Chinese Water Lantern Festival to light up county park on June 15

Orange County Tourism will host the 2019 Water Lantern Festival at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery on Saturday, June 15, at 4 p.m., in partnership with I LOVE NY and Noble Fun Travel.
Traditional lantern festivals are celebrated on the fifteenth day in the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, marking the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.
Orange County’s free event will include cultural stage performances, fun games, and kid-friendly activities.
Attendees can purchase Chinese lanterns to be released along the lake at sunset as well as Asian and American cuisine and refreshments throughout the evening.
“This inaugural event is one that the entire county can get excited about," said Orange County Tourism Director Amanda Dana. "With family-friendly activities, breathtaking luminary sites, and the celebration of international cultures, it’s a truly one-of-a-kind experience for our residents and visitors."
Visitors from China spend more than any other international travel group in New York State, according to market data.
It is one of the fastest growing markets to the U.S. and is projected to be the state’s second largest overseas inbound market by 2020 behind only the United Kingdom.
Visitors from across the state, especially those traveling from the New York City metropolitan area, are expected to attend the upcoming festival.