Winter Lantern Festival Queens 2026 at Queens County Farm: Dates & Tickets

Queens County Farm Museum, the city’s largest remaining tract of working farmland, becomes a glowing lantern trail every winter. The Winter Lantern Festival fills the fields and orchards with hundreds of handcrafted lanterns made of silk and steel wire, depicting Chinese legends, folklore and the natural world, all lit with LEDs.

The 2026 festival opens Thursday, November 19 and runs into early January. It’s an easy family night out in eastern Queens, close to the Long Island border.

Quick Facts

What to Expect

The festival is an illuminated night walk through the farm’s grounds. Expect large-scale lantern scenes (animals, dragons, flowers and mythological figures), a lit tunnel or two, food vendors, a small shopping area and live entertainment on select nights. The setting is part of the charm: the farm’s 18th-century farmhouse and red barns make an unusual backdrop for a lantern show.

Most visitors spend about an hour on the trail. Paths are mostly flat but can be muddy after rain, so wear boots.

When to Go

Until December 17 the festival only runs Thursday to Sunday, so plan accordingly. After that it’s open nightly through January 3. Thursday evenings and the first hour after opening are the least crowded times. Entry is limited by hour, so reserve tickets for weekends in advance.

Getting There

Queens County Farm is in Glen Oaks, far from the subway. The Q46 bus from Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike (E/F trains) stops on Union Turnpike at Little Neck Parkway, a short walk away. Driving is easiest, with parking on site. From Manhattan, allow about an hour by transit.

More Lantern Festivals and Light Shows

The same organizers run the Winter Lantern Festival at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. For a different style, compare Lightscape in Brooklyn or the animal lanterns at Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights. Our Christmas in Queens guide covers the borough’s other markets, lights and tree lightings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Winter Lantern Festival Queens open in 2026?

It opens Thursday, November 19, 2026, running Thursdays to Sundays through December 17 and then daily through January 3, 2027.

How much are tickets?

Tickets start at $18, and children under 3 are free. Prices vary by date.

What are the hours?

5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on operating nights.

Where is the Queens lantern festival?

At Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Glen Oaks, Queens.