The Dream Glow Festival was held from Dec. 14 through Dec. 31 at Wild Rivers Waterpark. The event featured more than 1,000 dazzling light installations.

“Walking through the event felt like stepping into a different world where everything is brighter and joyful,” junior Christine Choi said. “They really captured that cozy holiday feeling in a creative way.”

The festival offered three theme areas: Christmas Wonderland, Realm of the Dragon and Under the Sea. Christmas Wonderland featured glowing Christmas trees, snowmen, candy houses and Santa Claus with his sleigh and reindeer. Realm of the Dragon included large pink-and-green dragon installations with fire-breathing effects. Meanwhile, Under the Sea showcased glowing lanterns of sea creatures, including mermaids, jellyfish and sea turtles.

“I really liked the Christmas Wonderland theme which actually evoked a sense of Christmas joy and memories from the past Christmas,” Choi said. 

The event blended the elements of Eastern lantern craftsmanship with Western holiday motifs and featured mythical dragon lanterns inspired by East Asian imagery along with Christmas decorations representing Western holiday traditions.

“The mix of dragon lanterns and Christmas displays created an imaginative experience for me,” junior Jennifer Ko said. “It felt like a celebration that brought different cultures together in an engaging way.”

Looking ahead, the Dream Glow Festival plans to expand lantern art displays and increase community involvement. The event is expected to incorporate new themes and add interactive elements each year, according to the official DreamGlow Festival website. The goal for the event is to not only celebrate the holiday but holiday, but also highlight the talents of local communities through unique exhibitions.

“I’m excited to see the new ideas and lanterns in future festivals,” junior Joanne Kim said.