(June 2, 2025 – Reno, Nev.) – Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc. is excited to announce the return of the Dragon Lights Festival to Reno this fall—along with a new presenting sponsor, Northern Nevada Health System. The popular lantern festival will once again light up the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens at Rancho San Rafael Park, offering a dazzling blend of art, culture, and nature. Opening September 26 and running through Thanksgiving weekend the final night will be November 30. In addition, the festival will feature new nightly hours: from September 26 to November 1 the festival will be open from 6:00-10:00PM Monday to Sunday, and from November 2 to 30 it’ll be open from 5:00-10:00PM, Monday to Sunday.
“We’re thrilled to welcome title sponsor Northern Nevada Health System as we return to Reno this fall and once again share the Dragon Lights Festival with the community,” said Huiyuan Liu, event manager at Tianyu Arts & Culture. “This event brings families and neighbors together to experience art, culture, and imagination in a truly unique setting. The autumn schedule also provides the perfect backdrop for enjoying our glowing lantern displays during the crisp evening hours, making it a memorable outing for all ages.”
The 2025 theme, “Odyssey of Waves & Woods,” will transform the botanical garden into a breathtaking fusion of mysterious ocean and magical forest. This immersive experience will showcase the artistry of traditional lantern craftsmanship, featuring 40 new illuminated displays across four enchanting zones—including a 100-foot-long sea tunnel and mythical creatures lighting up every corner. All displays are handcrafted by skilled artisans using lantern-making techniques passed down through generations, celebrating a tradition with a rich history spanning more than 2,000 years.
The Interactive Playground includes 12 sets of glowing installations that visitors can touch, sit on, and play with. The popular light up swing will be a heart shaped light up swing called the Swing of Love. Asian Culture, anchored by a majestic Chinese dragon, celebrates rich Chinese heritage with lanterns inspired by iconic symbols, architecture, and nature, creating a vibrant cultural atmosphere. Waves represent an ocean world with exotic sea creatures, while Woods take our guests to a magical forest where mythical animals and plants live. These two themes cover a majority part of the garden, and the lantern displays aim to provide immersive experience in all senses.
Together, these zones highlight the festival’s dedication to cultural storytelling and raise awareness about biodiversity both within the gardens and beyond.
“Northern Nevada Health System proudly serves as the presenting sponsor of the Dragon Lights Festival, reaffirming its commitment to supporting cultural enrichment and community engagement throughout the region,” said Jordan Herget, CEO, Northern Nevada Health System. “Through this partnership, the health system helps bring world-class artistic experiences to Northern Nevada, fostering connection, creativity, and wellness by encouraging families and individuals to come together in celebration of light, nature, and tradition.”
Tickets for the Festival will go on sale August 18th at https://dragonlightsreno.org/
Sponsorships are still available. For sponsorship information, please contact Tiffany East at tiffany@tiffanyeastpr.com
For additional information, please visit the website at dragonlightsreno.org
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Media Contact:
Tiffany East, tiffany@tiffanyeastpr.com
775-250-8092
