Light It Up

Introducing The Lights Fest…this has to be one of the best outdoor events I’ve been to in a while. What is The Lights Fest? I’m glad you asked…

According to their website The Lights Fest is what happens when you combine thousands of families, friends and foodies, with live music, dancing, and an eruption of Sky Lanterns. It is an experience where thousands of friends and families gather to listen to live music, fill up on great food and light up life by sharing personal wishes, dreams and goals. At the perfect moment, everyone ignites their personalized sky lanterns with Tiki torches and lets them take flight. It creates a surreal ambiance, where time slows down as your single flame rises with thousands of others. It’s an event that is for everyone but cultivates individual experiences. Whether you’re commemorating or celebrating, you’re creating a special memory that will last a lifetime.

Although, I agree with their description, I have to say it doesn’t quite capture the experience. It was the most MAGICAL thing I’ve ever participated in. You feel like your in a Disney movie. (cue Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle “A Whole New World”)

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I attended the one in the Philadelphia area solo. I knew I had a few hours in me and did not plan on being there all day. I arrived at about 6:30ish. I packed  a rug from Five Below, $20, 2 sparkling water, nook, and sunflower seeds. From philly the location was a little over 1 hour away. As I got closer I ended up on a bumpy dirt road. Parking was free and there were people to direct you. I got food right away when I saw that the lines weren’t too long; walked and found a nice spot where I could see the stage AND also had a torch in front of me. There are musical acts and they play songs in between. Be prepared for a guy to come on stage several times and continue to tell people not to light their lanterns. Funny enough someone did light a lantern while it was still day. It’s super annoying because in order to have the launch, the fire dept and the police dept have to give the okay. Luckily for us that one person didn’t ruin it. There was a band Dandy who performed a few times. When they weren’t on stage music played. When I didn’t like what I was hearing I just read my nook. Some of the music I didn’t care for or didn’t know. A few hours go by and the sun begins to set and they start lighting the torches. You start thinking the time is now, but nope, it’s not. More singing and more songs. It’s dark now and you start thinking, now it’s time but nope. You wait Wait WAIT. 

Then it gets pitch black and the only light you have comes from the torches on the field. The man comes back on stage and says you can light your lantern. I hold my lantern over the flame and wait impatiently for it to catch fire. Once burning I hold it a little longer than I should to ensure it is inflated and I release it. Halleluyah plays in the background and I’m so thankful for my life, friends, family, blessings, failures, and all of the in between. I look around and I see besties hugging and saying they love each other, a man proposes, and children are smiling. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. I can’t even begin to pretend, I teared up a little. 

If you have a chance to go, GO!

Let your Lantern Light Shine!