Lake Phalen is getting ready for its close-up in June, when thousands of glowing lanterns are set to drift across the water as the traveling Water Lantern Festival rolls into St. Paul. The Radiant Tour stop promises an evening built around lantern-decorating, live music, food trucks, and a choreographed group launch at dusk, with kits and battery-powered LED candles included for ticket-holders. Organizers and the parks department are encouraging families, couples, and neighbors to “write your message” on a lantern, then watch as those personal notes float out and light up the lake.
When and where
The Water Lantern Festival’s St. Paul stop is set for Saturday, June 13. Gates open at 6 p.m., with a choreographed lantern launch planned for around 9 p.m., according to Water Lantern Festival. The Phalen Park Beach House at 1400 Phalen Drive is listed as the venue, per the City of Saint Paul. Organizers say full event details will be emailed to ticket-holders in the week leading up to the festival.
What to expect
After checking in, attendees receive a lantern kit, then get time to personalize and decorate their lanterns before the collective LED launch at dusk. The festival promotes its lanterns as biodegradable and reuse-friendly, and crews collect lanterns and clean the shoreline afterward, a cleanup routine that local outlets have pointed to as a key part of the event’s sustainability pitch, according to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Previous St. Paul editions have brought out food trucks, live music, and free professional photos of the glowing launch.
Tickets and tips
General admission tickets include a full lantern kit, an LED candle, markers, and access to the festival. Early pricing starts at about $30.99, with VIP and group options also on the table, per Water Lantern Festival. Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred, and organizers suggest arriving early, both to find parking and to give yourself enough time to decorate your lantern before the sun goes down.
City announcement
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation flagged the event in a Facebook post on Thursday, inviting neighbors to join “for an evening of reflection, hope, love, and community” and linking out to the festival in its announcement, according to Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. The parks department’s post and the festival website remain the go-to spots for the latest updates and ticket availability.
