As a native of San Francisco, I have attended many many Chinese Lantern and Dragon parades and displays. I wanted to see what Albuquerque offered so my husband and I were delighted to attend the Yelp Elite free show last night. To say the least it was amazing! Such a beautiful display of lights, lanterns, lighted dragons, flowers, sea creatures, and on and on! Our host gave us a backstage tour that began with the vendors and their displays of jewelry, paintings, drawings, and inter-twined wired figures. Fantastic artistry that will amaze you. Next, the mascot Panda Bear came out to visit with us and take photos with adults and kids. As we walked through the displays the host told us how they had brought 25 extremely talented people here from China to construct the Dragon Lights displays which took over a month to create. Highlight!! Our Leader Howie was presented with a Yelp light display made especially for him to display tonight and for more events to come!! There were also vendors there selling traditional Chinese food including vegetarian options. There are areas where you can sit under gorgeous lanterns at picnic tables to eat your food. The show began on time at 6:30 and we saw performances from young ladies spining huge yoyo's, rings, barrels, water cups and contortionists. This is a wonderful family event and we are so lucky these organizers have brought this show to Albuquerque. Please support this amazing event while it is here through December. read more

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What an amazing venue! We walked into the expo and there were people to greet us, check off our names on the guest lists, and handed our gift bags. There were specialty lit figurines of animals, flowers, Dragons, Castle, Trees, and everything else imaginable! So there was a stage set up ready for an hour of performance . The Complimentary food and drinks were all set up near the stage. There were delicious Chinese food, like egg rolls and steaming hot rice with bok choy, and broccoli beef and few others along with Iced Teas and lemonade. So we were given an introduction as to the performances that were about to take place on this stage. We're about to see all kinds of spectacular Chinese acrobats. There were plates juggling, planters pot juggling, contortionists, masks changing dancer, water vessels juggling, and so much more. Performances were very well executed along with beautiful music from China. As the performances went on and the sun was going down, all around us the brightly lit figurines got brighter into the evening . Such beautiful sights to see and to captured on our camera phones. After the show, we were able to walk around and take lots of pictures of twinkling lights of all the different shapes of figurines. Then there was the tram to catch and ride above the lit figurines. How amazingly delightful this was to sit high up and look down at all the exquisite detailed figurines down below. Thanks to our manager, Howie, for setting all of this up for us Yelp elites! This was definitely a treasure the experience of a lifetime for me to have this opportunity to be there in person. I highly recommend everyone to come and bring the families the next time the performances come back into Albuquerque Please check this venue out! How fun this was! read more

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This is an amazing show. Got at dusk and as it got dark it became even more amazing. It is a great family event. read more

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This event is a great fit for families, with good, clean entertainment. Maybe a cute date night event? Attending the Media Night offered a fun glimpse of the events offerings. Yelp Elites were welcomed, as well. Chinese food was available. Yum. Chinese acrobatic performers were terrific. And I mean Chinese performers who actually came here from China for the event. There were plate spinners. They could spin plates while standing on their head and while doing back bends. I can't seem to get from the kitchen to the couch without dropping cr*p everywhere. There was a jar juggler. When they announced jar juggling, I was thinking Ball canning jars or something, and thought that was cool. But no--this little lady juggled this massive pot with her feet. Contortionists were amazing. How do they bend like that? I pull a muscle picking up a piece of lint of the couch. There was a face changer who danced and, well...changed faces. You had to be there. There were some globe twirlers (I think that's what they called it) and took skill, as well. And of course, there were the light displays. Very pretty, so bring your camera. Chinese crafts are available, and there's something for all ages. Have fun! read more

I visited the Chinese Lantern Festival last year, which is back as the Dragon Lights Festival this year. (This year, I attended for free with the Yelp Elites) There were tons of new lanterns this year that weren't around, or were configured differently last year. I never managed to find the pandas this year so I guess I'm going to have to go back! The show was the same types of stuff as last year, but it was re-mixed and had new elements so it was still fun and interesting to see. The jar juggling is a must-see. It seemed like there were more vendors this year, and overall the event felt bigger. This is a really cool, unique event that is fun for all ages. I definitely recommend checking it out. Definitely see the lanterns after dark, they are cool by daylight but amazing at night. read more

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The acts were really amazing. It was nice being in a small crowd. Riding the skylift was fun and the lights are so beautiful after dark. Another great Yelp event! Thanks for having us! read more

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Dragon Light Albuquerque was an absolutely wonderful experience! I got to attend the event on a VIP media opening night (as a perk of being a Yelp Elite), and I was so impressed! I hadn't had the opportunity to check out this venue in the few years that it had been here, and when Yelp sent out the event invite and I was ecstatic that I had the opportunity to attend!! The direct venue is small (in retrospect to the size of the State Fair), but the lanterns are absolutely mesmerizing! I don't really think that past visitors understood all of the work and movement that it takes to make this festival possible. A good portion of the individuals that make this event possible actually come all the way from China to be here! The performers, the vendors, and even the lanterns! They brought in a lantern that had NEVER been in North America before! I think that is a HUGE deal because judging on the size of the lanterns bringing it across the ocean required a lot of time and man power (on top of all the money it cost to bring it here).... I think if people understood all of the work that was put into the lanterns they would be amazed! The event is a little pricey to get into, but if you understand all of the behind the scenes stuff, you would understand the price. However, I will say the lanterns are gorgeous and so detailed! The amount of work put into them is phenomenal! I was so impressed with the beauty and intricacies. The lanterns will definitely be something that will captivate audiences of all ages! It is something that you have to see and experience for yourself! I was so amazed that I got to be a part of the media night! It is something I will never forget! On top of the beautiful lanterns, you will also get to witness some amazing talent by Chinese contortionists, plate spinners, jar jugglers, and face changers! It is super entertaining! I was wowed by their immense talent! It was like being at a really expensive Vegas show! Their talent is mind blowing and definitely entertaining! I loved every second of it! Also the vendors are among the super talented! There was one guy who painted on the inside of a bottle with a horsehair paintbrush! He was an incredible artist! I loved his work so much, I bought a hand painted bottle that he painted my name in!! I absolutely adored this event, and I think you would too! If you haven't seen it before check it out!! It's worth it! Plus they opened the Sky Ride so you can ride and look at the lanterns (despite the obstructions from the trees), but if anything you get an incredible view of the city lights which is well worth it in my book. The ride is utterly relaxing and just adds to the beauty of the night. read more

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Such a magical event!! If you enjoy the River of Lights, this will be your cup of jasmine tea. I soaked up this event last year and I thought it was spectacular so I questioned "Should I go again this year? It's probably going to be the same stuff..." I was so wrong! It was all new and just as amazing! I couldn't believe that there were no repeats of last year and the size of these sculptures were incredible! I called them sculptures because to call them lanterns is so confusing if you haven't been to a Lantern Festival. When you think of lanterns, you think of small paper bag with maybe a candle, here we call them luminaries, just playing. These are truly works of art and the size of a giant tree. Oh wait there was a beautiful giant lit tree, probably one of my favs of the displays. If you're wondering which of your friends or family to bring, bring them all!! This event will keep everyone entertained. I have several nieces and nephews from 2 to 7 years old and there is a display that each one of them would go nuts over. Don't get me wrong, they are all so amazing, but they designed these to play to people of all ages. YELP (Yep! There is a Yelp lantern!) SHARKS, CANDY LAND, UNDER THE SEA, TOY LAND, FLOWERS AND TOWERS, FRUIT NINJA, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (one of my favs)... I'll just stop there and post a bunch of pictures, but don't just look at those, go see them in person, I'm not a photographer. As of the lanterns aren't, your admission includes a show. Make sure you find out the times and GO SEE THE SHOW!! These performers are amazing! I had no idea the human body could do these things. Stop by the booths and check out the talented artists too. They have jewelry, painting, music and lots more! The Optimus Prime sculpture was worth checking out. Don't worry about eating before you go either, make a night of it! There are several different eateries, something for everyone. I had the Chicken Adobo! Yum! I hope you go and light up your life! Enjoy!! read more

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We went to Dragon Lights at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque tonight. I was not quite sure what to expect. The lit up sculptures were amazing before the sun went down, but once it became dark, the magic happened. Simply amazing. Words cannot describe the beauty and whimsicality of this entire event. The Chinese talent show with the plate twirlers, the contortionists, the face changer and more were very entertaining. This event runs Tuesday-Sunday nights until early December. Put this on your MUST DO LIST. Fun for all ages! Go! read more

Had a lovely enchanting evening with my compatriot! Loved the shapes and the colors, The big tree, the elvish forest, even the "Dinosaur World" which was full of western dragons not dinosaurs. We sat through a performance of diabolo slingers, and pot foot jugglers, and contortionists, and some very fine water meteor demos, and by the time those were over it was nicely dark, so went around viewing the lights in all their splendor. It really is a good show, and worth the admission, (i was there for a specialty Yelp event so it was free, but absolutely worth going to! good for young and old. but be careful not to touch them, because i think the fabric must be pretty fragile. The phoenix was absolutely amazing. read more

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Dragon lights is a traditional Chinese lantern show brought to Albuquerque. In the past, every year the children would take to the streets with lanterns, and they were fairly simple. But over time the lantern designs have become more and more complicated. These displays of lanterns showed extreme skill, as did the performers who showed many of the Chinese arts at the show times. Everything was unique, and the culture behind it was explained. There is this one performance, jar juggling, where a woman was laying in her back and literally moved her feet so fast it looked like she was running and she spun this gigantic jar above her. She even flipped it around. She must have immeasurable strength in her legs. My son's favorite performance was the Chinese yo-yo-- which was quite fun. The performers are all very skilled and I know they have had to practice for years to perfect their skills. They all came from China to perform, and even the 25 people who built the lanterns for a month came from China. We were able to come in as a part of an exclusive Yelp event before it was opened to the general public, so it wasn't very crowded and it really was wonderful viewing the lanterns. However these lanterns would be wonderful under any circumstance of viewing. There's this one tree-- it's the Budhi tree, which is the tree Sidhartha sat under to receive his first relegation for Buddism. It's quite tall and majestic. Most Chinese people are Buddhist so this tree made sense and was culturally accurate. Other displays were whimsical, magical, or just straight out fun. My son really gravitated to the candy land display, strawberry house display, and the Elephant-- This Elephant is sooo cool. You get on it and ride a bike and you can make it change color. There was this one display with deer. I didn't think my son would love it but once he read this sign, which said that this was a peaceful deer valley with no predators that just contained happiness, he really liked it too. I do feel my son had a good time and learned something during our time there. When they ask if you can make going a tradition you know it was a hit :) you should definitely go and bring the kids-- it's very family friendly :) PS-- if you stick around long enough the shark tunnel changes colors ! read more

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The Dragon Lights Festival is getting better each year. From the performances to the Asian food options and the brightly colored lanterns, it's definitely an event that's perfect for the whole family. The contortionists were incredible... very inspiring for any yogi. Makes one question, "How do they do that?" Super fun to watch. The stroll through the lanterns is short but spectacular. Favorite lantern? The Elephant. Hop on the bike and watch it change colors. Very cool. Check it out! read more

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If I had one word to describe the whole event it would be: harmonious. To make the most of it, I recommend reading the explanation to each lantern display, absorb the art, and let your imagination flow. You have a castle in the middle of an enchanted forest, a strawberry patch with a house and people made from strawberries, a majestic phoenix, and so forth. This is a culturally enriching event that is worth experiencing at least once in your lifetime. The performers were also fantastic, one after another didn't fail to impress. This event is a must. read more

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Great experience in the ABQ area for Chinese culture. The lights were beautiful and unique! Love that there are Groupons to make it affordable for a family. read more

Dragon Lights Albuquerque - Festivals Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mesmerizing!!!! This word is what truly describes what I saw tonight. I attended the dragon lights festival and it was filled with stunning lanterns that were made specifically for our festivals. There was so much to see the colors, architecture, painting everything was breathtaking. They also had 5 different acts to enjoy. We watched plate spinning, catorsinists, pot juggling, water acrobatics and a face changing act which was my favorite. Walking into the gates you will enjoy this beautiful display that will fill your eyes with so much color and your minds with imagination and fun! Take the time to drop by and see this wonderful event before they are gone. This show is in town for a little over a month so don't delay and go experience something out of this world... There were vendors who flew all the way from China for this event who are extremely talented!!! A musician who makes his own instruments, a painter who paints on the inside of small bottles, a wire artist who can make just about anything and a water color artist who paints on silk fans... there is so much to experience for people of all ages. read more

Wow. Tonight we got to see this enchanted place and watch the amazing performances by the 6 talented pretty Chinese ladies on stage through Yelp Elite event! This is a perfect place to take families, friends, and even for romantic dates! The huge lanterns are mezmerizing and you can take instagram-worthy pics! Don't forget to dress up 'coz it can get pretty chilly at night. 5stars experience! I highly recommend this place! read more

Dragon Lights Albuquerque - Bodhi tree - Festivals Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This is a great event for Albuquerque and we need to support it to make sure it stays here. Visually stunning, quite a bit more impressive than the River of Lights (which we also love). A great place to take your kids to kick off the fall/winter season. The lanterns are set in various large displays, each on a theme: underwater, candyland, mythical creatures, etc. They are artistically impressive and visually very attractive for kids of all ages. This is our second year, and I went with my early 20s daughter and we both loved it. Go and take the kids and grandkids. Beautiful evening out. read more

Dragon Lights Albuquerque - Festivals Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We attended this year's Dragon Lights Festival as part of one of the Yelp Elite events, and enjoyed it just as much (if not more) than last year. The short tour was fun, and a couple of the vendors had some really interesting items from sale. The performances seemed a little shorter than last year, but were still an amazing display of flexibility, athleticism and grace. The light display is a circus for your eyes, and definitely geared toward the little ones this year. Looking forward to this b coming an annual event! read more

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Awesome got in free as a Yelp Elite! Can't wait for the vip performance! This is a must see. There are some really beautiful large lanterns. Don't forget to talk to the artisans and as they sell their creations, they will talk to you about how they craft. I believe there is food for purchase. I will have to review to see if they have any vegan options! It pays to be elite. ----Later in the evening I ate at the festival! Family had many choices. This only vegan in the family didn't... But I was REALLY IMPRESSED that one dish was literally labeled "vegan" and was rice noodles with a bit of carrot shavings and a bit of cabbage. So, I had one thing to eat! read more

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This event is fairly new to Albuquerque and it has gotten better since last year. It's kind of like the River of Light but with lanterns instead of lights. This event also has performances to watch as well as food and Chinese items to buy. Overall a fun time! read more

I had a good time at the event. It was fun to see the mayor and feel like part of the important crowd. It was really nice having a full chinese dinner provided. Not much for vegetarians but what there was was tasty. There were some impressive performances. I thought the jar juggling was neat. The lanterns were cool. I really liked the shark the best. I feel like I wouldn't have gone if I had to pay the admission. I think its too high of a price. If they lowered the price it would be a lot more worth it. read more

Very cool! What a great place to bring a date, or the kids! All the sculptures are interesting during the day, but become magical at night when they are lit from within. Make sure you hit both sides as the lights are in the Pueblo and Hispanic cultural areas. If you get a chance, stick around for the show and see plate jugglers, contortionists, face changers (yep, you heard that right), water meteor demonstration and more! read more

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Was completely amazed at the art and structures that were presented. Truly beautiful and breathtaking. Make sure you stop by the shops, buy and paint your own lantern, catch a show, and enjoy some cusine. Definitely made my list of things to do in Albuquerque. read more

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We were invited to come tonight, as part of the Yelp elite event. Our host gave us a backstage tour, front row seats for the show, and talked a little about some of the history behind the lanterns. There was lots to see and to have only 25 people having worked on these lanterns is amazing. I listened in to chatter from other couples- one said that there were slightly fewer lanterns than last year. One wasn't too impressed with the Filipino food but liked their chicken stirfry from another vendor (I got the orange chicken combo with veggies, fried rice, and noodles from the Little Panda. Similar to Panda Express, but a bargain at $8 for Expo). My favorites were the gingerbread house, mantis, and elephants. The first show featured 5 different acts (diabolo, jar, contortionists, drum, water meteors). The second show was slightly different, featuring plate spinners. There were a few mistakes during the show, but the audience loved and cheered for the performers anyways (if this was America's Got Talent this would be a different story...). There were also shops from local Chinese artists. Great for families and there is handicap parking on the inside. I will definitely consider going next year to see the lights, but I'm glad I got to go this year read more

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They have new lanterns every year! That was news to me, and I think the most important factor. The event is highly photogenic, photographers will love it very much. The show is impressive and keeps you engaged. The artisans were fantastic! I was pleased to see they dropped the VIP package, I felt quite ripped off having fallen for that last year and it spoiled my time. There are fewer lights than last year, and there seemed to be about half as many acts in the show - but both of these things are fine. It's one of those events where you want to see everything, but at the same time, it was too much. That said, the price point $17 for adults, $12 for children is a few dollars too high and they might actually find MORE income by lowering it a little. The food was again not worth eating. One of the vendors couldn't answer what kind of sauce was used in the stirfry and appeared to not be of any Asian origin besides being cooked in a soy-based sauce. This is a different vendor that I tried than last year. That vendor was also there, but my major complaint with them was having clearly served flavored spaghetti noodles instead of soy. While this seems to focus on changes and issues, this event is still very much so worth enjoying, I actually like it more than the river of lights. It is absolutely worth doing. read more

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Wow, I was really impressed with the Dragon lights in October 2018. There was a few vendors there and I got a necklace which I had engraved with my name and on the other side it had peace engraved on it. They also had other little trinkets that me and my friend bought. I got my friend some earrings and they looked awesome. The acrobats were awesome I just wish you could leave them tips or something for doing their tricks because they were great. I will definitely want to come to this again in the future read more

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Having seen a display at the mall and a lot of word of mouth feedback we decided to see the lights on Thanksgiving Night. What a set of displays to be seen. The pics I posted do not do justice to the level of intricate detail and effects going into the displays. For example as you entered the displays there was a shark surrounding was lighting give the illusion that you are underwater. You were provided with a short explanation of what was being depicted. Sometimes what you may think it meant was much different than its definition. There was an interactive elephant that required input from a bicycle located at the display to move his head from side to side. There were also vendors at the venue selling a variety of items. I was probably most impressed by the artist that did artwork on the inside of a small vase, through a very small opening. Bottom line - it's only open this season through 12/2. Of you miss it this year make your calendars and be sure to catch it next fall. read more

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I attended as part of a free Yelp event and I've noticed all the other attendees from that evening gave the event 4 or 5 stars. I feel badly going lower, but I also want to give an honest review from my perspective....especially for people who don't get in for free. While the Yelp evening was fun, the spirit of the event in general is great, and I loved that the artisans made a Yelp-shaped lantern specially for the event, had I spent $17 on entry, I think I would have been disappointed. To begin with - this is not the same show from last year. That's fine! But people who went last year and really loved it, may be disappointed by the difference. Hopefully, knowing ahead of time that the vibe is different will prepare people to have an open mind. :) (A couple of people I attended with, and some friends I coincidentally ran into, went to the event last year and kept comparing the two with disappointing results: no penguins! no pandas! smaller displays, less grand, fewer performers...) There were some special new things--like the elephant that changes colors if someone rides the stationary bicycle positioned in front of it... and you can walk through the color changing whale... and the large tower near the entrance that is a scale replica was pretty impressive. I agree with another reviewer who said this is a great event for cool photos. The lanterns photograph really well. I especially loved the snails, and the lanterns with movement make great Boomerangs. It's nice to be able to sit and watch a performance between walking through displays. I found the performers to be talented and fun to watch, but the announcer was so lackluster, it took away a bit from their performance. I imagine (hope!) he's improved as the event continues and sounds less like he's awkwardly reading from a script he didn't write... In all - it's a neat event that's good for the whole family. It's impressive the lanterns are constructed onsite by talented artisans. It's culturally interesting. I just think the price of entry is a tad high for an event I enjoyed but wasn't totally wowed by... read more

I'm going to have to file a minor complaint. Really enjoyed the Dragon Lights, especially the Dragons. BUT COME ON!!! The beautiful display of dragons is described on a sign explaining Dinosaurs. DINOSAURS!! 3 headed, winged, dinosaurs? Unbelievable! Really!! Please fix this. Cover up the idiotic sign about dinosaurs. read more

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I attended this festival when it was offered as a Yelp Elite event. I didn't really know what to expect at all and I was had some sort of hazy idea that maybe it was one of those things where everybody lets paper lanterns float up into the air. Imagine my stunned amazement when I arrive and there are "lanterns" as big as buildings, lanterns the shape and size of dragons, dinosaurs, giant sharks, and whole villages! Fortunately the event started early enough in the evening that there was still light to see the incredible detail that went into each "lantern." The Phoenix alone would be worth paying to see this amazing display. In addition to the lanterns there was a fantastic stage show with Cirque Du Soleil caliber acrobats and costumes. My only disappointment the whole night (and the reason this is 4 star not a 5 star review) was the atrociously bad stage lighting, which left the talented performers mostly in the dark. I was especially disappointed not to be able to see the face changer clearly. I thought such poor use of a perfectly adequate lighting rig, was a bit of an insult to the talent, and I wish the Expo venue would up its game in this area. I used to do lighting for Disney so I know the crucial difference lighting makes to a stage show. Anyway, after the stage show the lanterns were lit, and the display was quite beautiful. I thought this was a really lovely way to showcase yet another part of ABQ's diverse cultural background, and I hope you all take time to go see it. read more

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We went during the week and the parking was free. There were not very many people, so we were not standing shoulder to shoulder to look at the displays. The show was breath taking! We had my 4 yr and 7 yr grandchildren with us and I think it was the first time I have seen either one of them sit still and watch anything with awe. It was money well spent to see the displays and the entertainment. read more

I have always wanted to see this and I was impressed. Aside from the windy weather it was great. Downside is they said they would have dumplings but they disappointed me. I love Filipino and Chinese food but I was expecting like shumai or shrimp dumplings. I would go again. Bring a camera and warm clothes since it's outside. Also a mask to cover your eyes and/or mouth if it gets too windy. read more

Not nearly as much as I thought would be there, but it was okay. The advertisements made it seem like there would be a ton of food, shows, and lights. They used one small section of the fair grounds (Indian village and Spanish village) for lights and had 3 food vendors. The "beer garden" was a man with a beer stand in the middle of a walkway! read more