Five Loonies Lantern Festival

Step into a glowing daytime lantern wonderland filled with vibrant colours, playful crafts, lively performances, and picture-perfect photo spots. Taking place in Heritage Plaza at Heritage Park, this walk-through winter experience fills the space with colourful paper lanterns, festive décor, live cultural performances, hands-on crafts, and bright daytime photo moments. Designed for families, friends, grandparents and grandchildren, the festival embraces winter’s natural light while showcasing the symbolism, traditions, and community spirit of the Lantern Festival.

The “5 Loonies” (also known as 5 Gold Coins) theme celebrates Canadian identity and affordability, reflecting Heritage Park’s commitment to accessible, community-focused programming.

Dates: Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1, 2026
Time: 1:00 to 5:30 pm
Location: Heritage Plaza at Heritage Park

Gasoline Alley Museum Tickets (Feb 28)

Gasoline Alley Museum Tickets (Mar 1)

Special Deals at Heritage Park

$5 Admission ALL DAY to Gasoline Alley Museum – Membership discounts do not apply.

Plus, for just five loonies (also accepting bills, debit and credit), you can also pick up one of these awesome deals!

• All day $5 dumplings at The Selkirk
• $5 tasty Wonton Soup at the Railway Café
• Get a $5 Heritage Park postcard in the new Gift Shoppe
• Harvey’s Confectionary is featuring $5 ice creams
• A special $5 item in the Toy Shoppe
• Sweet $5 bagged candy special
• Snap a photo for just $5 with a real Chinese Dragon in the Park Lane Photo Studio
• And don’t forget to get your lucky Lantern for just (you guessed it..) $5 inside Harvey’s!
• Say hello, strike a pose and snap a free horse photo in the Plaza

Step into a winter wonderland of lantern light, colour, and celebration.

Wander through Heritage Plaza as it glows with colourful paper lanterns, cheerful door décor, and festive surprises around every corner. Enjoy lively Lion Dance and drumming performances, discover hands-on crafts and storytelling, warm up with seasonal treats, and snap bright daytime photos with friends and family.

Created as a relaxed, walk-through daytime experience, the 5 Loonies Lantern Festival brings the spirit of the Lantern Festival to life in a way that’s playful, welcoming, and perfect for all ages.

What to Expect

Get ready for an afternoon filled with colour, culture, and hands-on fun.

• Walk-through lantern displays and festive plaza décor
• Live cultural performances, including Lion Dance and drumming
• Storytelling and interactive programming
• Creative crafts and cultural activities for kids and families
• Seasonal food and beverages to warm up with
• Themed retail and giftable finds

Plan to spend about 4 hours, or longer if you’d like to catch multiple performances, explore activity areas, and choose to add on a visit to Gasoline Alley Museum.

The Lantern Festival traditionally marks the close of Lunar New Year celebrations and symbolizes unity, renewal, and good fortune.

At Heritage Park, the 5 Coins tradition is thoughtfully adapted for a Canadian winter setting in the Year of the Horse — respectful of cultural roots while inviting the broader community to learn, celebrate, and connect.

In the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse represents energy, strength and forward momentum. The Fire Horse carries those qualities even further, symbolizing passion, courage and bold new beginnings. People often associate the Fire Horse with confidence, vibrancy and a dynamic spirit that inspires movement and celebration. That powerful Fire Horse energy mirrors the brightness and excitement of Lunar New Year traditions, where light, colour and community take centre stage. At the Five Loonies Lantern Festival, that same spirit comes to life through glowing lantern displays, cultural performances and moments designed to bring people together in joy and connection.