"A glint of golden light in the left eye brings favorable weather and a bountiful harvest; a sparkle in the right eye heralds national peace and prosperity for all." On March 3—the 15th day of the first lunar month—the grand folk parade for the 2026 Lantern Festival kicked off with great fanfare in Changning County, Yibin City. Colorful flower boats swayed gently, lotus-rod percussion rang crisply, and the "Niu Niu Lantern" performance came vividly to life. Thirteen performance teams strolled along the streets, offering traditional New Year greetings with clasped hands, filling the bamboo-rich region with a vibrant festive atmosphere.

A folk parade team on Changning County's main street

In the morning, folk troupes from all 13 towns of the county converged into a flowing "river of color", joyfully parading down the main thoroughfare. Each town showcased its signature heritage acts: golden dragons led the procession, followed by lion dances, ox lanterns, and flower boats. Stilt-walking "big-headed dolls", a "charming matchmaker" riding a donkey, and mythological characters delivering humorous banter drew continuous laughter from onlookers, while drums, gongs, and cheers rose and fell in waves.

A folk parade team on Changning County's main street

In the Meidong Town contingent, golden dragons coiled and darted through the air as Miao ethnic performers played lusheng flutes and danced merrily. Zhuhai Town and Shuanghe Town incorporated distinctive local elements such as the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage "Su Jichuan Chongchong Song", adding delightful charm to the entire parade.

Among the performers were both sprightly elders and energetic youths, jointly passing down the cherished "flavor of the New Year" inherited from their ancestors. "This is what celebrating the festival truly means!" said Zhang Yan, a local resident who arrived early with her child to take photos along the route. "It's so lively—these ox lanterns and the 'Chongchong Song' are memories from our childhood. Now we can enjoy them right here at our doorstep; the festive spirit has returned!"

A folk parade team on Changning County's main street

Peng Di, Deputy Director of the Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of Changning County, stated that the event leverages the momentum of the national campaign "Follow the Spring Festival Gala to Tour Yibin" to promote folk cultural heritage. The county will continue rolling out events such as the Folai Mountain Pear Blossom Festival and spring educational tours, further enhancing its reputation as a "Famous Tourist County of Tianfu" and showcasing Changning's unique appeal.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】