Super City goes crackers for lantern festival

Albert Park crowds viewing the Chinese New Year lanterns included (from left) Caleb Sherrock, Dylan Smith, Brody Sherrock, Jacob Smith and Nathan Sherrock. Photo / Nick Reed

The Auckland Lantern Festival opened in Albert Park with a bang last night with firecrackers, lion dancers and cultural drummers.

Up to 200,000 people are expected to attend the annual festival, back for the 16th year, which has become one of the city's biggest and most popular cultural events.

"[The] festival celebrates Auckland's vibrant ethnic diversity, featuring everything from martial arts to traditional Chinese customs such as lion dance and tea ceremony," said Brett O'Riley, chief executive of Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development.

Image 1 of 17: Large crowds of people arrived at Albert Park to see the Chinese New Year lanterns. Photo / Nick Reed

Traditionally, the lantern festival marks the close of a 15-day observation of Chinese New Year, but it was held early this year as the 15th day falls on a Wednesday.

In the Chinese zodiac, this is the Year of the Sheep, which symbolises greater peace, tranquillity and harmonious co-existence. China's first reggae band, Long Shen Dao is back after a three-year break to headline this year's festival, which would also feature performances from some of China's best kung fu kids from the Shangwen Martial Arts Academy.

The event will close tomorrow with a fireworks finale from the Skytower at 10.30pm.