The Water Lantern Festival In Illinois That’s A Night Of Pure Magic

The Aurora Lantern Festival is heading to Illinois this spring and it promises a night of hope, happiness, and healing. Bring out your loved ones for a marvelous experience of peace, joy, and light that you'll never forget. Once you learn more about this transportive event you'll be packing your bags and heading to Illinois to attend.

Actually, Illinois is scheduled to have several of these magical events throughout the state at various times this year. Scroll on to get all the details and find out which ones are closest to you.

This magical event will take place in Aurora, Illinois at RiverEdge Park on the banks of the water. The event is scheduled for September 21, 2024 and tickets are currently on sale.

You'll want to snag your tickets early for this very special experience, they're likely to sell out.

Early-bird tickets cost $25 and are only available until June 30, 2024. Regular price tickets cost $35 until September 13 after which the price increases to $45. If you wait to purchase your tickets at the door, the price increases to $55.

It's good incentive to buy your tickets in advance because you can get the most bang for your buck!

Each ticket includes a floating lantern, a marker, a wristband, and a commemorative drawstring bag. Lanterns are made of rice paper and wood and are 100 percent eco-friendly.

Because they're floating on the water, these lanterns are totally safe and make the most beautiful display all floating and glowing together.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with music and food trucks which run until about 9 p.m. Guests may also bring their own food to enjoy.

This makes the event feel even more like a party! After everyone has settled in and enjoyed themselves, the special lantern piece begins.

Around 6:30 p.m., guests may begin to design their own lanterns. Some choose to draw pictures while others write inspirational quotes. Still, others send messages to loved ones who have passed or prayers in hopes that they will make it to the other side.

It's a very personal process and you can be as deep or as lighthearted as you'd like.

Between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the lantern launch takes place. Guests gently place their wishes, hopes, dreams, and prayers onto the Fox River and watch them glow and float along with all the others.

It's like nothing you've ever experienced before.

If you're not able to make this event or if Aurora is just too far away, there will be other opportunities for you to enjoy this magical festival. Take a look at the full schedule for this event, which travels all over the country, to see if there's a location better suited to where you live.

It's worth making the effort to find the festival near you, this is an absolutely magical evening.

To get tickets and more information about the Water Lantern Festival, check its official website or overall festival's Facebook Page.

For more like this, check out the nine most peaceful places in Illinois you can possibly go.

Have you ever attended a floating lantern festival like the Aurora Lantern Festival? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments. We love to hear your firsthand accounts of these unique experiences.