Let it Glow

It’s the Year of the Pig, according to Chinese astrology. But in Fort Worth, it’s also shaping up to be the year of the lantern festival — a happy new development. First up is Lanterns in the Garden, a two-month event at Fort Worth Botanic Garden designed to brighten our spring. The walking tour will feature at least 20 sets of sizable, illuminated silk-and-steel Chinese lanterns, and will take 1-1½ hours to walk from beginning to end. In Asia, similar lantern festivals are a traditional way to celebrate the Chinese New Year; Vancouver has a notable one, too. This new ticketed event will help us learn more with interpretive texts detailing each design’s symbolism and meaning. Make it a destination some spring evening; the exhibit is open 6-10 p.m. March 9-31, and 7–11 p.m. April 4–May 12 (except for blackout dates April 26-27 and May 2-5).  3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., 817–392-5510. Information and advance tickets at fwbg.org.

Want more pretty lights? Check out Fort Worth’s one-day Water Lantern Festival, which invites you to decorate a simple paper float with your design, then launch it on the Trinity River (all lanterns will be retrieved at the end; this is promoted as a leave-no-trace, sustainable event). Food trucks and music are on tap, too. 3:30-9:30 p.m. April 6. Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St., 817–698-0700. Tickets and information available at waterlanternfestival.com/fortworth.php.