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When you think of Yilan, you might imagine hot springs, onion fields, and beautiful mountains and waters—but the festival events on this Lanyang Plain are equally spectacular and moving! Whether it's the International Children's Art Festival for summer water fun with kids, or the large-scale water lantern exhibition exclusive to winter, Yilan's festivals always leave travelers with unforgettable memories.
Highlights
One of the biggest features of Yilan's festivals: they are almost all closely connected to natural landscapes. The Children's Festival at Dongshan River Water Park uses the vast water area to create a cool, refreshing water experience; the Dongshan Old River Port Lantern Festival cleverly utilizes the riverside night scene, creating a romantic atmosphere with thousands of lanterns. In recent years, the Yilan County Government has actively invited international performance teams, elevating the Children's Festival from a simple parent-child activity to a cross-cultural art celebration. According to market trends, the Asian entertainment industry is moving toward "experiential content," and Yilan's festivals perfectly align with this trend—not just watching performances, but personally participating in cultural experiences.
Recommended Locations
1. Yilan International Children's Art Festival
This is Yilan's most representative summer festival, held every summer at Dongshan River Water Park. The 2025 event kicks off on August 17, featuring performance teams from various countries presenting dance, music, and acrobatics. The park features multiple water facilities, including water slide channels, lazy rivers, and fountain plazas, perfect for family fun. The organizers usually release limited advance tickets, so it's recommended to plan ahead to secure discounted prices.
2. Dongshan Old River Port Lantern Festival
If you visit Yilan in winter, don't miss this event combining local culture with light art. The 2026 Lantern Festival runs from January 17 to March 7, held around the Dongshan Old River Port. Unlike traditional Lantern Festival celebrations, the lantern themes here are more youthful, often featuring large art installations and interactive light works. After dark, the riverside walkway illuminates with brilliant lights, reflecting on the river surface to create a dreamy scene—a popular Instagram hotspot in recent years.
3. Taishan Forest Recreation Area
Strictly speaking, this isn't a traditional festival, but limited events are held in spring and autumn each year. On October 1, 2025, the highly anticipated Taishan Bong Bong Train fully reopens, with the railway line from Taishan Station to Maosing Station fully operational, allowing travelers to experience the unique sensation of穿梭于高山林間. The Historical Trail within the park is hailed as one of the "world's most beautiful trails," and sea of clouds views in the early morning or evening make it a favorite for photography enthusiasts.
4. Luodong Night Market
Though not a festival, Luodong Night Market draws huge crowds during holidays and festival events. The food stalls here are plentiful, from A-Zaobo's Angelica Goat Soup, Cha Cha Pearl Milk Tea, to various traditional snacks. It's recommended to arrive around 5 PM to avoid peak crowds, enjoy a round of food, then head to the night lantern festival.
Practical Information
For transportation to Yilan festival events: driving via National Highway No. 5 from Taipei takes about one hour, but traffic jams are common on holidays—so it's best to depart early. For public transit, take a local train from Taipei Main Station to Luodong Station (about two hours), then transfer to local buses or taxis to various attractions. During festival periods, organizers usually add free shuttle buses—take advantage of these.
For tickets: Children's Art Festival general admission is approximately NT$200-350, with discounts for advance purchase. Taishan Forest Recreation Area tickets are NT$150 on weekdays and NT$200 on holidays. The Dongshan Old River Port Lantern Festival is free to visit, though some art installations may require additional fees.
For operating hours: Children's Festival activities typically run from 9 AM to 5 PM, with possible extended evening hours. The Dongshan Old River Port Lantern Festival lights up after 4 PM, with the best viewing time from 5:30 PM to 9 PM. Taishan Park is open from 6 AM to 8 PM.
Travel Tips
To make the most of your experience, here are some essential tips. First, summer weather at the Children's Festival can be hot—be sure to apply sunscreen and stay hydrated; cooling towels and sun hats are recommended. Second, accommodation prices typically increase by 20-30% during festival periods, and last-minute bookings may have no rooms available—it's best to book at least two weeks in advance. Third, Taishan sits at over 2,000 meters altitude, with temperatures more than 10°C cooler than the plains—even in summer, bring a jacket.
Finally, if you want to deeply experience Yilan's festival culture, consider a two-day, one-night itinerary: enjoy food at Luodong Night Market in the afternoon, then head to Dongshan River for the light show in the evening, and the next day go to Taishan to breathe in the forest's phytoncides. This arrangement lets you enjoy the festive atmosphere while experiencing Yilan's natural beauty.
