Driving out towards the Bonneville Salt Flats can be quite the adventure, but when the promise of freshly roasted s’mores, live music and the chance to light off a 100 percent biodegradable lantern awaits at the end of the journey, the hour-long drive from Salt Lake City is definitely worth it.
The Salt Lake Lantern Festival took place this weekend near Grantsville, UT, running on Friday, Sept. 11 as well as Saturday, Sept. 12. It lasted from 3 to 9 p.m., during which participants set up “camp” (in some cases, quite literally — many brought tents and other equipment to block the sun) around the stationed fire pits on the open field. Upon arrival, those attending were issued a wristband, a lantern and a start-up kit, including marshmallows, graham crackers, a lighter, a roasting stick and a marker. Families and college students alike gathered to sing, dance, laugh and get ready to watch the sky light up as night fell.
Susie Brown, a local singer-songwriter, pumped up the crowd with covers of popular songs, as well as originals, as we waited for night to fall. Free T-shirt giveaways, determined by a round of limbo, were held for both children and adults, as people began to roast marshmallows and prepare their lanterns. The markers from the initial kit were used to inscribe goals, hopes, quotes and personal symbols (there were a few block U’s being launched into the atmosphere) on the paper lanterns, a way to collectively say goodbye to old habits and negative thoughts and welcome in a new mindset of positivity.
Yount Delilah Morrison, of Roy, Utah, who was coming to the Lantern Fest for the first time, stated that she was “so excited to release the lanterns because [she] had planned the entire gathering for [her] birthday.” She was inspired to come to the fest because of the scene in the movie “Tangled,” which depicts a village-wide lantern send-off. I also felt like a princess as I watched the sky glow with lanterns depicting the goals and dreams of those in attendance. After a short demo from the stage, we were all encouraged to light our lanterns. Getting the fuel pad to light was a bit of a challenge, not to mention that once it took flame, not burning a hole in the lantern was a serious feat. Once we filled them with air and released them, however, the view became truly magical. For any of you trying to recapture a moment of childhood or carefree bliss, I would highly recommend visiting the Salt Lake Lantern Festival next time around.