Elder Park will once again be transformed into a sea of spectacular glowing creations and an explosion of Asian colour and culture as Adelaide Festival Centre’s 2016 OzAsia Moon Lantern Festival makes a splash this Sunday, September 18.

Get set for a visual extravaganza as 20 huge lanterns form the key foundation of this year’s event, plus more than a kilometre of pink, yellow and red festooning lanterns all placed throughout Elder Park.

The 40-person-long Hong Kong Dragon lantern will form the centerpiece of this incredible event and will lead the Parade through the Park so audiences can see this flaming creation up close.

The backdrop to all this festivity will be hundreds of glowing lotus lanterns floating on the River Torrens, with the Riverbank Bridge also adorned with beautiful kites and festooning.

Crowds can choose from three stages set up across the Park featuring amazing Asian cultural performances throughout the day. The program of music will reflect South Australia’s multicultural groups, as well as the international acts who have been invited to perform at this OzAsia flagship event. There will also be roaming entertainment.

And contributing to the feast for the senses, food options will include many of South Australia’s finest food vendors, as a mix of stalls and food trucks will be located in and around Elder Park.  Food vendors will start operating in the early afternoon and programmed activities will commence from 3pm.

Following the record crowds at last year’s event, organisers will this year fence off the venue with dedicated entry points along King William Road monitored by security staff.  Access to the venue will be restricted once capacity is reached so patrons are encouraged to get there early to ensure their special spot in the middle of all this free entertainment.

There will also be additional amenities as well as new crowd control measures and vantage points in the precinct to ensure the safety and comfort of all visitors.

Adelaide Festival Centre Artistic Director and CEO Douglas says, “Moon Lantern Festival is one of the most popular and colourful events on the Adelaide Festival Centre calendar.

“This is a day designed around Asian cultural engagement and a beautiful and timeless tradition which is an opportunity for us to come together with our families and wish for good fortune for the year to come. As we celebrate OzAsia Festival’s 10 year anniversary, the significance of Moon Lantern Festival and the way it brings our community together will continue to resonate well after the last lantern has been blown out.”

The  Moon Lantern Parade with start with a heart warming rendition of Birds of Tokyo ‘Lanterns’ by hundreds of students from public schools and will once again feature a beautiful display of fireworks at its conclusion. The Parade will feature a live score by world-class musical outfit, SIU2 from Hong Kong.

Download the entertainment program of community groups, performances and workshops scheduled throughout the day.

In the event Moon Lantern Festival needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather please check www.ozasiafestival.caom.au and facebook @OzAsiaFestival

2016 OzAsia Festival is supported by the Government of South Australia – ARTS SA and the Australian Government Catalyst – Australian Arts and Culture Fund.

Moon Lantern Festival Major Partner – Virtue Australia Foundation

Hong Kong Dragon Lantern – Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Sydney  Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region