Water Lantern Festival

The Water Lantern Festival is an event where people decorate their own floating lanterns with messages of hope, love, dreams, wishes, etc., before releasing them out onto open waters.
In 2026, the festival will be held on Saturday, September 5 at Hoyt Lake (Gala Waters) in Delaware Park. This family friendly outing is not only a fun and creative way to release messages of remembrance and intention out into the universe, it’s also a fun way to spend time with friends and loved ones.
Along with the lantern release, which takes place at sunset, the festival features live music, local food vendors, and interactive activities. This year’s event is being called the Radiant Tour, as it centers around joy, connection, and personal reflection.
This year’s activities include yard games, a scavenger hunt, and Lantern Stories a dedicated space where guests are invited to share personal reflections and honor loved ones through their lanterns.
Per usual, festival organizers ensure that the grounds and the waters associated with the festival are cleaned up after the event wraps up. What is left behind are the memories that were made, and plenty of photos that documented the peaceful occasion.