A Stunning Winter Lantern Festival Is Coming to NJ

More than 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns and lights will be on display at American Dream in East Rutherford this fall and winter.

The Winter Lantern Festival, which has made stops in New York and Washington D.C., will make its New Jersey debut next month. The lanterns are made with hand-painted silk cloth and LED lights. There will be gorgeous displays of Chinese myths, legends and zodiac-inspired lanterns designed as an animal kingdom, a sea world and a theme park. Look for mammoths, polar bears, penguins, and a 50-foot-tall lantern display of Sun Wukong.

You can get in on the action, too, by making your own paper lanterns, and by renting traditional Chinese costumes that make for the perfect photo op.

You can add a Wish Jar to your package, too. Your Wish Jar is a star-shaped glass container filled with mini fairy lights (order online when buying your tickets).

This festival is geared for all ages, with dinosaurs you can pose with, and kiddie token rides.

The Winter Lantern Festival is open from October 25 through January 2, 2024, at American Dream in East Rutherford. Hours are 1-9 pm Thursdays to Sundays. Expect the walk-through to take one to two hours. Ticket prices start from $10 for children and $17 for adults, and are available on Fever’s marketplace.