Lantern Light Festival, Jacksonville

Over 2,000 years ago, Chinese monks started the tradition of honoring Buddha by lighting lanterns on the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Emperor Hanmingdi, having heard of this and enjoying the practice, ordered that all households and palaces do the same thus becoming a time-honored celebration.

Today, that tradition lives on at the Bay Area Lantern Light Festival. This six-week celebration rings in Chinese New Year with a vast array of dazzling lights—some reaching over 30 feet high—crafted by some of the world's best lantern makers. The lights only tell one side of the story, however, as the festival also features live performances such as Chinese acrobats as well as a sampling of delicious American and Chinese cuisine.