自(zi)貢燈(deng)(deng)會以元宵(xiao)節(jie)燈(deng)(deng)會最為(wei)著(zhu)名,場面宏大(da),燈(deng)(deng)彩豐富異(yi)常(chang)。按類型分,自(zi)貢元宵(xiao)燈(deng)(deng)彩主要(yao)包(bao)括工藝(yi)燈(deng)(deng)、座(zuo)燈(deng)(deng)、組燈(deng)(deng)等幾種。多表現民間傳(chuan)統、古典名著(zhu)、神話(hua)故事等題材(cai)內容,具有(you)大(da)型、群(qun)體、聯動(dong)的特點,成(cheng)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)華民族(zu)彩燈(deng)(deng)文化中(zhong)(zhong)的一枝奇葩(pa)。自(zi)貢燈(deng)(deng)彩構(gou)思巧(qiao)妙,制作(zuo)(zuo)精細(xi),用(yong)料(liao)獨特,瓷器餐具、玻璃瓶、蠶(can)繭、細(xi)竹篾、扎染、絲綢(chou)等均可用(yong)為(wei)制作(zuo)(zuo)燈(deng)(deng)彩的原材(cai)料(liao)。傳(chuan)統制作(zuo)(zuo)技藝(yi)與現代科(ke)學技術相(xiang)結合,制成(cheng)的燈(deng)(deng)彩五光十色(se)。
據史(shi)籍記載,唐宋時(shi)期自貢(gong)地(di)(di)區(qu)已(yi)逐(zhu)步形成(cheng)新年(nian)燃(ran)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)、元宵節前后張(zhang)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)結彩(cai)的習(xi)俗。自貢(gong)地(di)(di)區(qu)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會的成(cheng)型是在明(ming)清(qing)時(shi)期,逐(zhu)漸(jian)衍化(hua)為具有(you)相對固(gu)定內(nei)涵(han)、并(bing)在特定時(shi)段進(jin)行的并(bing)有(you)一定傳承歷史(shi)的大型民俗文化(hua)活動(dong)。清(qing)代依然保(bao)留著燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會習(xi)俗,即(ji)有(you)“獅燈(deng)(deng)(deng)場市”“燈(deng)(deng)(deng)竿節”等活動(dong),據《榮縣志(zhi)》記載:“正月人日后,各祠皆燃(ran)火樹,各門首皆點(dian)紅(hong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng),謂之(zhi)天燈(deng)(deng)(deng),富人壽年(nian)豐之(zhi)意。兼(jian)仿古(gu)人禮鳴金執鋌,以(yi)驅瘟疫,謂之(zhi)獅燈(deng)(deng)(deng)場市。一城數亭(ting)、一亭(ting)各式、其高數重,構棟(dong)雕,臨春組合,彩(cai)箋書畫,嵌燈(deng)(deng)(deng)如星,亭(ting)燃(ran)四五百燈(deng)(deng)(deng),輝麗萬有(you)。西人來觀,也欣然京滬所不見也。”史(shi)料證明(ming),清(qing)道光(guang)以(yi)后的燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會已(yi)嶄露頭(tou)角,其場景已(yi)甚為壯觀。據史(shi)籍記載,清(qing)乾(qian)隆(long)年(nian),貢(gong)井貴(gui)州廟即(ji)有(you)辦盂蘭會之(zhi)舉(ju)。
到20世紀初,又(you)漸(jian)漸(jian)形成了節日(ri)的(de)(de)提燈(deng)(deng)會(hui),還有鬧花燈(deng)(deng)、放(fang)天燈(deng)(deng)與舞(wu)龍燈(deng)(deng)等(deng)活動,逐漸(jian)發展成集西(xi)南地區民風、民俗(su)之大成的(de)(de)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)。
1963年(nian)12月12日,中(zhong)共自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)委(wei)決定,在1964年(nian)的(de)元旦(dan)舉(ju)辦燈(deng)(deng)(deng)火晚會(hui)(hui)(hui),這(zhe)是中(zhong)華人民共和國(guo)成立以(yi)來自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)第(di)一(yi)次官方組織燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)活(huo)(huo)動(后(hou)將燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)活(huo)(huo)動延至1964年(nian)春(chun)節舉(ju)行)——“首屆迎春(chun)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)”,也是“自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)”的(de)起始點。繼1964年(nian)春(chun)節燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)之后(hou),自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)人民政府又于1965年(nian)、1966年(nian)春(chun)節在自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)人民公園(后(hou)更名為自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)彩燈(deng)(deng)(deng)公園)舉(ju)辦迎春(chun)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)。在1987年(nian)之前(qian),自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)的(de)舉(ju)辦主要是作為一(yi)種文化娛樂活(huo)(huo)動,以(yi)滿足(zu)群眾精神文化需求(qiu)。而(er)1987年(nian),自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)開始舉(ju)辦第(di)一(yi)屆自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)國(guo)際恐龍(long)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)經貿(mao)(mao)交易會(hui)(hui)(hui),這(zhe)次是把(ba)經貿(mao)(mao)活(huo)(huo)動引(yin)入燈(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)(hui)的(de)舉(ju)辦機制之中(zhong),以(yi)促進自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)對外經貿(mao)(mao)交流聯系。
2020年,自貢國際(ji)恐龍燈(deng)會舉辦地從市(shi)彩燈(deng)公園(yuan)遷到東部新城中華彩燈(deng)大世界。
1964年自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)市委、市政(zheng)府組織舉(ju)辦(ban)(ban)了新中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立以來的(de)(de)首(shou)屆燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)。至2020年,自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)已(yi)經成(cheng)功舉(ju)辦(ban)(ban)了33屆本地(di)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui),其中(zhong)以“自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)迎春燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)”命名(ming)舉(ju)辦(ban)(ban)了7屆,以“自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)國(guo)(guo)際恐龍燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)”命名(ming)舉(ju)辦(ban)(ban)了26屆。自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)先后在(zai)國(guo)(guo)內(nei)500多個大中(zhong)城市、國(guo)(guo)外多個國(guo)(guo)家(jia)和地(di)區展出(chu),累計觀(guan)燈(deng)(deng)人數超過(guo)4億人次。“自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)”已(yi)從一個民(min)(min)間(jian)活(huo)(huo)動(dong)轉型為政(zheng)府的(de)(de)年節(jie)(jie)活(huo)(huo)動(dong)。自(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)會(hui)(hui)將(jiang)新年賞(shang)燈(deng)(deng)的(de)(de)傳統民(min)(min)俗發展成(cheng)為富有濃郁的(de)(de)地(di)域特色的(de)(de)節(jie)(jie)慶(qing)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)活(huo)(huo)動(dong),被中(zhong)宣部(bu)確定為“感知中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)”系(xi)列活(huo)(huo)動(dong)之一,是文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)部(bu)命名(ming)的(de)(de)“國(guo)(guo)家(jia)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)產業示范基(ji)地(di)”和“優(you)秀(xiu)出(chu)口(kou)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)產品(pin)和服務項目(mu)”、國(guo)(guo)家(jia)旅(lv)游(you)局向海外推出(chu)的(de)(de)大型民(min)(min)俗旅(lv)游(you)項目(mu)、國(guo)(guo)際節(jie)(jie)慶(qing)協會(hui)(hui)等組織授予的(de)(de)“最具國(guo)(guo)際影響力節(jie)(jie)慶(qing)”。