Charlotte On The Cheap

Live well in the Queen City on a budget

Winner announced for tickets to Tianyu Lights Festival, but there’s still a discount for everyone)

POSTED BY
Jody Mace
Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

UPDATE: The contest has ended, and we’ve emailed the winner, Kelsey W. The discount code is still good everyone, though (keep reading!)

The Tianyu Lights Festival is an immersive outdoor lantern festival featuring larger-than-life, handcrafted light displays. Created by skilled artisans from Zigong, China, the show blends traditional craftsmanship with modern themes for a vibrant, family-friendly experience filled with color, culture, and creativity.

The festival also includes many interactive experiences, so be on the lookout for them.

Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

The festival also features jaw-dropping performances, including (this is true!) an acrobat who stands on her hands and shoots and arrow (accurate) with her feet.

Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

Read on to learn how to enter to win four tickets!

The show runs from April 18 to June 22, 2025, outside Concord Mills, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, North Carolina.

The hours are 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and weeknights, and 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

Ticket prices range from $15 to $30. Save 15% on general admissions tickets with the promo code TYCOTC15. Up to 2,000 tickets will be sold with this promo code. Make sure to select your tickets before applying the promo code. Purchase tickets.

Win tickets

One Charlotte on the Cheap reader will win a four-pack of tickets to Tianyu Lights Festival.

To win, you must be a subscriber to the Charlotte on the Cheap newsletter. If you haven’t already subscribed, click here to subscribe.

To enter the contest, just scroll down and leave a comment. We will email the winner on May 4, 2025, so make sure to be checking your email!

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More Photos

  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
  • Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Karen says

    Awesome, thanks for fixing the issue! I definitely would love to win tickets and bring my family to the event!

  6. Swarna Puli says

    This is an amazing website. Keep rocking. Would love to visit the Tianyu lights. My 6yr old son would be more excited…

  7. Ivy Ward says

    I would love to be considered to win this! It would be such a cool experience for my family. We love Charlotte on the cheap!!!

  8. steph says

    Heard about this last week. I’ve always wanted to go resident! in Cary but this is something exciting to have so close by in concord as a cabarrus Co resisdent!

  13. Tesheena says

    I would love to attend with my son. He loves Asian Culture and is in an immersion program learning to speak Mandarin. This will be a great experience having a piece of China in Concord.

  15. Nancy Malaspina says

    This would be an awesome night for my girls and I ❤️💕 it’s just us 4 now in life and we will make memories

  17. Quaneisha Caldwell says

    My daughter choose our family date night and this is where she picked to go!! Would love the chance to experience it with our family ❤️

  23. Pat Sankowski says

    Thanx Charlotteonthecheap! I’d love to have free tickets! 💕 It sounds like a great event!

  26. Esther Monroe says

    This would be great for my son who turns 4 this weekend! My husband and I have been seeing this as my son loves lights

  32. Georgette ingraham says

    Thanks for the opportunity to win tickets! This looks amazing. Thanks for the work you do putting all this information together. For a newcomer to this area like me, it’s greatly appreciated

  39. Amanda says

    Love to see all the family friendly events and the organized, Charlotte on the Cheap page. Keep up the amazing work. Would love to do this with my 3 kiddos! ❤️

  45. Marisela says

    Love when you guys post giveaways, so exciting!!!! Thanks for this wonderful opportunity!!!

  46. Madison Darrell says

    LOVE THIS!! Looks so fun, and they’re hand crafted?! need to see that in person! such an awesome opportunity!

  48. Ashley says

    This looks stunning! We’re new CLT & we are loving ALL the family friendly things….

  49. Jasmine Johnson says

    👁️👄👁️ Looks really fun! I need to make it out there before it heads out! Looks to be more interactive than the Chinese lantern festival in Cary and it’s closer!

  54. Kayla says

    Still new to the area & this would be a great adventure for my family! We all have our own artistic skills & this could push our imagination! Can’t wait to go!

  59. Vickie Givens says

    Just saw info about this amazing light spectacular at Concord Mills. Will be visiting the Charlotte/Huntersville area in Mid-May and would love to win some tickets for this event. Thanks for the opportunity.

  69. Barbara Duncan says

    My family is so excited to see this. I cannot wait! Thank you so much for considering us for the free tickets!

  81. Kem says

    My dad will be visiting me soon. This would be a great daddy-daughter date so we can catch up with each other!

  82. Elizabeth Howe says

    Wow! Beautiful! 😍 🤩 New to Charlotte and would love to see this with the family!

  83. Kim Killian says

    We would love to go to this festival! Sounds amazing! Thanks for all of your great tips!

  84. Nicole Rivera West says

    What a wonderful experience for everyone in the area to see! So grateful for this community!

  91. Oksana says

    We really want the whole family to immerse themselves in the world of magic and sorcery.

  98. Ashley Hunsucker says

    I have been really hoping something like this would come to the Charlotte area! Lights bring me joy! What a wonderful family night it would be!

  100. Katrina Hallinan says

    A night of lights would be the best way to spend a warm evening! Thank you!

  104. K. Nadado says

    As someone who misses home, I’d love to come here with the family to enjoy the lights and perhaps the nostalgia—looking forward to visiting. I’m sure it will be a fun time for everyone.

  105. Kayla Hathaway says

    This looks like a fun and close to home activity for my husband & I for a much needed date night! 🙂 Would love to win tickets.

  108. Sharon Madill says

    Charlotte on the Cheap has been a great resource- especially being new to the area. This festival looks amazing and we look forward to visiting.

  121. Marlena says

    Looks super fun! Would love to go with my family. Posting to enter! Good luck everyone!

  124. Lorelei May says

    Looks like a really fun experience✨ thanks for the opportunity to win tickets!

  137. T Dabney says

    We rode by the light show on Sunday and my twin grand daughters got super excited…the display looks wonderful, they would love to see it up close at night!

  138. Melody Manlove says

    We are new to Charlotte and LOVE Charlotte on the Cheap! We are more aware of what’s happening than friends who have lived here for decades! Constantly referring them to your newsletter. Would LOVE to take our son and daughter in law – they are the reason we moved here. Thanks for all you do!

  145. Renee Bevan says

    We went to a lantern festival years ago when kids were young and was very interesting, so happy to see it came back, would be fun to revisit with them.

  146. Carisa Weeks says

    Thank you for all of the great Content and information you put out! Very helpful! I would love to take my family to this event. The lantern light displays look so beautiful!

  152. Erika D. says

    We drove by as they were setting this up and the kids were in amazement. Would be super cool to take them to see the final product. Thanks for the newsletters full of great things like this!

  157. Dora Sosa says

    This is wonderful so exciting thank you for the chance keeping my fingers crossed lol….. I’m excited 😆

  159. Dory Ward says

    I am new to Charlotte from Tennessee, being from the south, I would love to go to this. Gives me the opportunity to experience the amazing creativity of other cultures. Thank you!

  162. Carey Cook says

    Hello! We just moved to Charlotte from WNC after Hurricane Helene and we have been so grateful for this newsletter to help us explore Charlotte. We’d love to get to come to the lights with our two kiddos 🙂

  166. Annamarie says

    My daughter would love to see the lights and it would be a fun surprise for the end of school this year! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

  167. Michelle says

    We’d love to go to this! My husband lived in China for about a year, and I know our two boys would really enjoy it too!

  176. Brandi Morgan says

    This looks so cool 😎. Can’t wait to go see this light festival and thankful for all the talented folks who come together to make it happen.

  188. Caroline Mensa says

    Omg my husband and kids would love this I would love to be considered thank you

  190. Jevonne Martin says

    It is truly amazingly beautiful!! I have never seen anything like it. It reminds me of a mini Disney World. My family and I would love to experience and explore.

  202. Geri Usery says

    Thank you for sharing this event with us, it sounds like a beautiful experience!
    Would love to take a couple senior citizens that live nearby to see this so winning tickets would be awesome!

  204. Tiffany says

    We went to the movies last weekend and I saw it from the outside. It looked super cool. I would love to win!

  205. Genna Leann Kale says

    I had to scroll past a million other comments to leave this comment, it shows my dedication ♥️ I’d love to win the tickets

  208. Queen Williams says

    This would be a great outing for my “mom’s group” that meets weekly! 🥰 hope we can be the winners🏆 …either way we will support!

  210. Rachel White says

    I haven’t heard of this. What a cool and interesting event to have in our neighborhood!

  218. L Miller says

    It would be DeLIGHTful to experience this with the family. Thanks for the opportunity COTC! 😊

  225. Karessa says

    I’m new to the area and have never seen anything like this! It would be so awesome to win tickets!

  229. Rachel Ortiz says

    Been wanting to check this out! Even if I don’t win tix, thank you for the discount code! 🙂

  231. Raven says

    It seems as though I never win these contests but I’m entering again because I really want to attend this event.

  232. Lyndsay Graubard says

    Ooh yay thank you for the discount code and the opportunity to win these tickets!! 🙏

  233. Kaliyah says

    This looks like a fun time, would love to win tickets to this. Thanks for the opportunity!

  235. Jenn McCready says

    I have been a subscriber of your newsletter for a few years and love it. My Mom is coming to town in a few weeks and I would love to take her

  243. Tracy Wilson says

    Please pick me! Love your newsletter and all of the ideas it gives me for things to do and places to see!! Thank you!

  244. Alexis Greene says

    I was at Concord on Saturday and couldn’t help but wonder about all the colorful statues—now I know! This would be such an amazing experience to see up close and win!

  245. Karin says

    Will be visiting Concord from Tennessee Mother’s Day weekend and would love to treat my nephew and family to this very nice event! Thank you!

  251. Kathy Coleman says

    Thank you Charlotte on the Cheap for being so informative…I look forward to reading your newsletter every day! My family and I would love to see the festival! Thank you for the chance!

  255. Denise says

    Thanks Charlotte on the Cheap for all that you do, we’d be so bored without you in our lives. 🌟 💜🩵💛🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️

  257. Sam H says

    Looks amazing ! Thanks for doing such a great job of keeping us informed of upcoming events and finding discounts for us !

  269. Rasheda says

    I’d love to experience this! It would be even better if I could win tix! Ready…Set…Win!!!

  273. Dustin Skokowski says

    I would love to take the family; it’s a great way to celebrate the end of the school year!

  286. LAVONDA ROBINSON says

    My daughter and I are always looking for new things to do in Charlotte. This looks like the perfect evening event!

  291. Rachelle White says

    This event looks so beautiful! I would love for us to be able to go as a family.

  297. Natalie says

    I would love to win tickets for this! $$ is tight for everyone, so I wish the best of luck to anyone who enters

  302. Susan Moore says

    Thank you Concord Mills for hosting an awesome event! Concord Mills is ALWAYS worth the drive!

  317. Jeanne says

    We have never been to the lights as we have not lived in Charlotte long. This would be a wonderful opportunity for our family!

  324. Bsrbara i says

    If I win, this will be the first thing ever in my life that I won in any contest. Regardless, I am really excited about seeing the show!

  325. Stephanie Lynn Forman says

    I find your site to be very useful in planning on things to do on the weekends

  326. Katherine Aguinada says

    My daughters 9 and 12 would love this experience! 💕🙌🏻 thank you for doing this!

  329. Ver'Nita Debraux says

    I drive past the setup most every day prior to its opening and it’s a sight to see (even when it wasn’t lit up!). I would love to attend this event since I’m always missing the other nighttime light attractions when they come to the area!

  331. NNN says

    I had no idea we could leave comments! These lights look so beautiful, I hope we can all go see them.

  333. K says

    This looks amazing and I have heard it it really nice! I’d love to take my girls to see it!

  343. Cindy Fossett says

    Would love this chance to take my 11 year old niece who’s interested in Chinese culture and combine it with my obsession with lights.

  347. Mike Bradam says

    We saw them setting this up a few weeks ago… it looks amazing. I would love to win and take the family

  349. Wanda Kemp says

    This is exquisite! As a senior citizen, I would love to attend this with my husband and two granddaughters. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to apply for free tickets.

  350. Linda Long says

    Know some folks who have been and say it was great! Would love go take others to visit and enjoy! Thanks!

  354. Patti Hansen says

    Love your Charlotte ideas and tips. It’s our go to page when friends/family are visiting or if we’re looking for some unique CLT events and activities. This event is beautiful!

  363. Racquel Perez-Frowd says

    A a newer resident of Rowan County, I’d love to see this with my family! It looks like so much fun and so pretty! Looking forward to experiencing this! 😍

  376. Saga Hanachi says

    This events looks amazing! I would love to take my niece and nephew. They would definitely have a blast!!

  377. Kaitlyn Yagey says

    So excited for this event! it looks like so much fun! I took my kids to the Chinese Lantern Festival years ago when it was at Daniel Stowe Gardens, one of the best experiences we’ve been too!

  378. Donna Maudell Armbrister says

    This event looks like such an enjoyable experience to see! I would love to win tickets to attend with my grandchildren.

  382. CJ Dash says

    So excited for this light festival it will be my first time going! Finally able to plan something with all my girls <33

  383. Deborah V Owens-Taylor says

    My grandson would be ecstatic to attend the Tianyu Lights Festival. He obsesses over sea life and the Ocean World along with the other displays will definitely create a lifetime memory.

  384. Will L says

    We have always talked about visiting a lantern festival as a family, and this one looks very unique and immersive. Thanks for keeping us in the know!

  386. Kaat says

    This looks so awesome for the entire family to enjoy! Appreciate the opportunity to win tickets for this awesome event. Will definitely be going no matter what.

  391. Susan R Teeter says

    Oooooo!! I would love to win free tickets and take some of my friends to see this! 🐾❤️

  396. Trivi says

    This looks like such a fun activity for kids and adults alike. I’m so excited to take my family.

  397. Melanie says

    I saw this and immediately wanted to go. I love taking my 5 year old grandson to experience new events. My daughter does as well. We love exploring new things around the city and what a perfect reason to get together and enjoy a memorable experience ☺️

  398. Damaris Bruce says

    This looks stunning! Would love to win tickets & take some of my friends!

  412. Chantel Baxter says

    I would love an opportunity to take my son to such an interactive and exciting event. Please consider my family for the free tickets.

  416. Lorena says

    This looks amazing!! I would love to go and it would be a great birthday present 🩷

  419. Laura Bryan says

    My husband is a high school teacher and would love to surprise him with these for teacher’s week.

  425. Brianna Nicole Bumgarner says

    This looks like so much Fun!!!! I can’t wait to go take lots of pictures!!!!

  426. Denise N. says

    Thank you for this opportunity! I would love to take a group of friends to experience this magic ✨

  435. Nikya Kenner says

    My son will love seeing this for his 5th birthday! I’m hoping to win to make his day extra special!😍 Btw I love Charlotte on the cheap always posting community events

  437. Devra Hasson says

    It’s my 🎂 birthday month, pick me!!. I’ve never seen anything like this.

  441. Somara Shapheem says

    my boys would love this, they definitely deserve it after a tuff year

  442. Theresa Hemingway says

    I’m so excited to learn about this! I’d love tickets to the festival

  443. Leah says

    My daughter is 4 months old and would LOVE to look at these lights! 🥹 Thank you for considering

  449. Sherri Derby says

    This looks like such a beautiful and amazing display! Would love to take the family to see this!

    Sherri D.

  451. Kylie Mucci says

    This looks so pretty! Would love to take our 3 month old baby to see all the lights!

  453. Amy Fallon says

    Yes please! Would love to check this out! Fairly new to Charlotte and I feel like it has so much to offier!

  454. Amy Fallon says

    Yes please! Would love to see this out! Fairly new to Charlotte and I feel like it has so much to offier!

  457. Leigh Watts says

    I turn 50 on 5/18 and am celebrating all month! would love to include this!

  460. Jai Lowe says

    I will definitely be attending regardless… But it would be nice to win! Thank you so much for sharing everything you do! I’ve had so many great experiences thanks to yall.

  461. Teri Cayot says

    I would love free tickets!! It looks beautiful and I won’t be able to see it any other way!!

  468. Shirley says

    This would be amazing to see! THANK YALL for the opportunity to win tickets and for all the wonderful information y’all share! Keep up the great work!

  469. Kelly Land Land says

    I would love to win tickets to see this – if not, do you know if they offer a teacher discount ?

  472. Candice says

    My family would love this and it would be a great outing for my daughter’s birthday.

  480. Anais Maldonado says

    This would be so cool to take my daughter and niece too!! My niece would love this for her birthday!! Definitely gonna check this out!

  492. Claris says

    I would love to win the tickets, my son is autistic and he loves everything with color and lights, he would definitely enjoy this event.

  497. Elizabeth Thomas says

    I would loveeee to bring my family for a date night!!! Looks stunning!

  500. Heather Camereon says

    Looks like so much fun!! My kiddos would get a kick out of this event!!

  511. Deborah Laube says

    This looks so awesome I would love to win some tickets for my family.

  512. Cindy H says

    So happy this event made it to Charlotte! So excited to take the kiddos to see the displays!!!

  513. Allyn Ramsey says

    This looks very cool. But definitely it’s hard to win tickets Lots of individuals have entered. But it’s worth the try.

  516. Kim Mulcahy says

    This looks incredible! Can’t wait to make some family memories here!

  521. PAOLA A VALENCIA says

    It’s looks beautiful, I would love to be able to go there and share a good time with my family.

  522. Christina Keller says

    Wow!!!! This is so cool to see! I would love two free tickets for date night!

  526. Shelley Hackworth says

    This looks like so much fun. I think it’d be fun to see in person.

  527. Shelley says

    I have never experienced a lantern show. I would love to take my family and allow them to see the colorful artistic work.

  530. Racquel Gayles says

    Hello Charlotte on the cheap i would love to win those tickets to this showing of lanterns please consider me and my family y’all do such a great job with keeping the charlotte and surrounding area inform on things to do Thank you for all you do!

  531. Racquel Gayles says

    Hello Charlotte on the cheap i would love to win those tickets to this showing of lanterns please consider me and my family thanks

  534. Stacia Heeney says

    Would absolutely love to win a 4 pack of tickets. This looks like a fun event.

  536. Laura Ferreira says

    Recently moved to the Charlotte area. What a lively way to explore for my family. Would be so appreciative to win free tix. Thank you for the opportunity.

  537. Laura Ferreira says

    Recently moved to the Charlotte area. What a lovely way to explore for my family. Would be so appreciative to win free tix. Thank you for the opportunity.

  539. Shauna Reilly says

    This looks really cool! I would love to take my kids. Thank you for the opportunity!

  540. Jen says

    I love Charlotte on the cheek! Gives me so many great ideas to do fun stuff with my family! I would also be so happy to win tickets! Thank you

  541. Christina Kirk says

    I took my daughter to Concord Mills and saw it set up. looks amazing in the day time. I know night time is incredible. Unfortunately it was a day too soon. I would love to win tickets for her and her friends

  542. Linda D says

    Hoping to shine bright with those tickets! Lights, magic and memories! Thanks for your consideration!

  547. Nancy B Price says

    It’s important to teach your children about other cultures. So many people never leave the United States. So if you cant leave your country, let the culture of another county come to you. Understanding and accepting other cultures will bring the world together in harmony and peace.

  548. Wendy says

    My family of four would enjoy this light show. I love a beautiful light show even more when it’s warm outside!

  549. Sally moscato says

    would love to win tickets for this event! what a great date night idea!! subscriber of charlotte on the cheap forever and love all the ideas it brings for things to do! thank you!!

  550. Kimberly Delaney says

    Clearly I underestimated your readership! Somehow I thought you were only my lil gem. The thing only I turn to to jumpstart my weekend adventures for my kids that assume I’m their internal party planner. Anywho!! We would LOVE to attend. My son will be coming home from college soon and spending the Summer with my niece in Knoxville. It would be great for my kids and niece (like my daughter) to enjoy this together before they head across the mountain. Thx yall!

  555. Mavis says

    I would love to bring my family of 5 to see this. It’s not cheap, but it would be great for my children to see something by inspired by Asian art, as they are half Asian.

  562. caroline says

    This looks like such a cool experience! Would love to take my friends 🙂

  566. Amanda Brennan says

    Can’t wait and want to check this out with my friends and their kids, i’ve never been!

  572. Tracee Grimstead says

    Thanks for the opportunity, this looks like a super fun activity for my family

  573. Minnie Napier says

    What a great opportunity to see beautiful works of art. Thanks for offering it.

  574. Na'Shota Lytle says

    this would be a great outing for my granddaughter’s bday! and mine as well!

  575. Angel Bingham says

    Always the best information on the must dos in Charlotte born and raised here and your events information never misses !

  577. Deborah Lowe says

    We’re pretty new to North Carolina. My family and I would love to see this !

  579. Sophia says

    Looks amazing! My family would love this! Thank you for the event information!!

  583. Joey says

    You always inform us of the most wonderful local events – thank you! Would love to go! Do you know if it is accessible?

  586. Debbie Jancula says

    I have seen the Chinese Lantern Festival by this company in Raleigh, they do an amazing job! Would love to go see this!

  589. Maria Avaria says

    My family is visiting from South América, would love to take them to see the lights ⛩️🎇

  598. Katie Spoon says

    This looks like so much fun! Thanks for posting such great local ideas @CharlotteOnTheCheap! I hope I am not too late to be part of the drawing!

  599. Diamond says

    I’m a disabled vet and would love to take myself & children. Thank you.🙏🏼

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