Good times for all during Lantern Festival celebrations in Neixiang

Fireworks fill the skies above Nanyang in celebration of the Lantern Festival on March 2. [Photo by Wang Xiaojie and Li Zhilai/Nanyang Daily]

Neixiang county's ancient Xianya street's jubilant atmosphere was the culmination of a smorgasbord of folk art performance, local delicacies, lantern shows and lantern riddles. These activities were available on show in the county from March 2 to 3 in celebration of the Lantern Festival.

Various celebratory events were held for the Lantern Festival, which is on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar or the 2nd of March this year. This is an incredibly important part of the Spring Festival as it marks the official end of the long holiday.

One of the highlights was the first-ever large-scale lantern show where lanterns of all shapes and sizes including ones which feature the 12 Chinese zodiac signs lit up the faces of festival goers.

A dazzling display of colors and lights at Xianya street in Neixiang country denotes the festive atmosphere. [Photo by Wang Xiaojie and Li Zhilai/Nanyang Daily]

Many visitors racked their heads over riddles to win some free prizes while others looked towards the full moon with hope - as the first full moon of the New Year symbolizes unity and perfection.

The show climaxed with a range of highly interactive performances. Among them were lion and dragon dances, yangko rural folk dance, walking on stilts, and the sanxian performances (a three-stringed plucked instrument).

Due to Xianya old street's location near the former county government office that was built in feudal China, a mock showing how a migrate would try a case was also put on.