Make Like a Lantern and Get Lit at These Lantern Festival Events
Unless you’re planning to cuddle up on the couch and share a plate of tangyuan dumplings with your significant other for what’s arguably the most romantic day of the Chinese calendar, then you’ll want to get out and have some fun for Lantern Festival. Here’s what’s happening in Beijing for this year’s fest, Friday, Feb 26.
Lantern Festival at – where else? – Lantern
If you’re going to turn up on Lantern Festival, it only makes sense to do it at the eponymous club, in their new three-story digs no less. Beginning on Friday and going well into Saturday, DJs Fai.f and Mengmeng will be pumping out electronic music on the second floor, while Lantern regulars Wengweng, MMS, and LOU will light up the dance floor on the first, and a few up-and-comers will show what they’ve got on the third. RMB 80 at the door.
Chinese Orchestra at the NCPA
For a very musical Lantern Festival, the National Centre for Performing Arts is hosting two nights of orchestral performances on Feb 26 and 27, featuring music from China’s ethnic minorities, classic Spring Festival tunes, patriotic songs, and more. Learn more here and be sure to bring your passport or Chinese ID to enter. Altogether, the show will last about 90 minutes. Book tickets at en.chncpa.org. Begins at 7.30pm.
Little Tiger's Improv Enema at fRUITYSPACE
Who is Little Tiger? What will he be performing during Lantern Festival at fRUITYSPACE? And can we expect actual enemas? Beats us. And, as it happens, two out of three beat Little Tiger too, who admits he has no idea how to act – but he’ll figure it out when he gets there. For just RMB 80, you can lay witness to this amazing and/or tragic (but certainly intriguing) sight. Begins 9pm, tickets sold at door.
Beijing Broads' Family Secrets at Che Soi
If you prefer a more polished improv show, the Beijing Broads are happy to oblige. Celebrating the tradition of familial reunions for Lantern Festival, the troupe’s first show of 2021 will revolve around families – and their deep, dark, hidden secrets. Be prepared to open a few closets and find a few skeletons. Proceeds for the show will go to Educating Girls of Rural China, an NGO that supports girls from rural regions of Western China by providing them with high school and university educations. Early bird tickets RMB 50, RMB 60 at the door. Begins 8pm.
Wine and dine at Black Sesame Kitchen
Enjoy making and eating your own tangyuan dumplings filled with (obviously) black sesame, before treating yourself to a special ten-course meal and free-flow red and white wine. RSVP required, RMB 350 per person. 6.30-9.30pm.
Red lantern party with Baozza & Jing-A at Zarah
Not a big fan of tangyuan? Then celebrate the holiday with baozi and beer instead! Baozza will be bringing a grand helping of their pizza+bao crossovers, and Jing-A will provide the booze in the form of their Koji Red Ale (get it? Lanterns are red!) at this Café Zarah party. Buy one Koji, get a Baozza (or visa versa!) and enjoy the vibes as hanging lanterns bounce to the frequency of underground beats. 7pm till late.
READ: Celebrate Togetherness With Tangyuan Glutinous Rice Dumplings
Images: UNSPLASH, courtesy of the vendors
