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I just came back from Wonderland! Just kidding, but that’s exactly what the Moonlight Forest could be described as. This lantern art festival takes place at Los Angeles Arboretrum in Arcadia, near Pasadena.
At this event, the ancient Chinese cultural elements come to life, such as dragons, flowers and temples. The impressive displays were built by artisans from a Province of China called Sichuan. They also hand-painted the figures, which I could totally see because the facial expressions on some of them were extremely detailed!
It also makes sense that they held this event at this location since Arcadia is known for its prominent Chinese population.
To sum it up, you leisurely walk through the grounds of the Aboretrum, which is a botanical garden while watching the beautiful 3D figures lit up. The grounds at the Arboretrum are enormous! So be prepared to walk through the 2-mile walkway that goes around the vast grounds. The venue was perfect because it was so big and you didn’t feel cramped. I read in some of the reviews that older people and kids got easily tired of walking so much, which is completely understandable. They say you can bring own wheelchair if you choose, but they do not provide them.
Words or photos aren’t enough to describe the beauty of this event, but I’m going to try! From animals, including a giant Chinese dragon in a pond, to all sorts of plants, this event will render you speechless. Some of the lanterns even moved! They did an outstanding job and really pulled out all the stops.
As you walked along the grounds, you came across different themes, like Chinese flowers, zodiac animals, undersea creatures and even a few traditional Western Christmas icons. In one of the sections, you strolled down a dark path lit up with beautiful sunflowers.
My favorite sights were deep in the garden, where there was a majestic palm tree grove hovering over the stunning illuminated displays under the moonlight.
The fog of the mild November night combined with the palm trees silhouettes and the sound of crickets made for an enchanting and magical night. You can’t really appreciate the palm trees and the moon in the photo, but just to give you an idea this is what it looked like when you looked up at the sky:
Everyone, adults and kids alike, had their mouths wide open. It was hard to put my phone down because the displays only kept getting more impressive the further you walked along. If you’re up for a walk, I recommend going through the entire thing two times: the first one to satisfy your urge to photograph everything, because it’s impossible not to stop at every display, and the second one to take in everything and admire the lanterns in all their glory.
The size of some of the lanterns was truly impressive, like the gigantic peacock at the entrance, the giant shark or the dragon with the seemingly endless tail, who looked like it was swimming in the pond. The Chinese temple behind me could easily be compared to the size of a building!
There was a stage in the main area where Chinese acrobats performed, but because I got in so early I wasn’t able to see it. BMW of Monrovia was the sponsor of this event, so not only did they feature a 3D lit-up car lantern, but there were three brand new BMW’s parked on the grounds for people to check out and play around with the control buttons. I got into one of the sedans and I’m not going to lie, that specific model was not my vibe. It was too low for you to comfortably get in, although the new car smell was overwhelmingly good.
If you want to grab a bite, there are food trucks on the premises and ample space with picnic tables. However, if you want to eat something more substantial, I recommend heading to Westfield Santa Anita, which is right across from the Arboretrum.
At the Undersea Creature world, sea animals were suspended in the air to make you feel like you were at the bottom of the ocean looking up at the sea.
My top four favorite displays were the following:
Shark Tunnel. It was impressive to walk under the color-changing blinking lights!
The Fairy Ball. Here you can see the long trunks of the palm trees emerging from the ground.
Dandelion Tree. This was by far one of the most impressive displays. It looked like a tree from the movie Frozen! The photos don’t do any justice.
Dragon. According to the display sign, the dragon “embodies the spirit of the Chinese culture and is a symbol of dignity, strength and power.”
This is what the full dragon looked like:
The giant peacock at the entrance was also one of the best highlights of the night! The line to take a photo was a little bit long but nevertheless, here it is in all its splendor. This specific display took everyone’s breath away.
Other sights:
Because the Arboretrum is usually closed at night, the trail is not lit up, so wear comfortable shoes and watch out for dozens of little kids running around! Also, a hoodie is mandatory since this event is held outdoors.
This year, the Moonlight Forest Magical Lantern Art Festival runs from Nov 9th through January 12th. Coming here was the best way to kick off the holiday season. If you want to have an “illuminating” experience, do not think twice and purchase your tickets right away before it ends! Overall, this was such a unique and memorable experience. They truly did a commendable job.
There are three sessions held each night: 5:30pm, 7:00pm and 10 pm. I recommend going to the earliest one at 5:30pm if you want to enjoy this event with fewer people. Parking at this event is free.
If you want to get an overview of what everything looks like, go to the website and watch the highlight Youtube video from last year.
For tickets click here
Address is 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007.
