Lights by the Lake opens on Saturday 19 September 2026 at Jurong Lake Gardens, with Mid-Autumn lantern displays themed around the Legend of the White Snake.
NParks’ festival site lists the main programme from 19 to 27 September, lantern displays until 4 October, and nightly hours of 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Garden entry for the festival is free. Open flames, candlelit lanterns and sparklers are not allowed.
Across Lakeside Field, five lantern scenes follow Bai Suzhen from her human form through the Broken Bridge meeting, married life, the realgar wine reveal and the battle at Jinshan Temple. A sixth scene at Cloud Pagoda closes on a reimagined reunion.
Cloud Pagoda light show
The Cloud Pagoda light show runs from 19 to 27 September, every 30 minutes from 7.30pm to 10pm, with the last show at 10pm. On opening night, 19 September, the show pauses during Rockestra® and resumes at 9.30pm. On 21 September the pagoda glows yellow and purple for World Alzheimer’s Day.
Where the lanterns sit
Displays spread across Lakeside Garden, Chinese Garden (Cloud Pagoda, Cleansing Biotope Ponds, gate and White Rainbow Bridge) and Japanese Garden (Floral Garden, Resthouse Pond and Sunken Garden). Chang’e and Jade Rabbit scenes sit by the biotope ponds; Princess Kaguya and koi lanterns mark the Japanese Garden stops.
NParks asks visitors to go car-lite. Cyclists should park at designated areas or dismount and push when pedestrian numbers are high. Jurong Lake Gardens is smoke-free for the festival.
Chinese Garden and Lakeside Garden are nearest to Chinese Garden MRT. The lantern trail stays lit until 10.30pm nightly through 4 October.
