As dusk slowly approached, food trucks, dancers and families filled the grassy fields of Lambrick Park near Gordon Head Recreation Centre on Saturday (Sept. 13) in Saanich.

The annual Autumn Lantern Festival featured an impressive lantern loop display with animals of all sorts, from a llama to birds and bees and even a chicken preparing for a swan dive into a pool.

The family-friendly event included performances by Lekwungen Dancers, Victoria Chinese Opera Club, Furusato Dancers, Sampaguita Dancers, Victoria Bengali Cultural Society, Uminari Taiko, Dian Punjab Dancers and Wong Sheung Kung Fu Lion Dancers

The event included informative and interactive booths, food trucks, a community lantern promenade and prizes for those who went the extra mile. Lantern staff walking around the event issued those unofficial awards to recognize community creativity.