa.com