Since 2014, the Lantern Fest has brought a little bit of the Chinese New Year to Colorado Springs. This year will be the first time the event is held in Denver, too. Put together by Salt Lake City-based Sack Lunch Productions, the company produces and puts on Lantern Fest across the nation each year for communities to come together and celebrate their unique touch on this holiday.
When is the Lantern Fest?
The Colorado Springs event will be held on April 16th with the Denver event taking place on April 23rd and April 24th at the Colorado National Speedway. Each ticket to the event includes your own lantern, markers, lighter, and smores kit. Sack Lunch Productions has turned its annual Lantern Fest into a family-friendly event celebrating turning over a new leaf with live music, local vendors, face painters, balloon artists, and more.
What You Can Expert at Lantern Fest
When the sun begins to set, the stage is ready to release your custom lanterns to let go of the previous year. You can take the time throughout the day to decorate your lantern how you see fit or you can choose to just let your lantern go. Lantern Fest gives visitors a chance to see what this take on the Chinese tradition is all about with their family and friends.
One of the biggest concerns the community has during the Lantern Fest – no matter where it’s held in the US – is what happens to the lanterns after they’re released. Rest assured that the lanterns used are decomposable. They use fuel cells are like what hot air balloons use, ensuring they won’t touch the ground until the cell is completely burned out reducing the fire risk to zero.
If you want to spend a fun day with the family and start a new tradition at the same time, consider this year’s Lantern Fest. Tickets are still available for the Colorado Springs event. Kids three and under can attend the event for free; kids between the ages of four and 12 can buy a $5 kids pass that entitles them to a small gift for attending. You can find out more about Lantern Fest and buy tickets at their website here.
