Date Idea: Lunar Lantern Festival Returns to Dade City for Valentine’s Weekend

Want to impress your valentine this year? Friend Markets brings back its annual Lunar Lantern Festival on Feb. 14 and 15 at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. Thousands of sky lanterns will float into the night.

Over 75 Asian street food and retail vendors will fill the grounds. Traditional lion dances? Check. Live music and interactive games will happen throughout both days, keeping visitors busy from start to finish.

Gates open at 2 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. Lanterns launch at 8 p.m. sharp.

Early-bird tickets begin at $15 per night, but prices climb as the date approaches. Kids 10 and under get in free, which makes this a budget-friendly outing for families. Packages exist for couples and groups too.

Visitors will smell authentic Asian street food cooking as they wander the venue. The blend of performances, activities, and cuisine transports guests thousands of miles away without leaving Florida.

Lion dancers weave through crowds while singers take the stage between bites of noodles and dishes from various Asian food stalls. Options abound.

This weekend coincides with Valentine's Day. Families can come. Friends can gather. Couples might find romance here, or solo attendees can enjoy the spectacle alone. When lanterns rise, everyone present gets a chance to welcome the new year with fresh starts and optimism.

Little Everglades Ranch sits at 17951 Hamilton Road. Tickets are sold through Eventbrite for each night separately, and buyers should grab early-bird pricing before it vanishes.