As daylight fades, Philadelphia transforms into a glowing wonderland — and Night Lights 2025 is the spark! This year, the city and its nearby venues are offering some of the most captivating nighttime experiences, filled with immersive art, glowing lanterns, live performances, and food under the stars.
PA personal injury lawyers believe illuminating experiences like these bring communities closer. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the event dates, locations, highlights, ticket information, travel tips, and the growing buzz that’s lighting up Philadelphia.
Event Dates & Locations
Night Lights 2025 includes several unique events across the city and surrounding areas. Each offers its own take on glowing displays and evening entertainment.
First is Astra Lumina Philadelphia, running through January 2025 at the Abington Art Center in Jenkintown. This outdoor experience features nine themed light exhibits spread across wooded trails. Closer to the city, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival will take place from June 20 to August 31, 2025, at Franklin Square in Center City. Here, visitors will enjoy large-scale Chinese lantern installations and interactive art displays. Lastly, the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival will be held on June 21 from 5 PM to 11 PM at Maple Grove Raceway, located about an hour and a half south of Philadelphia. This one-night event features a glowing sky lantern release.
Dazzling Installations & Interactive Art
Each event offers its own stunning displays. Astra Lumina invites guests to walk through its night trails and experience exhibits like “Celestial Trail,” “Stardust Rays,” and “Falling Stars.” Many have compared the visual experience to the bridge of glowing petals in Disney’s Coco. Critics have called it “cosmically mesmerizing” thanks to its combination of light, sound, and atmosphere.
At the Chinese Lantern Festival, visitors will see more than 1,100 LED-lit sculptures, including a massive 200-foot-long dragon. Interactive features include light-painting workshops where guests can create their own glowing designs. Each night, there are also scheduled performances at 7:30, 9:00, and 10:15 PM, featuring theater-style shows and cultural displays.
The Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival offers a different kind of magic. Guests receive a lantern kit to personalize before releasing their biodegradable lanterns into the sky at nightfall. The event includes a lantern-chaser crew that ensures all debris is collected after the release, keeping the experience both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
Ticket Pricing & Reservation Info
Tickets for Astra Lumina start around $28 and are available through their website. It’s recommended to purchase tickets in advance to secure your desired time slot.
The Chinese Lantern Festival offers a range of pricing: adult tickets are around $27–29, children’s tickets are $16, and seniors or military members can expect to pay about $25–27. An unlimited-entry festival pass is also available for frequent visitors, priced at $80 for adults and $45 for children. Timed ticketing is in place for Friday and Saturday evenings to help manage crowds.
For the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival, early-bird tickets start at $38, while standard prices range from $65 to $73. Each ticket includes a lantern kit. Children under six attend free, but spectator-only passes are not available.
Special Nighttime Programming
Beyond the glowing art, each event offers additional entertainment. At the Chinese Lantern Festival, stage shows include Chinese acrobatics, face-changing performances, and juggling acts held multiple times each night.
Astra Lumina enhances the experience with immersive soundscapes and refreshments, such as hot cocoa and snacks at their welcome areas. The Sky Lantern Festival brings in local live music, food vendors, and fire-pit kits that help create a communal atmosphere for attendees.
Other nightlife options nearby include Boathouse Row’s lighting displays, the popular Candlelight Concert series, and Otherworld Philadelphia — a separate immersive art attraction adding to the region’s nighttime appeal.
Transit & Evening Logistics
For Astra Lumina, visitors can either drive or take Regional Rail to reach Jenkintown. The Chinese Lantern Festival is conveniently located in Franklin Square in Center City, easily accessed by SEPTA’s Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, and PATCO trains. The Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival at Maple Grove Raceway is a longer drive outside Philadelphia. While carpool shuttles are limited, driving is the most practical option for most attendees.
Regardless of the event, it’s wise to allow extra travel time, arrive early, and prepare for nighttime temperatures. Parking early also helps secure better access, and bringing a chair or blanket can make your evening even more comfortable.
Accessibility & Safety Information
Each event has accessibility measures in place. The Chinese Lantern Festival’s timed-entry system helps control crowds, and its venue is fully accessible for guests with mobility needs. Astra Lumina’s outdoor paths include mixed terrain, so visitors should dress warmly and wear sturdy shoes. The Sky Lantern Festival features supervised lantern releases and a dedicated cleanup crew to ensure environmental safety.
For all events, guests should pack light jackets, LED safety lights, and follow posted health and safety guidelines.
Conclusion
Philly’s nights are about to shine brighter than ever. Across Abington, Franklin Square, and Maple Grove, Night Lights 2025 offers a mix of interactive art, glowing installations, live performances, and family-friendly fun.
PA Injury Lawyers, P.C. hopes you shine brightly at Philly Glows! Night Lights 2025 — don’t miss it! Grab your tickets, invite friends and family, and enjoy the magic under Philadelphia’s night sky.
