Glowfest Las Vegas Brings Lantern Magic to Life

In a city known for neon lights and big spectacles, Glowfest Las Vegas offers something quieter, more intimate, and unexpectedly magical. This lantern festival transforms the desert night into a world of color, light, and story, blending handcrafted lanterns, immersive installations, live performances, and a bustling Night Market. But Glowfest Las Vegas is more than just something beautiful to look at—it’s designed to make you feel, to spark curiosity, and to bring people together. 

The Spark Behind Glowfest

For Program Director David Valenzuela, Glowfest Las Vegas started with a feeling, not a concept.

“Honestly, it started with disappointment,” he recalls. “I went to a lantern display about seven years ago, hoping it would remind me of what I grew up with in Taiwan—busy night markets, people laughing, food everywhere, lantern riddles, that shared feeling of warmth. Instead, the lanterns were spread out like decorations. They looked nice, but they didn’t feel like anything.”

That sense of something missing lingered. Valenzuela realized lantern festivals were never meant to be quiet or distant—they were about bringing people together. The moment of clarity came in 2023, while helping build a single lantern for a small lakeside event in Las Vegas.

“When it lit up, and people released lotus lanterns into the water, everyone just went quiet in the best way. You could feel something shift. That moment made me realize this wasn’t about spectacle, it was about creating a feeling. Glowfest grew from there.”

A Baby Dragon Guides the Journey

Every Glowfest visit follows the journey of a young dragon, a whimsical character who leads guests through the festival.

“Lantern festivals have always told stories, whether through myths, symbols, or riddles,” Valenzuela explains. “The dragon made sense because it’s such a familiar figure in Asian culture, and it represents growth and change. Starting with a baby dragon felt approachable. It’s curious, a little lost, and learning as it goes.”

As visitors wander, the dragon’s path guides the flow of the evening. “Each area feels different, not just visually but emotionally. Light, color, and movement help guide that feeling. You’re not just walking past displays—you’re moving through a story, even if you don’t consciously think about it that way.”

Handcrafted Lanterns from Zigong

Glowfest’s lanterns aren’t off-the-shelf props—they’re crafted by master artisans from Zigong, China, a region famed for its lantern-making heritage.

“Zigong is where lantern-making really comes from, so working with those artisans was important to us,” Valenzuela says. “They’ve been doing this their whole lives, often following techniques passed down through generations.”

The process is painstaking. “Everything starts with drawings and small models, then gets built piece by piece, with metal frames, silk, and paint. From a logistics standpoint, it’s complicated: shipping materials, coordinating teams, assembling everything on-site. But once it’s built and lit, you stop thinking about the effort and just see the craftsmanship. That’s the goal.”

Night Market Energy and Live Performance

No lantern festival is complete without the hum of activity that makes it feel alive. Glowfest Las Vegas incorporates a Night Market and live performances to bring that energy to life.

“Without them, it wouldn’t feel right,” Valenzuela says. “Lantern festivals aren’t meant to be silent or isolated. They’ve always been part of a bigger celebration—people eating, shopping, watching performances, running into friends.”

These additions encourage guests to linger, chat, and explore. “The night market and performances bring that energy back. They give people reasons to stay, talk, and wander. It turns the experience into a shared evening rather than a quick walk-through.”

Technical Innovation in the Celestial Realm

One of Glowfest’s standout areas is the Celestial Realm, a zone where physical lanterns meet cutting-edge technology.

“The Celestial Realm, without question,” Valenzuela says, “combines physical lanterns with projection mapping, motion sensors, and lighting that reacts in real time, all outdoors.”

Hosting this in the desert presents unique challenges. “The desert makes everything harder. Wind, dust, temperature changes—you have to plan for all of it and keep monitoring things every night. A lot is happening behind the scenes, but if we’ve done our job right, guests don’t notice any of that. They feel immersed.”

Giving Back to the Community

Glowfest Las Vegas isn’t just for visitors—it’s for the city itself. Supporting local schools is a key part of the festival’s mission.

“Glowfest was built by people who live here. It didn’t make sense for it to exist without giving something back to the community,” Valenzuela explains. Lantern festivals traditionally symbolize hope for the future, and supporting education fits naturally with that tradition. “If kids get something positive out of this, whether it’s funding, inspiration, or just a memory, that matters to us.”

A Lasting Place in Las Vegas

Las Vegas may be known for its extravagance, but Glowfest brings a different kind of magic.

“Las Vegas already does big and loud very well,” Valenzuela says. “Glowfest offers something different, quieter, more thoughtful, and more personal.”

The festival is set to evolve each year, introducing new stories and installations while keeping its core mission intact. “The festival doesn’t have to stay the same every year, but the core idea—people coming together around light and shared experience—is something we think belongs here for the long run.”

Get tickets for Glowfest Las Vegas here through February 22!