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Almost two months ago, I read about the LanternFest. It’s an event where everyone gets to send up their own floating lantern into the sky with a few thousand other people. I’ve seen them in movies and documentaries, but the idea of attending one myself was too much to resist. We had to have this LaternFest experience! One quick search and $90 bucks later, I had tickets for me, my daughter and my cousins. Then we waited for TWO WHOLE MONTHS!
What to Plan For:
Usually, the festival is held in a very large open area surrounded by nothing. I mean, you will be sending lanterns with fire into the air. Who wants to be responsible for burning someone’s home down? We brought folding chairs and blankets. Other people brought umbrellas or beach shelters to block out the sun. Also sunblock – it was over 80 degrees with no shade. I also recommend a card game or two!
Festival owners do not allow you to bring coolers or outside food. However, they will allow small snacks and water bottles. Also, if you have special dietary needs, you can bring in food for that person. For other individual needs, the Festival owners do have FB pages for each city they visit (make sure it’s their ‘official’ FB page) and they do respond to questions within 24 hours. The company seems to be very welcoming to anyone with special needs, so don’t be hesitant to ask.
Food and drinks can be purchased (bring lots of cash!) Our entry fee also gave kids free access to several different bouncy structures to keep them occupied while waiting for it to get dark. As the evening went on, the lines became quite long. There was also face painting and balloon animals (way too long lines – not worth the wait), and several Disney Princesses were available for photos.
An adult ticket gives you one S’more Kit (marshmallow, chocolate, graham crackers and a stick) and a lantern. Kid tickets do not, so if you have more than one kid, take more than one adult or be prepared to share.
We lit the fire pit about 30 minutes before sunset. Five minutes after that the S’more’s were consumed. We drew messages on the lantern and watched the sunset. It was 40 minutes of waiting for full darkness.
At the signal, everyone attempted to light their lantern and let it fill with hot air. Fair warning: it’s not as easy as it looks in the movies.
Then we watched it float away with 3000 others. It was an amazing sight! Awe-inspiring and everything we thought it would be – just incredible!
I have never heard of a Lanternfest before, but this looks like it was really enjoyable. I bet it was beautiful to see all of the laterns light the sky once they were released.
It was breathtaking… we just stared up in awe at how beautiful it was. You should find out if there is one near you and go! You won’t regret it.
Oh my gosh my kids would love this (and so would I for that matter)- sounds like you all filled the waiting well though that can always be a challenge! The pictures are beautiful <3 Jamie
We were “early birds”, so we had 5 hours to wait. However, there was enough to do that it didn’t really seem like it! That, in itself, made the event so much better.