STOCKTON, Calif. — Larger than life light displays will take over Banner Island Ballpark this holiday season.
The Stockton Lantern Festival is returning to the Stockton Ballpark on Nov. 22 and will continue through Jan. 19, 2025. This year's event has a "magic ocean" theme that is expected to bring sea creatures to life through large multi-colored lanterns with thousands of LED lights.
This year's theme includes a storyline focusing on the journey of an eight-year-old boy name Koda making his way to through the "magic ocean." Last year's event had a "magic forest" theme and storyline.
"Stockton Lantern Festival this year will take you through Koda's journey through an aquarium experience we like to call 'magic ocean' underneath the sea, as he draws out and brings to life his experience of what he dreamt about after making a visit with his classmates to the aquarium in Atlanta," said Jason Perry, general manager of ASM Global Stockton. "This whole experience is subversive, interactive and it'll allow to walk through a giant corral and see sea animals, creatures and fish and more as you walk through the entire ballpark and on the field interacting with these larger than life lanterns."
Event organizers said last year's lantern festival drew 45,000 attendees with some of them making their way from Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno and Las Vegas.
Perry told ABC10 that last year's successful event was two years in the making.
"People were coming from all over the place and the word just spread and everyone was just in awe," Perry said. "I believe that will continue to be the case this year."
Following last year's event in October, the Stockton Lantern Festival earned an award at the Annual International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Convention. The event came out on top in the Best New Festival or Event category.
It's media partner, Visit Stockton, also won gold in a variety categories including best single digital ad, best digital ad series, best promotional photograph and best printed materials.
Tickets for the Stockton Lantern Festival are on sale online on the Stockton Live website or can be purchased at the Adventist Health Arena box office. Guests can purchase tickets at the ballpark's box office starting Nov. 20.
For Monday through Thursday, tickets start at $19 for children ages 2-12 and $23 for adults. Those prices increase online at $23.77 for children ages 2-12 and $29.92 for adults.
Prices for Friday through Sunday begin at $24 for children and $28 for adults. Those admission prices increase online, costing $30.97 for children and $35.07 for adults. Online prices include fees.
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