Naperville lantern festival spotlights China

Robert Kerans hoped his daughters would get a taste of their Chinese culture Saturday at Naperville North High School.

"I want to keep it alive for at least one generation," Kerans said while waiting for the first performance to start of the Xilin Art Center's 2008 Lantern Festival.

But it seemed that experiencing culture was the last thing on the minds of 5-year-old Alexandra and her 4-year-old sister, Caroline.

Both spent part of the day bouncing off two volunteers wearing inflated suits of the Beijing Olympics mascots.

Hundreds of families came out Saturday for the festival. Hanging red lanterns spiced up the school grounds. And guests were able to play games, look at pictures, watch movies, eat ethnic foods and shop for paintings and accessories at about a dozen display booths in the school's commons area.

People also got a taste of Chinese culture by watching a 90-minute variety show that included dancing, martial arts and music in the school's auditorium.

Outside the school's auditorium, 3-year-old Mathilde Cronin seemed entranced by a pink puppet animal her parents got her. Both she and her 5-year-old big sister, Dagne, had their hair tied in traditional Chinese hairstyles.

Dulcinea, her mother, said she came to the Lantern Festival expose her kids to another culture.

"We had St. Patrick's Day last week," she said. "Now it's China's turn."