自貢(gong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)以元宵節燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)最為(wei)著(zhu)名(ming),場面宏大(da),燈(deng)(deng)(deng)彩(cai)(cai)(cai)豐(feng)富(fu)異常(chang)。按類型(xing)分,自貢(gong)元宵燈(deng)(deng)(deng)彩(cai)(cai)(cai)主(zhu)要包括工藝燈(deng)(deng)(deng)、座燈(deng)(deng)(deng)、組燈(deng)(deng)(deng)等(deng)幾種。多表現民間(jian)傳(chuan)(chuan)統(tong)、古典名(ming)著(zhu)、神話故事等(deng)題材(cai)(cai)內(nei)容,具(ju)有(you)大(da)型(xing)、群(qun)體、聯(lian)動的(de)特點,成為(wei)中華(hua)民族彩(cai)(cai)(cai)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)文(wen)化(hua)中的(de)一枝(zhi)奇葩(pa)。自貢(gong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)彩(cai)(cai)(cai)構(gou)思巧妙,制(zhi)作(zuo)精細,用料(liao)獨特,瓷器餐具(ju)、玻璃瓶(ping)、蠶(can)繭、細竹篾、扎(zha)染、絲(si)綢(chou)等(deng)均可用為(wei)制(zhi)作(zuo)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)彩(cai)(cai)(cai)的(de)原材(cai)(cai)料(liao)。傳(chuan)(chuan)統(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝與現代科學技術相結合(he),制(zhi)成的(de)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)彩(cai)(cai)(cai)五光(guang)十色。
據史(shi)籍記(ji)載(zai),唐宋(song)時期(qi)自(zi)貢地區已逐步形成新(xin)年(nian)燃燈(deng)(deng)、元宵節前后張燈(deng)(deng)結彩的習俗(su)。自(zi)貢地區燈(deng)(deng)會的成型是在明(ming)清(qing)(qing)時期(qi),逐漸衍化(hua)為(wei)具(ju)有相對固定(ding)內涵、并(bing)在特定(ding)時段(duan)進行的并(bing)有一定(ding)傳承歷史(shi)的大(da)型民俗(su)文化(hua)活動。清(qing)(qing)代依然(ran)保留著燈(deng)(deng)會習俗(su),即(ji)有“獅燈(deng)(deng)場市”“燈(deng)(deng)竿節”等活動,據《榮縣(xian)志》記(ji)載(zai):“正(zheng)月人日后,各祠皆(jie)燃火樹,各門首皆(jie)點紅燈(deng)(deng),謂(wei)之(zhi)天燈(deng)(deng),富(fu)人壽年(nian)豐之(zhi)意。兼仿古人禮鳴金(jin)執鋌,以驅瘟(wen)疫,謂(wei)之(zhi)獅燈(deng)(deng)場市。一城數亭(ting)、一亭(ting)各式(shi)、其(qi)高數重(zhong),構(gou)棟雕,臨春(chun)組合,彩箋書畫,嵌燈(deng)(deng)如星,亭(ting)燃四五百(bai)燈(deng)(deng),輝麗萬有。西人來(lai)觀,也欣然(ran)京滬所不見也。”史(shi)料證明(ming),清(qing)(qing)道光以后的燈(deng)(deng)會已嶄露(lu)頭角,其(qi)場景已甚為(wei)壯觀。據史(shi)籍記(ji)載(zai),清(qing)(qing)乾隆年(nian),貢井貴(gui)州(zhou)廟即(ji)有辦盂(yu)蘭會之(zhi)舉(ju)。
到(dao)20世(shi)紀初(chu),又漸漸形(xing)成了節日的提(ti)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui),還有鬧花燈(deng)(deng)、放天(tian)燈(deng)(deng)與舞(wu)龍燈(deng)(deng)等活動,逐(zhu)漸發展成集西南地區民(min)風、民(min)俗之(zhi)大成的燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)。
1963年(nian)(nian)(nian)12月12日(ri),中(zhong)共自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)委決定,在1964年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)元旦舉(ju)(ju)辦燈火晚會,這是(shi)中(zhong)華人(ren)民(min)(min)(min)共和國(guo)成立以(yi)來自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)第一(yi)次官(guan)方組(zu)織燈會活(huo)動(dong)(后(hou)將燈會活(huo)動(dong)延至1964年(nian)(nian)(nian)春(chun)節舉(ju)(ju)行(xing))——“首屆迎春(chun)燈會”,也是(shi)“自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈會”的(de)起始點。繼1964年(nian)(nian)(nian)春(chun)節燈會之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)人(ren)民(min)(min)(min)政府(fu)又于(yu)1965年(nian)(nian)(nian)、1966年(nian)(nian)(nian)春(chun)節在自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)人(ren)民(min)(min)(min)公(gong)園(后(hou)更(geng)名(ming)為自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)彩(cai)燈公(gong)園)舉(ju)(ju)辦迎春(chun)燈會。在1987年(nian)(nian)(nian)之(zhi)(zhi)前,自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈會的(de)舉(ju)(ju)辦主要(yao)是(shi)作為一(yi)種(zhong)文(wen)化娛樂活(huo)動(dong),以(yi)滿足(zu)群眾精神(shen)文(wen)化需求(qiu)。而1987年(nian)(nian)(nian),自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)開始舉(ju)(ju)辦第一(yi)屆自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)國(guo)際恐龍燈會經貿(mao)交易會,這次是(shi)把經貿(mao)活(huo)動(dong)引入(ru)燈會的(de)舉(ju)(ju)辦機(ji)制之(zhi)(zhi)中(zhong),以(yi)促(cu)進自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)對(dui)外(wai)經貿(mao)交流聯(lian)系。
2020年,自(zi)貢國際恐龍燈會舉辦(ban)地從市彩燈公園遷(qian)到(dao)東(dong)部新城中華彩燈大(da)世(shi)界。
1964年自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)委、市(shi)政府(fu)組(zu)織舉辦了(le)新中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立以(yi)來的(de)(de)首屆燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)。至2020年,自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)已經(jing)成(cheng)功(gong)舉辦了(le)33屆本地(di)(di)(di)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui),其中(zhong)(zhong)以(yi)“自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)迎春燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)”命名舉辦了(le)7屆,以(yi)“自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)國(guo)(guo)際(ji)恐龍燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)”命名舉辦了(le)26屆。自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)先后(hou)在國(guo)(guo)內500多個(ge)大(da)中(zhong)(zhong)城市(shi)、國(guo)(guo)外多個(ge)國(guo)(guo)家和地(di)(di)(di)區展出,累計(ji)觀燈(deng)(deng)人(ren)數超過(guo)4億人(ren)次。“自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)”已從(cong)一個(ge)民(min)(min)間活動(dong)轉型為(wei)政府(fu)的(de)(de)年節活動(dong)。自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)將(jiang)新年賞燈(deng)(deng)的(de)(de)傳(chuan)統民(min)(min)俗發展成(cheng)為(wei)富有濃(nong)郁的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)域特色的(de)(de)節慶(qing)文化(hua)活動(dong),被中(zhong)(zhong)宣部確定(ding)為(wei)“感(gan)知(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)”系列活動(dong)之一,是文化(hua)部命名的(de)(de)“國(guo)(guo)家文化(hua)產業示范基地(di)(di)(di)”和“優秀出口文化(hua)產品和服(fu)務(wu)項(xiang)目(mu)”、國(guo)(guo)家旅游局向海外推出的(de)(de)大(da)型民(min)(min)俗旅游項(xiang)目(mu)、國(guo)(guo)際(ji)節慶(qing)協會(hui)等(deng)組(zu)織授予的(de)(de)“最具(ju)國(guo)(guo)際(ji)影響力(li)節慶(qing)”。