A few years ago, I took my kids to the Water Lantern Festival in Indianapolis, and it remains one of those summer evenings I can still picture so clearly. We packed up picnic supplies, met friends and grandparents near the canal, and settled in for an evening that was completely different from anything else we had done together.
For most of the afternoon and evening, it felt a little like a concert in the park. Families spread out on blankets, kids moved around in the grass, friends caught up with one another, and strangers became new friends. There was music, food, and that easy summertime feeling.
But what made the Water Lantern Festival so memorable was the way it gave everyone a chance to create something meaningful together.
Decorating Water Lanterns With Kids
Each of my children had a lantern to decorate, and they worked on them throughout the evening. This was not a quick craft project that they rushed through before running off to the next thing. They spent time thinking about what they wanted to write and draw.
Our children had lost someone incredibly special: their little sister. The lanterns gave my children a gentle, beautiful way to reflect on her and express their love for her. They wrote messages. They decorated carefully. They talked about memories and feelings in their own ways.
As a mom, it was one of those moments when I could see that this event was more than something pretty to watch. For our family, it became a meaningful way to honor someone we love and miss so much.
Not every family will come to the festival carrying grief, of course. Some kids may decorate lanterns with wishes, drawings, favorite sayings, or messages of gratitude. Some families may write hopes for the coming year or messages for people they love. There is no wrong way to decorate a lantern, and I think that is part of what makes the experience so lovely.
The Most Beautiful Ending to a Summer Evening
As the evening grew darker, everyone gathered closer to the water. Then, one by one, the lanterns were released.
Seeing all of those glowing lanterns floating together in the canal was breathtaking. Each lantern represented someone’s words, memories, hopes, or love, and together they created the most beautiful scene. It was peaceful, emotional, and gorgeous.
My kids were mesmerized. I was, too.
It felt like the most awesome conclusion to an already wonderful summer evening. We had picnicked, listened to music, laughed with friends, and met new people. Then we ended the night watching our carefully decorated lanterns join hundreds of others on the water.
Indianapolis Water Lantern Festival Returns This Summer
The Indianapolis Water Lantern Festival returns on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Military Park, located at 601 W. New York Street in downtown Indianapolis. The event is scheduled to run until 10 p.m. and includes live music, food trucks, lawn games, and the lantern launch. Tickets include a floating lantern, decorating kit, LED candle, marker, and event admission. Children ages 0–7 may attend free, but do not receive their own lantern unless one is purchased separately.
We are so excited to attend again this year. My children are older now, and I know the experience will feel different, but I also know the magic of seeing those lights on the water will still be there.
For families looking for something meaningful and memorable to do together this summer, I cannot recommend the Water Lantern Festival enough. Bring a blanket, meet up with friends, enjoy an evening outside, and give your children the chance to create something from their hearts.
The best family memories can come from the simplest things: a picnic on the grass, a marker in a child’s hand, music in the background, and a little lantern carrying so much love out onto the water.
