自貢燈會以元宵節燈會最為(wei)著名,場面宏大(da),燈彩(cai)(cai)(cai)豐富(fu)異常(chang)。按類型(xing)分,自貢元宵燈彩(cai)(cai)(cai)主要包括工藝燈、座(zuo)燈、組燈等(deng)幾種。多(duo)表(biao)現民間傳(chuan)統(tong)、古典名著、神話故事(shi)等(deng)題材內容(rong),具(ju)有大(da)型(xing)、群體、聯(lian)動的特點,成為(wei)中華民族彩(cai)(cai)(cai)燈文化中的一枝(zhi)奇葩。自貢燈彩(cai)(cai)(cai)構思巧妙,制(zhi)(zhi)作(zuo)精細(xi),用(yong)料(liao)獨(du)特,瓷器餐具(ju)、玻璃瓶、蠶(can)繭(jian)、細(xi)竹篾(mie)、扎染(ran)、絲綢(chou)等(deng)均可用(yong)為(wei)制(zhi)(zhi)作(zuo)燈彩(cai)(cai)(cai)的原材料(liao)。傳(chuan)統(tong)制(zhi)(zhi)作(zuo)技藝與(yu)現代科學技術(shu)相結(jie)合,制(zhi)(zhi)成的燈彩(cai)(cai)(cai)五光(guang)十色(se)。
據(ju)史(shi)籍(ji)記載(zai),唐宋時期(qi)自(zi)貢地區(qu)已逐步形(xing)成新年燃燈、元宵(xiao)節前后(hou)張燈結彩的(de)習俗。自(zi)貢地區(qu)燈會的(de)成型(xing)(xing)是在明(ming)清時期(qi),逐漸衍化為具有(you)相對固(gu)定(ding)(ding)內涵、并在特定(ding)(ding)時段進(jin)行的(de)并有(you)一(yi)定(ding)(ding)傳承歷史(shi)的(de)大(da)型(xing)(xing)民俗文化活動。清代依然保(bao)留(liu)著燈會習俗,即有(you)“獅燈場(chang)市”“燈竿節”等活動,據(ju)《榮縣志(zhi)》記載(zai):“正(zheng)月人(ren)日后(hou),各祠皆燃火樹(shu),各門首皆點紅燈,謂之(zhi)天燈,富人(ren)壽年豐之(zhi)意。兼仿古人(ren)禮鳴金執鋌(ting),以驅(qu)瘟(wen)疫,謂之(zhi)獅燈場(chang)市。一(yi)城(cheng)數(shu)亭(ting)、一(yi)亭(ting)各式、其高(gao)數(shu)重,構棟雕,臨春組(zu)合,彩箋書畫,嵌燈如星(xing),亭(ting)燃四五百燈,輝麗萬有(you)。西人(ren)來觀,也(ye)欣然京滬所(suo)不(bu)見(jian)也(ye)。”史(shi)料證明(ming),清道(dao)光以后(hou)的(de)燈會已嶄露頭角,其場(chang)景(jing)已甚為壯觀。據(ju)史(shi)籍(ji)記載(zai),清乾隆年,貢井貴州(zhou)廟即有(you)辦(ban)盂蘭會之(zhi)舉。
到20世紀初,又漸(jian)漸(jian)形成了節日的(de)提(ti)燈會,還有鬧花燈、放天(tian)燈與舞龍燈等活動,逐(zhu)漸(jian)發展成集(ji)西南地區民(min)風、民(min)俗之大成的(de)燈會。
1963年(nian)(nian)12月12日,中(zhong)共自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)委決定,在(zai)1964年(nian)(nian)的元旦舉(ju)(ju)(ju)辦燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)火晚會(hui),這(zhe)是中(zhong)華人(ren)民共和國成立(li)以來(lai)自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)第一次(ci)官(guan)方組(zu)織燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)活(huo)(huo)(huo)動(后(hou)將(jiang)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)活(huo)(huo)(huo)動延至1964年(nian)(nian)春節(jie)舉(ju)(ju)(ju)行)——“首屆迎春燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)”,也是“自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)”的起始點(dian)。繼1964年(nian)(nian)春節(jie)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)人(ren)民政府又于(yu)1965年(nian)(nian)、1966年(nian)(nian)春節(jie)在(zai)自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)市(shi)人(ren)民公園(后(hou)更名(ming)為(wei)自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)彩(cai)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)公園)舉(ju)(ju)(ju)辦迎春燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)。在(zai)1987年(nian)(nian)之(zhi)(zhi)前,自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)的舉(ju)(ju)(ju)辦主要是作為(wei)一種(zhong)文(wen)化娛樂活(huo)(huo)(huo)動,以滿足(zu)群眾精神文(wen)化需求。而(er)1987年(nian)(nian),自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)開始舉(ju)(ju)(ju)辦第一屆自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)國際恐龍燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)經(jing)貿交易會(hui),這(zhe)次(ci)是把經(jing)貿活(huo)(huo)(huo)動引(yin)入(ru)燈(deng)(deng)(deng)(deng)會(hui)的舉(ju)(ju)(ju)辦機(ji)制(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)中(zhong),以促進自(zi)(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)對外經(jing)貿交流聯系。
2020年,自貢(gong)國際(ji)恐龍燈(deng)(deng)會舉辦(ban)地從市彩燈(deng)(deng)公園遷到東部新(xin)城中華彩燈(deng)(deng)大世(shi)界。
1964年(nian)自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)市(shi)(shi)委(wei)、市(shi)(shi)政府組(zu)織舉(ju)辦了新中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)成立以來(lai)的(de)首屆(jie)(jie)(jie)燈(deng)會(hui)。至(zhi)2020年(nian),自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)已經成功舉(ju)辦了33屆(jie)(jie)(jie)本地燈(deng)會(hui),其中(zhong)以“自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)迎春燈(deng)會(hui)”命名舉(ju)辦了7屆(jie)(jie)(jie),以“自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)際恐龍(long)燈(deng)會(hui)”命名舉(ju)辦了26屆(jie)(jie)(jie)。自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)燈(deng)會(hui)先后在(zai)國(guo)(guo)(guo)內500多個(ge)(ge)大(da)中(zhong)城市(shi)(shi)、國(guo)(guo)(guo)外多個(ge)(ge)國(guo)(guo)(guo)家和地區展出(chu),累計(ji)觀燈(deng)人(ren)數超過4億人(ren)次。“自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)燈(deng)會(hui)”已從(cong)一個(ge)(ge)民間(jian)活(huo)(huo)動(dong)(dong)轉型為(wei)政府的(de)年(nian)節(jie)(jie)活(huo)(huo)動(dong)(dong)。自(zi)(zi)貢(gong)(gong)燈(deng)會(hui)將新年(nian)賞燈(deng)的(de)傳統民俗發展成為(wei)富(fu)有濃郁的(de)地域特色的(de)節(jie)(jie)慶文化(hua)活(huo)(huo)動(dong)(dong),被(bei)中(zhong)宣部(bu)確定為(wei)“感知中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)”系列活(huo)(huo)動(dong)(dong)之一,是文化(hua)部(bu)命名的(de)“國(guo)(guo)(guo)家文化(hua)產(chan)業(ye)示范基地”和“優秀出(chu)口文化(hua)產(chan)品和服務項目(mu)”、國(guo)(guo)(guo)家旅游(you)(you)局向(xiang)海外推出(chu)的(de)大(da)型民俗旅游(you)(you)項目(mu)、國(guo)(guo)(guo)際節(jie)(jie)慶協會(hui)等(deng)組(zu)織授予的(de)“最具國(guo)(guo)(guo)際影響(xiang)力(li)節(jie)(jie)慶”。