Overview
If you thinking that finding a park in Auckland is hard normally, just wait 'til you throw a lantern festival in the mix. The nightmare of paralleling in town goes up a notch when the Chinese Lantern Festival hits Albert Park. But don't let that put you off, it's a cultural spectacle that is worth the curb side bun fight.
As an experienced Lantern Fest-goer, I'd recommend catching the link bus, taking a rug, chucking a fork in your bag (in case you're like me and chopsticks just don't agree with your fingers) and finding a posi on the grass to soak up the atmos. This year there will be all night entertainment on the main stage, including a dragon and lion dance group from Shanghai (not a real lion - I think? I hope..), a Chinese-style reggae band from Beijing, a modern dance group from Taizhou and a capella group from Hong Kong. That's a definite dose of Eastern culture if there every was one.
If nothing else, the Lattern festival is an excuse to indulge in a serious amount of Chinese food. And if you ask me, that's reason enough.