Tianyu Lights Festival offers an enchanting evening stroll
Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
The Tianyu Lights Festival is coming to the Valley of the Sun from Oct. 25, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025.
The festival will take place at Camelback Ranch, 10710 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix. Open to all ages and perfect for date nights, family nights, the festival will illuminate the night every Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30 – 10:30 p.m. with more than 40 sets of larger-than-life lantern sculptures that are crafted by skilled artisans using metal, steel, fabric, and LED lights.
The walk-through experience has four themed sections.
Upon entering the festival, guests are welcomed by an illuminated forest showcasing critters and plants from across wetlands, deserts, and rainforests.
Of note is the three-story, color-changing “butterfly tree” that serves as the area’s centerpiece, meant to illustrate the importance of nature preservation. Next, guests are treated to a whimsical wonderland with unicorns, fairies, and fire-breathing dragons, which symbolize vibrant and colorful dreams.
The third section, nicknamed “Panda Land,” boasts a kid-friendly stretch of panda sculptures, many animated to encourage interaction and photos, connecting the event to its Asian roots. The fourth and final section of the Festival is an ocean-themed odyssey with breathtaking displays of common and endangered sea animals. The experience concludes with an epic grand finale through a 100-foot shark tunnel.
In addition, the Festival features a marketplace where guests can shop for souvenirs and handicrafts as well as a food court area offering various food and drinks for purchase.
The event organizer: Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc., has produced similar light festivals in more than 39 cities across the United States and in Europe for the past 10 years.
