Thousands attended the opening day of the Auckland Lantern Festival at Manukau Sports Bowl on Thursday, with visitors enjoying more than 500 silk lanterns, poignant cultural performances and delectable cuisine from all parts of Asia.
A pair of four-metre lanterns depicting snakes was touted as the highlight of this year's celebration, debuting after being shipped from the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan.
The four-day event, presented by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited on behalf of Auckland Council, will run through Sunday and is expected to attract more than 185,000 visitors.
Festival organisers have introduced a free ticket system this year to help manage visitor traffic more efficiently.
Opening hours for the remaining days of the festival will be from 3pm to 10pm on Friday, and from 1pm to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Lanterns depicting a scene from an iconic Chinese legend. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
The 30-metre dragon that debuted in 2024 was still popular with visitors at this year's festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Crowds flocked to the festival to catch a glimpse of two four-metre lanterns depicting serpents to celebrate the Year of the Snake. Photo: RNZ / Ruth Kuo
Lion dancers kept the crowds entertained throughout the afternoon. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Lanterns depicting a tiger toy commonly found in China hang in trees at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A diverse crowd attended the first day of the festival at Manukau Sports Bowl. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A man sells headdress of the Monkey King at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A wide variety of cuisine was on offer at the festival this year. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
The area hosting food stalls was busy throughout the day. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A family poses for a selfie at the festival with a lantern depicting a jellyfish. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
It's hard to imagine a small lantern of Buddha ever being made. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A woman in traditional attire dances in front of one of the snake lanterns at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A team performs a dragon dance at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A vendor sells balloons at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A lantern depicting a snake sits behind the body of the 30-metre dragon lantern that debuted last year. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
A visitor stands beneath lanterns depicting birds that have been placed in trees at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Fire walk with me: A group performs a dragon dance near a lantern depicting a snake at the festival. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
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