Looking for something different to do with the family this fall that isn’t too far from the Bronx? A new lantern festival is coming to Glen Island Park in New Rochelle. The Autumn Glow Festival opens September 11 and will turn the waterfront park into a nighttime display of colorful Chinese lanterns, LED lights and larger-than-life artwork. The festival runs Friday through Sunday evenings from September 11 through November 1, 2026, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
The festival features hundreds of handmade Chinese lanterns created using traditional lantern-making techniques along with modern LED lighting. The displays include animals, nature, Chinese legends and other cultural imagery. The lanterns are made with steel wire frames and small pieces of Chinese silk cloth, with each design created by artisans. It’s more of an evening walk-through experience than a traditional fair. Visitors can walk through the illuminated displays, stop for photos and enjoy food from vendors along the way.
Tickets start at $16 for general admission with early-bird pricing. Children ages 3 and under are free. The event is rain-or-shine and fully accessible.
Where: Glen Island Park
Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10805
When: September 11–November 1, 2026
Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings
6:30–10 p.m.
Cost: Tickets start at $16
Children 3 and under are free.
Because the festival has limited hourly entry capacity, advance reservations are recommended. Learn more.