Mar. 03, 2026
The annual Dragon Lights Festival in Reno has become one of my top ten favorite festivals of all time because it’s the epitome of grandeur. It inspires such awe and wonder that it’s almost overwhelming, every. single. time. The lanterns are so captivating, sorta like rainbows, having a mysterious beauty you can't quite put your finger on - beauty that puts a big smile on your face from ear to ear.
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I'm not mad that my Chinese zodiac sign is a rat. Did you know they’re smart enough to play video games? I’m totally down with that!The artists who fly in from China to create these magical, elaborate handmade lantern displays each year at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum are true masters of their craft. Since the festival’s debut in Reno in , the displays have only grown more complex, more grand, more interactive. And as if I wasn’t already blown away the first time they graced our little town...
As a daughter of a self made carpenter, I can't help but appreciate the skill, time, and dedication that goes into each and every lantern. With the times swaying toward convenience over the years, it seems like less and less people are getting their hands dirty when it comes to learning a new trade. So when I come across mastery, I will stop in my tracks and savor it as much as I can.
How amazing are these hand painted ornaments?The vendors from China were so nice.What started centuries ago as a practical way to light up the night has since transformed into a true art form, with lanterns that tell stories, celebrate culture, and bring imaginations to life. The lanterns at Dragon Lights are intricate, lively, & light up the world in more ways than one.
As you walk winding pathways surrounded by towering dragons, illuminated flowers, and colorful scenes from Chinese folklore, all set against the serene beauty of the arboretum, take a moment to reflect on how far the history of lantern making stretches into the past and how lucky we are to be able to experience such a beautiful tradition right here in the Biggest Little City. At one point, I found myself standing in front of the dragon, waiting with all the other adults and kids for the vapor bubbles to appear. As soon as they rose, I heard a mom squeal with delight, like she was a kid again, saying, "It’s the small things in life!" In that moment, I was reminded of how important it is to keep that sense of wonder alive. We’re never too old to appreciate the little things. They may seem small, but they’re actually huge in all the ways that count.Hope it's a magical time.Tickets purchased online for weekdays will be:
Tickets purchased online for the weekend will be:
Infants and small children under 3 years old are FREE to enter.
Groups discounts are available for groups of 10 people or more. Group discounts only apply to General Admission tickets.
Yes, we offer free parking onsite on a first come first serve basis. Close up parking at the Wilbur D. May Center is reserved for ADA only. There is limited closeup parking at the arboretum parking lot, and more parking space at the west end of Rancho San Rafael Park. Please follow signs and instructions of our parking staff.
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Free shuttle buses are available at the west end parking lot at Rancho San Rafael Park Friday and Saturday. Shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes. The first shuttle bus starts at the west end parking lot at 5:45PM. The last shuttle bus leaves the festival entrance at 10:15PM.
Yes, our onsite box office is located next to the festival entrance and is open nightly from 6:00–9:00 PM (Sep 26–Nov 1), 5:00–9:00 PM (Nov 2–Nov 16), and 5:00–8:00 PM (Nov 17–Nov 30). Visitors can purchase tickets at the box office on the day of the event with either cash or card. However, there’s a limited number of tickets available at the box office, and the event organizer may close the box office early if the event has reached its capacity limit on the day of the event. There’s also an up-charge of $5-$15 for tickets purchased at the box office.
After buying your ticket online, you will get a confirmation with a barcode and QR code. We can scan your ticket directly from your mobile device, or you can print your ticket at home and bring it with you to be scanned at the entrance.
As stated in our Terms and Conditions, all sales are final and non-refundable.
If you are unable to attend a show due to an unexpected and unavoidable issue, you may change the date and time of your ticket an hour prior to the event start time. Ticket holders will need to log into their Universe account and go to the My Ticket Page to change the date and time of their tickets. Tickets can only be moved if the same ticket type at the same price is offered, and if capacity allows.
You may also transfer the ticket to another person by following instructions on this link HERE.
We think the gift of time with the ones you love most is the best gift you can give! You will need to know the date and time you would like to visit in order to reserve a ticket, so keep this in mind when planning a ticket purchase as a gift. Instead of using your own address as the ticket , please enter the of your intended recipient. Unfortunately, gift cards are not offered at this time.
In your inbox, search for an from with the subject [Dragon Lights Reno] The will contain your ticket for the event in the body, however, there will also be a PDF that you can download and show at the door.
To view your order details and receipt on Universe, log in to your Universe Dashboard. Tickets can be found under ‘My Tickets’. If you did not create a Universe account upon checkout, please contact us and we can resend your confirmation .
For more information on how to find your tickets, please read our guide: Find your tickets
For more information, please visit dragon light festival.
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