Water Lantern Festival lights up the night at Dorey Park

Elle Cota, Contributing Writer

As the sun set over Dorey Park on Saturday, with the lively chatter of families blending with mellow music,  gentle ripples carried hundreds of glowing lanterns across the water. 

The Water Lantern Festival, a small event that began in 2017 in northern Utah, had its third annual gathering in Henrico at Dorey Park on Aug. 23.

The tradition dates back to Obon, a Japanese holiday rooted in Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, where families release glowing paper lanterns into water to guide the spirits of their ancestors back to the afterlife. 

While the Water Lantern Festival draws inspiration from those spiritual origins, the focus is more universal, according to marketing manager Tess Rowser.

“We want it to still honor the tradition itself, keep that peak moment, but then the programming around it has been refined and streamlined, while keeping the launch of the heart of the event,” Rowser said.

Organizers are intentional about where they set up. Their goal is to create an atmosphere that feels memorable and meaningful — Dorey Park is a perfect example, according to Rowser. 

“There’s this beautiful backdrop on the pond and just this thick grove of trees that is mixed for the most beautiful mirrored effects from the light lanterns on the water,” Rowser said. “It’s really a great space for people to spread out and families to enjoy the evening.”

Beyond the lantern launch itself, the community truly brings the festival to life. The event partners with booths, local food trucks, musicians and artists to create a night that reflects the spirit of the city it lands in.

“We add more family-friendly activities,” Rowser said. “So even if you’ve attended before, knowing that, ‘okay, I’ll still get the launch, I’ll still get that beautiful, mesmerizing display on the water, but have these different games and shows and opportunities to win merch and different activities to keep it fresh.’”

During the festival, guests are encouraged to inscribe their own messages on the lanterns. It is a chance for attendees to release a part of themselves into the world. 

“I think it’s freeing,” attendee Lorna Graham said. “You don’t have to worry about what anyone thinks, and you’re kind of just putting it out there and then letting it go, and I think there’s a lot of beauty in that.”

For some attendees, even a small pause can bring clarity to a life caught in a cycle of tasks and pressure. 

“Sometimes it’s hard to just mind a moment and to breathe honestly,” attendee Annie Zheng said. “I think being in this space, the weather’s really nice, and just writing down all your hopes and dreams is something I don’t take enough time to do.”

The water lanterns use sealed LED lights with non-removable batteries, instead of candles with open flames, to minimize environmental impact. The team conducts a full cleanup after the event — collecting every lantern using buoy lines to ensure no materials are left behind. The components are then recycled or reused at future events.

What began as a small community gathering has grown beyond its roots. It serves to unite strangers, honor stories and light the path forward together.