10th annual Lantern Lighting Celebration
Lisa Moss returns to Lakewood’s Lantern Lighting Celebration each year, not just because it’s a beautiful evening filled with music, food trucks and lights, but also to experience a tangible moment that brings her closer to memories of her mother. For the last several years, Lisa, her husband and her two sisters have gathered together, brushing away tears at bittersweet memories and laughing over years of shared joy.
Creating a special tribute
“Lakewood’s celebration is so meaningful,” Lisa says, “because it’s all about memorializing loved ones and friends who have died.” Each year, Lisa’s group comes prepared with copies of photos and personal items to decorate their lanterns.
“My mom loved playing card games. She taught me how to play gin rummy when I was very young, so each year I bring a playing card and tape it to the lantern as a reminder of all those Minnesota winter nights, playing cards together.”
A welcoming space for all
Barb Heinz, another guest who returns year after year, says she enjoys working on her lanterns at the celebration because it gives her a chance to meet people and share stories about her husband, Mark, who is memorialized at Lakewood. Barb loves hearing others’ stories about their loved ones, too. She says attending Lakewood’s Lantern Lighting Celebration made her more comfortable visiting Lakewood throughout the year. “The first time I came to the event, it felt so welcoming. I realized I didn’t need a special occasion to visit. Now I come by myself or with friends to see Mark or to take a walk. I always feel at ease here.”
Lisa agrees that the evening is a lot of fun. “There’s so much camaraderie as you decorate lanterns. But once we float the lanterns off into the dusk, watching them glow against the darkening sky, that’s when I start to tear up. When I hear my mom’s name read aloud, with the bagpipe playing in the background, well, I really start to cry. But it’s a good cry. Tears shed for all the love I shared with my mom.”
Join us for a night of light
Lakewood’s Lantern Lighting Celebration, now in its tenth year, welcomes everyone. It’s a chance to remember loved ones, even if they are not memorialized at Lakewood.
On each evening of Lantern Lighting, guests can choose from the myriad art supplies available at each table. There are pens in a rainbow of colors, stickers and glue pens available. And everyone is invited to bring special items from home, like the playing cards that Lisa brings, and copies of photos. It’s important to bring photocopies because lanterns are not returned after the event.
Like Lisa and Barb, many families have special stories about Lantern Lighting, including a beautiful essay by Terri and Tom Gratz, who lost their daughter Ali in 2015.
Admission to the Lantern Lighting Celebration on Friday September 20 and Saturday, September 21 is free. You can reserve your lanterns for $10 in advance or purchase them for $15 the night of the event.
