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Lee and Karen Duquette enjoyed
The Spring Lantern Festival
at Noccalulu Falls Park
1500 Noccalula Road
Gadsden, Alabama 35905
March 15, 2026 - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
This limited-time outdoor experience transformed the
park into a glowing wonderland filled with art, culture, and entertainment
via an enchanting evening and night walk that was inspired by traditional
lantern festivals. It was the perfect evening adventure for Lee and
Karen Duquette as they enjoyed a live acrobatic performance, had some
food from local vendors, and soaked in a magical atmosphere surrounded
by nature and imagination.
Lee and Karen Duquette lit up their night at this limited-time
outdoor experience that transformed the park into a glowing wonderland
filled with art, culture, and entertainment. They wandered beneath towering
illuminated installations, enjoyed wildlife statues, plus a live acrobatic
show as they explored this amazing place. On this date it cost from
$14 - $20 for entry.
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FIRST, Lee and Karen Duquette explored the gift shop, where they used
a coupon to get a free gift. The Autumn Glow Lantern lights up when
the black button on top is pushed.
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Below: Outside
of the gift shop, Karen Duquette just had to relax a minute in the big
chair. it was not easy to get out of the chair without Lee Duquette's
help. |
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Below: Then as
it began to get a bit dark outside, it was finally time for Lee and Karen
Duquette to enter the magical Lantern Festival and really enjoy their
evening. |
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Below: After entering
the above walkway and turning left, Lee and Karen Duquette went to the
food trucks for some food. As usual, the food was costly and was nothing
special, but it did fill their stomachs and they socialized with some
nice people.
Then they experienced the amazing Autumn Glow Stage
SHOW, which had many talented performers, none of whom actually spoke,
but they were exceptionally talented and entertaining. Lee and Karen took
a front row seat and watched one of the performers practice a bit before
the show actually began. |
The amazing Autumn Glow
Stage SHOW |
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Below: Then the
first performer came on stage with his back to the audience. He danced
around a bit without showing his face, and giving everyone a change to
admire his outfit. |
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Below: Then as
he faced forward, his face changed. It happened very quickly, like
- in the blink of an eye. Every time he quickly turned backwards
and then forward again, his face changed. It was so amazing. |
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Below: Then he quickly turned once more and showed his real face to
the audience. But he never spoke. He was more than amazing.
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Below: Then a female
performer came out and pranced around the stage. She did multiple tricks
with a big drum as she twirled the drum around and around, up into the
air, and never missed a beat. |
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Below: Then she
twirled a drum around, using only her feet. She also used her feet to
toss the drum into the air and when the drum landed back onto her feet,
she twirled the drum around some more using only her feet. |
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Below: Then this
very talented performer twirled a desk around and around and then from
one leg of the desk to another. |
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Below: The third
Act. This performer liked to make difference faces. But again, she never
spoke. |
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Below: She balanced bowls on the edge of the plank, then bounced so
the bowls flew upward and she caught them one-by-one on her head, without
ever using her hands.
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Below: The next performer was
an amazing juggler with as many as 8 balls all at once. |
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After the show, the performers
brought around a tip bucket to the audience. |
Then Lee and Karen
Duquette bought a motorcycle to add to her collection of other similar
items. These are very delicate items, all hand made. The motorcycle that
Lee bought here in 2026 is shown below, along with the Tiger, Dragon and
Peacock that Lee bought for Karen at the NC Chinese Lantern Festival in
years past. (all very different from this event.) |
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Below: Then it
was time for Lee and Karen Duquette to explore Noccalula Falls Park and
the amazing creatures. |
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Below: Karen Duquette saw a
beautiful mystical creature and wanted to make friends with it, BUT it
tried to eat her hand. |
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It was
very windy, so Karen had to take off her hat. |
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Below: Lee and Karen Duquette
walked through the dinosaur area with caution. |
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Below: OH MY! What a big mouth this dinosaur
has. |
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Below: Karen Duquette
tried to make friends with a dinosaur, but it was NOT being very friendly,
Karen yelled for help, but all Lee Duquette did was take her photo. |
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Below: A baby dinosaur caught
in an egg that kept opening and closing. |
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