Furious customers demand refunds for £50 ‘scam’ lantern festival compared to notorious Willy Wonka ‘experience’
CUSTOMERS are demanding refunds for £50 lantern festival tickets after rumours swirled on social media that it was a “scam”.
The Lantern Festival UK has been advertising on the likes of TikTok for weeks, promising “magical moments that leave you breathless and filled with wonder”.
Its videos show lanterns soaring upwards, with fireworks colouring the sky behind.
Some of the clips have amassed more than a million views, with dozens of Brits begging the festival come to their town.
But others have claimed the events are a scam – saying there’s no way councils across the country would let thousands of laterns be released into the sky.
Some even compared it to the Fyre Festival, which was advertised as a VIP music festival – but actually left thousands were left starving and stranded when it all turned out to be a sham.
Others likened it to Glasgow’s “embarrassing” Willy Wonka event – where kids were reduced to tears.
Some claimed that the videos the festival is sharing online is actually from Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Thailand, and from US’s The Lights Fest.
The Lantern Festival UK was selling individual tickets for £35, couples’ tickets for £50 and groups four for £75.
The website says it has events in London and Birmingham, and two of the four are “sold out”.
It says people who buy tickets get “one premium lantern, lighter and marker”.
But, after people claimed the events appeared to be a scam as cities wouldn’t allow that many lanterns to be sent into the air “when ULEZ is a thing”, ticketholders started to panic.
Many have taken to social media saying they’ll be asking for refunds.
Others questioned why the events didn’t have actual locations listed – but the website claims they’ll be revealed on April 20.
Another person said: “Over 200 councils have banned lanterns so no idea where they’ll be setting them off.”
“The lantern festival that I keep seeing on TikTok is giving Fyre Festival lol. Huge scam!
“You think the UK government would actually allow 2,000 lanterns in the sky when ULEZ is a thing?
“If you bought a ticket you better start making a claim with your bank now lmfao.”
Get a refund ASAP – they would never allow a lantern festival in London.
Some people even fessed up to buying a ticket – and worrying they may now have wasted their money.
One woman wrote: “I purchased two tickets for the lantern festival and everyone’s saying it’s a scam, are you joking me? I’ve been so excited for this.”
Another said: “Get a refund ASAP – they would never allow a lantern festival in London.”
The events’ website claims its pre-registration form has been filled out by a massive 45,000 people.
But MailOnline reported it went to the office listed as Lantern Festival UK’s business address and staff from other companies claimed they’d “never heard” of the event firm.
Birmingham City Council has said its trading standards team is looking into the adverts by Lantern Festival UK after two events were said to be taking place there.
You think the UK government would actually allow 2,000 lanterns in the sky when ULEZ is a thing?
It told MailOnline: “We are aware of a number of online adverts promoting a lantern festival, reportedly including two dates in Birmingham, that have prompted concern this could be a scam – and our Trading Standards team are looking into this.
“Birmingham City Council does not permit the intentional release into the sky of lanterns from any land or property which it owns and/or controls – this includes our streets, public spaces, cemeteries and local authority schools.
“They may travel and land anywhere, potentially causing harm to wildlife and the environment, and in the case of sky lanterns, have been the cause of several major fires. Full details of the council’s policy on the release of sky lanterns and balloons can be found on the council’s website.
“Anyone who suspects an offer may not be what it purports to be can send details and evidence to our Trading Standards team by emailing tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk or by calling Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.”
The Sun has approached the Lantern Festival for comment.
What was the Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience?
By KEVIN DUGUID
ORGANISERS cancelled a Wonka-inspired event after kids erupted in floods of tears.
Furious parents blasted the £35-a-ticket event as a “shambles”, it was claimed.
Hundreds of families paid to see Willy’s Chocolate Experience, which was due to take place at a venue in Glasgow in February.
But visitors say they were left underwhelmed by the experience.
And organisers House of Illuminati cancelled it mid-way through its first day amid claims there was a furious reaction from parents.
The business then announced it is offering refunds to those who stumped up for tickets.
One mum said she and her family were stunned by what they witnessed when they arrived at the venue space hired by organisers in Glasgow.
Paula Graham, 36, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, who does balloon decorations for events, said she, husband Andrew, 39, their daughter Anna, eight, and her pal, had been looking forward to it.
She said: “Their page and their advertising looked very professional. They made out as if it was going to be this really special experience – a one off.
“The tickets were £35 per person. We got a deal of £65 for two kids and two adults.
“In my eyes I thought it was going to be some kind of light show with actors. I felt it was going to have sweets and they were taking about a chocolate river.
“But it was a big warehouse with some props in it and some sheets.
“The actual experience took two minutes to walk though because there was nothing there. When we arrived so many people had complained that they shut it down.
“You couldn’t even call it an event – it was terrible.
“The guy was saying ‘just have a wee walk through and you’ll get a refund’.
“It was shocking for the money you paid.
“There were kids coming away crying. There were families from all over. One family had come from Falkirk. It was absolutely terrible. It was mean to run until eight o’clock at night.
“There was a wee girl with an Oompa Loompa outfit who was bawling. Everybody was kicking off – it was terrible.
“They put out a bit of cardboard saying ‘event cancelled’.”
Mechanic Andrew added: “It was as if the chocolate factory had been shut down.”
Other customers have reacted with fury on social media. One Facebook user said it was an “absolute disgrace” and described waiting forty minutes in a queue.
But they said the were through the “actual experience” in just seven minutes.
They added: “It was embarrassing. Any empty warehouse that had a few props dotted around, a few posters on the walls and a tiny bouncy castle in the corner.”