From site plan to opening night

Plan a Commercial Light Festival From Entrance to Exit

Start with the site, visitor route and opening date. We can then develop the themed zones, landmark scenes, factory production, export packing and installation guidance around the way the event will actually operate.

Discuss Your Festival Route

Explore the planning process

Start with the site

Turn the Site Into One Connected Visitor Route

Before choosing individual displays, confirm the entrance, main paths, photo areas and exit. A marked-up site map helps us review where large scenes can sit without blocking queues or circulation.

Add the site dimensions, power access, weather exposure, opening date and installation window. These details influence the scale of the displays, transport sections and order of assembly.

For attraction teams, IAAPA offers additional industry context on guest flow, seasonal events and family-entertainment operations.

Visitors walking through a large illuminated festival scene at night — The route should connect the entrance, landmark scenes, rest areas, photo points and exit in a clear sequence.

What to bring to the first discussion

Start With the Site, Audience and Opening Date

A marked-up map and reference photographs are enough to begin a planning discussion. Use them to explain the space, audience and schedule, then agree the drawings and assembly information needed as the design develops. Review the assembly information below.

Entrances and circulation

Mark the entrance, exit, existing paths, ticket queues and photo areas. Note any routes that must stay open during the event.

Audience and themes

Tell us who will visit and which cultural, animal, holiday or fantasy themes matter to the event. Reference images help explain the style.

Dimensions and viewpoints

Share the available height, width and viewing distance for major scenes. Include nearby buildings, trees or barriers that limit the space.

Power and outdoor conditions

Identify power points, cable routes, ground conditions and exposure to wind or rain. Include operating hours and any site inspection requirements.

Access and installation dates

Note the smallest access opening, available equipment, shipping destination and installation window. These affect section sizes, loading and assembly.

Theme-zone structure

Give Every Zone a Role in the Journey

Use a clear entrance, distinct theme zones, places to stop and quieter transitions to give the route a readable sequence. Fabric-covered lanterns and commercial LED light sculptures can share one route, while keeping separate surface, electrical, modular and maintenance requirements.

Cultural landmark entrance

Use city icons, palace forms, national symbols, or local heritage as the opening landmark for visitor recognition.

Family discovery zone

Animal lanterns, jungle routes and approachable photo areas give families a clear section to explore together.

Immersive indoor scene

Planet domes, fantasy rooms and science scenes can create a more controlled, enclosed part of the route.

Signature photo landmark

Place a distinctive scene where visitors have enough viewing distance and room to stop for photographs.

Seasonal streets and market lanes

Street lanterns, market lanes, hanging light groups, and small repeatable scenes help connect major landmarks.

Halloween night attraction route

Commercial Halloween decorations can become a dedicated route with pumpkin entrances, character scenes, haunted gardens, photo points, and crowd-friendly pacing.

Public plaza centerpiece

Open plazas need clear sightlines, crowd capacity, durable bases, and one readable central installation.

Garden route transition

Floral paths and softer scenic segments create pacing between dense landmark zones and exit areas.

Large illuminated peacock scene used as an animal display reference — **Allow space around the whole scene**
We plan large animal lantern scenes around the full footprint, viewing positions and surrounding scenery, so the display works with your visitor route.

Project workflow

From Site Plan to Factory Production and Installation

Confirm each stage before the next one begins: the site brief guides the layout, the approved scenes guide production, and section details guide packing and assembly. Agree which drawings and records your team needs in the quotation.

Brief and site review

Send a marked-up site map, dimensions, photographs, opening date and destination. Identify entrances, paths, power points and access limits so the proposed scenes can be reviewed against the venue.

Theme and zone planning

Review the proposed zone sequence, landmark positions, photo areas and scene sizes. Confirm the layout and visual direction before the production drawings are developed.

Factory production

Use the approved designs to review frames, surfaces, lighting positions and transport sections. Confirm connection points, labels and maintenance access before the finished surfaces make them harder to inspect.

Shipping and installation

Agree the assembly drawings, section and crate labels, cable notes and packing records needed for the order. Confirm the loading sequence, installation equipment and remote or on-site support.

Project experience and theme ideas

Learn From Project Experience and Explore Route Ideas

The Brussels and Calgary cases show completed project work in different public settings. In our Lightopia UK lantern festival project, we handled design, production, installation and on-site operation and maintenance in London and Manchester. The prehistoric and Halloween pages offer themed route ideas to adapt to a new venue. Our winter lantern project for a historic manor combined Halloween, Christmas and Epiphany scenes in one seasonal visitor route.

Illuminated temple lantern installation in a historic city setting

Brussels Lantern Event

Our design and production work brought Chinese cultural forms and Belgian landmarks into the Brussels display. The Temple of Heaven-inspired lantern and Atomium show how local references can guide a public-space project.

View case

Tiger animal lantern scene at Calgary Zoo Illuminasia

Calgary Zoo Lantern Festival

Illuminasia combined animal scenes, cultural areas and a hands-on lantern workshop at Calgary Zoo. Planning, fabrication and installation connected the displays with the visitor route and daytime setting.

View case

Illuminated dinosaur landmark in a prehistoric lantern route

Prehistoric Lantern Display

Explore a route from an ancient entrance through jungle, dinosaur and volcano scenes to fossil or interactive areas. Adapt the sequence to the audience, power access and site.

Explore the route

Large blue-eyed ghost lantern with pumpkin props in the workshop

Commercial Halloween Decorations

Compare pumpkin entrances, character scenes and photo features for a seasonal night attraction. Choose the intensity and scene mix for the audience before planning the wider route.

Explore Halloween displays

Drawings, packing and site assembly

Agree the Details Your Installation Team Will Use

Before shipment, agree how the approved scenes will be divided, identified and assembled. Drawings and labels need to match the physical sections and the conditions at the venue.

Drawings for production

Confirm overall dimensions, silhouettes, section divisions and connection points against the approved scene. Review these details while the structure is accessible.

Packing and assembly records

Agree section numbers, crate labels and the loading sequence with the crew that will assemble the displays. Each section should be identifiable by scene and position.

Support for the site crew

Match the drawings and assembly order to the venue access, equipment and installation window. Confirm remote guidance or on-site assistance in the quotation.

Illustrated assembly sheet marking flower-to-base and horse-and-rider connection points — **Show the connection points**
We can prepare connection details so your crew can identify the joints and follow the agreed assembly order. Confirm the drawings and section references before shipment.

Worker shaping the surface of a large sculpted figure in the workshop — **Review large forms during fabrication**
Review the shape, access to the structure and transport sections with our team during fabrication, while adjustments are still practical.

Floral lantern gateway and surrounding pieces assembled together in the workshop — **Check the pieces together**
Check the fit, joint access and cable connections with our team before packing, so the sections can be assembled in the agreed order on site.

Continue planning

Explore Products, Themes and Technical Details

Continue with the part of the project that now needs more detail, from seasonal themes and custom production to outdoor conditions and installation preparation.

Commercial Halloween Decorations Pumpkin entrances, haunted gardens, character lanterns and seasonal photo points for a complete Halloween route. Light Decoration for Events A broader introduction to illuminated entrances, feature scenes and event decorations. Commercial Holiday Lighting Seasonal lighting for retail destinations, city centres and commercial venues. Commercial Christmas Decorations Custom Christmas scenes, trees, arches and props for malls, cities, hotels, resorts and public plazas. Large Outdoor Christmas Decorations Oversized Christmas displays, giant props and outdoor landmarks for plazas, parks and city events. Shopping Mall Christmas Decorations Atrium decorations, suspended elements, photo points and seasonal retail scenes for shopping centres. Prehistoric Lantern Display Jungle settings, ancient gates, volcano scenes and dinosaur landmarks for family routes. Zoo Lantern Festivals Animal-themed festivals, daytime presentation and family activities for an existing zoo visitor route. Custom Lantern Displays Custom display types, design development and the factory production process. Commercial LED Light Sculptures Exposed LED wireframes, entrance sculptures and contemporary illuminated landmarks. Custom Dragon Lantern A large illuminated dragon for a cultural landmark, entrance or central scene. Dinosaur Lantern Manufacturer Dinosaur and prehistoric display options developed for commercial venues. Outdoor Display Safety Weather exposure, drainage, wind, snow, cable routing and outdoor installation considerations. Factory Process Design review, steel framing, fabric finishing, lighting tests, packing and installation documentation.

FAQ

Questions to Resolve Before Production Begins

A useful first brief does not need finished artwork, but it should explain the site, schedule and type of visitor experience you are planning.

What does the planning process usually cover?

Planning connects the site layout, themed zones and display sizes with production drawings, transport sections, packing labels and installation guidance. The scope is agreed around the venue and project schedule.

How early should we start planning?

Most commercial projects benefit from starting several months in advance. Early planning leaves time for site review, concept development, production, testing, packing, shipping, customs, and installation before the opening date.

Do we need a complete design before requesting a quotation?

No. A site map, event date, approximate route length, target audience, preferred theme, and destination country are enough to start a planning discussion. Reference images help the factory understand the intended style faster.

How should different themed zones be connected?

Give each zone a clear role in the journey, then use entrances, lighting changes, sightlines or quieter transition areas to lead visitors into the next scene. This keeps a mixed-theme route coherent without forcing every zone to look the same.

Should Halloween be one zone or the theme of the full route?

That depends on the audience and operating plan. Family events may use one clearly marked Halloween zone, while a seasonal attraction can carry the theme through the full route. Entrances, character intensity and photo points should match the intended age group.

Where do large dragon or dinosaur landmarks work best?

Place large landmarks where visitors have enough viewing distance and where queues, barriers and photography will not block the main path. Their scale, transport sections, foundations and installation access should be reviewed before the surrounding scenes are finalized.

What information helps the factory quote faster?

Prepare the site map, route length, opening date, visitor flow, preferred theme zones, landmark display ideas, shipping country, outdoor weather conditions, power access, installation window, and any required documentation.

Can a light festival route combine traditional lantern displays and commercial LED light sculptures?

Yes. Fabric-covered lanterns and exposed LED sculptures can share a route. Plan their positions together, then confirm each system’s finish, lighting layout, power connections, transport sections and maintenance access before production.

Tell us about the site

Request an Initial Festival Plan

Send a marked-up site map or site photographs, opening date, approximate route length and preferred themes. Include the destination and any access or outdoor conditions that may affect the design.

Event city, venue type, site dimensions and a map or reference image link
Audience, preferred theme zones and landmark scene ideas
Opening date, installation window, and display period
Indoor or outdoor conditions, wind or weather concerns
Shipping destination, site crew and the installation support needed