Lantern Lighting Celebration 2022

Advance lantern sales ended at noon.

Lanterns will also be available for $10 (cash only) at the door

 If you would like to attend the event, you are welcome to pay cash at the door. We can only accept cash and do not have an ATM nearby.

Lakewood 8th Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration

Friday, September 16      |  CANCELLED
Saturday, September 17 | 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunday, September 18    | 5:00pm – 8:30pm

Please register separately for each night you will attend. 

Mark your calendars for our 8th annual Lantern Lighting Celebration — an evening to gather with family, friends and community to honor and remember those we love and miss. We are so excited to bring this treasured tradition to our community once again.

Attendance is free, but each lantern you decorate is $7 in advance or $10 at the door.

How it works

Decorate a floating lantern in memory of a loved one with words of love and remembrance. Lakewood provides art supplies for you. You may bring loved one’s pictures to use, but please know that lanterns will not be returned to you. 

At dusk, we’ll light our lanterns together and release them onto Lakewood’s Jo Pond in a beautiful ceremony. The effect is breathtaking and magical providing a unique connection to our loved ones. You are free to take photos of your lantern, as you will not be able to retrieve lanterns after the ceremony. 

Lantern Decorating: 5 – 7:30 pm

Design a lantern to honor someone who you love and miss. Whether it’s a photo, a drawing, a memory, or simply a name – you are invited to create a beautiful work of art dedicated to someone special. Lakewood will supply markers and other creative supplies to help you decorate your lantern while you enjoy live music, food trucks and Lakewood’s scenic views.

Remember – if you bring a photograph, please bring a copy of the image as you will not be able to get your lantern back after the event.

You will not get your lantern back after the event, so be sure to take lots of pictures! Lanterns and any debris from the event will be removed from the lake each night. 

Ceremony: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Just before dusk, we will gather on the shores of Lakewood’s Jo Pond to illuminate and release our lanterns while reading the names of those who are loved and missed. A bagpiper will play as darkness settles and our lanterns dance and float on the water — illuminating our individual intentions, reflecting our collective impact and lighting up the night.

Live Music

Lakewood is honored to welcome back local musician Sarah Morris! Sarah is a songwriter, lover, and mother, documenting the glorious details of our messy, magical, everyday lives. The Minneapolis-based artist has become a fast favorite on the folk and Americana scene, charting on both the AMA Radio Chart and the Euro Americana Chart. She won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Contest and has been a finalist in both NewSong and MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Called a “country-leaning Norah Jones” (Star Tribune), Morris brings a subtlety to her craft, leaning into the details of the story and the heart of the song.

Sarah will perform all three nights!

Food and Beverages

Saturday: KCM Eggrolls, Chef Lucas’ Pizza

Sunday: Pharaoh’s Gyro’s, Chef Lucas’ Pizza

What to bring:

• Copies of photos to attach to your lantern (no originals please, as lanterns will not be returned).

• Your camera or smartphone to take pictures of your lantern.

• Folding chairs or blankets for the ceremony.

• A flashlight or phone with a flashlight app to help you find your way after the ceremony.

• Art supplies will be provided, but you may bring your own if you’d like.

• You are welcome to bring snacks if you’d like. Food trucks will be available.

Parking

Parking is available along roads inside the cemetery. We strongly encourage carpooling. Due to the nature of the grounds and roads within the cemetery, you may need to park a distance from the event site, so please wear comfortable shoes! There is handicap parking and drop-off available at the event site near the lake. Signs will point the way from the front gates.

FAQs

What happens to the lanterns after this event? 

Can I bring a photo to use my lantern? 

Will any of the mausoleums or buildings be open for this event?

The Garden Mausoleum, Community Mausoleum, and the Memorial Chapel (Chapel is closed for a wedding on Saturday until about 6pm) will all be open until 7pm. Please note that these buildings are about a half a mile away from the event location.

What happens if it rains? 

The event may be canceled if there is heavy rain, strong winds, extreme heat, or thunderstorms. Should this happen, we will email all registered guests in advance of the event start time. We will also post on this event page and on our Facebook page.

All tickets will be refunded. If Friday or Saturday night is cancelled, you will need to re-register for a different night. Lakewood is not able to transfer tickets to other nights in the event of a weather cancellation. You will need to start a new order. 

Questions? Call the Lakewood events line at 612-540-5165 or email to events@lakewoodcemetery.org

Please note: After Thursday, September 15, please contact us via email, since our team may be onsite and unable to answer phone calls.