Fans of Hallmark Channel movies are familiar with water lantern festivals: a glimmering fleet of glowing lanterns launched by individuals into the water, rocking with the motion of the current as they float away.
Chattanoogans will have the chance to participate in such an event when the first Water Lantern Festival, hosted by a Utah company of the same name, is held at Chester Frost Park on April 4, 2020.
Most often shown in movies as a celebration in remembrance of loved ones, these festivals are just as often filled with happiness, hope and family memories.
Here's how it works:
* Individuals buy a ticket for the Water Lantern Festival in advance on the website or at the gate on the day of the event, then pick up their lantern upon arrival at Chester Frost Park. For the ticket price, you will get a floating lantern, commemorative drawstring bag, marker and wristband.
A portion of proceeds at every festival is donated to a local nonprofit in that city. The local beneficiary has yet to be announced.
* Between 4:30 and 8 p.m., the company provides activities to entertain guests as they arrive, such as lawn games, music, food trucks, corn hole and a scavenger hunt.
The scavenger hunt lists things to check off that will help the crowd mingle, such as "Find someone with the same birth month as you" or "Find someone decorating their lantern for their best friend." Everyone who completes the list can turn them into the merchandise booth. Two names will be drawn for a free merch bag from these entries.
* The lanterns are eco-friendly, made of rice paper and wood, and illuminated by a tea light.
* Individuals use their markers to write on the rice paper, decorating their lanterns however they wish.
"Some people do write something to commemorate a loved one, but there are a lot kids who will draw cute pictures or write something happy that's happened like 'I got a new dog,'" says Katie Schwendiman, spokeswoman for the Water Lantern Festival Co.
* Beginning at 8 p.m., guests will line up along the lakefront and begin launching their lanterns into Lake Chickamauga.
"During the launch, we have a time when we allow people to share their lantern story if they wish. After they release their lantern, they can either go back and sit down (in the activities area) or stay by the water and watch," she says.
* Participants do not get their lanterns back.
"Letting go is kind of the point of it," says Schwendiman.
* Guests are free to leave at 9 p.m. This event is environmentally friendly in that staff of the Water Lantern Festival collect all lanterns from the water, clean up and bag trash in the water and along the shoreline, and often leave the area cleaner than when they arrived.
* No pets are allowed.
A Water Lantern Festival is designed to be a peaceful, memorable experience. Bring your camera for beautiful shots of hundreds of illuminated lanterns bearing the hopes, dreams and memories of those participating into the night.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.