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Chinese Lantern Festival takes shape in Franklin Square

  • Workers use a crane to lower the head onto a giant dragon lantern, the centerpiece of the Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square Park.

    Workers use a crane to lower the head onto a giant dragon lantern, the centerpiece of the Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square Park. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • A crew of 15 people was requred to place the head.

    A crew of 15 people was requred to place the head. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • The dragon lantern is 200 feet long, 21 feet tall, and weighs 18,000 pounds.

    The dragon lantern is 200 feet long, 21 feet tall, and weighs 18,000 pounds. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • In a makeshift tent in a corner of Franklin Square, work continues on smaller lanterns, sculpted from steel frames and silk.

    In a makeshift tent in a corner of Franklin Square, work continues on smaller lanterns, sculpted from steel frames and silk. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • The Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Franklin Square for its second year.

    The Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Franklin Square for its second year. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • Organizers have added a second entrance at the corner on 7th and Race streets.

    Organizers have added a second entrance at the corner on 7th and Race streets. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • Except for the dragon, all the lantern displays are new.

    Except for the dragon, all the lantern displays are new. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • Franklin Square will host 29 illuminated lantern displays.

    Franklin Square will host 29 illuminated lantern displays. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • The displays are made up of 1,500 individual sculptures.

    The displays are made up of 1,500 individual sculptures. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

  • Workers from Tianyu Arts and Culture have spent more than a month assembling and arranging the displays.

    Workers from Tianyu Arts and Culture have spent more than a month assembling and arranging the displays. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

The army of workers assembling the Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square put the finishing touches on the the festival’s signature sculpture, attaching a giant head onto the 200-foot-long dragon lantern.

It took a crew of 15 and a crane to raise the head into position 21 feet above the ground.

In a makeshift tent nearby, sheltered from the wind and rain, work continued on the smaller sculptures. Steel frames were painted with glue, then brightly colored silk was stretched over the frames, shaped and cut. When completed, the displays will be made up of 1,500 individual sculptures.

This is the second year for the festival in Franklin Square. Other than the giant dragon, all the sculptures are new for 2017. The festival runs from May 9 through June 11.

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