Lantern Fest

We got there early. I was worried it would be crazy with it being sold out and stuff but there were like no people. And it was SO hot! There was not much to do even though they said there would be. So I was kind of bothered. Why send out an email telling people about all these things and then not do them? But oh well, we made a tent with the blankets we brought to create some shade to lay in. June got a balloon animal monkey. We had some snow cones. Workers kept passing out free suckers. Mostly we laid around in our make-shift tent. It wasn't a bad time but we were a little antsy about it. Buck kept saying "no it's fine, I like relaxing." But then he kept making trips to the trash can for any tiny scrap of garbage. June was restless too. I felt bad for dragging them there to burn up on the salt flats.  There were some food trucks and bounce house things. And at least the princesses showed up.

They did have a dance off competition for the kids. June wanted to join. She stayed in the back and just swayed her arms back and forth like a hula dancer while all the other kids went wild jumping around. There were some other competitions too like hula hoop and limbo.

 And then finally our friends showed up! Adrian and her little family minus their baby and then Jade and Curtis. 

There were a bunch of buckets for fire pits. They gave everyone logs to light at the same time and so suddenly there was a huge billowing black cloud of smoke rising over the crowd. With the lanterns each person got a S'mores kit to use with the fire.

 

We also found Elsa.

 But finally it was time to set off the lanterns. We had markers so that we could write something on them or draw something. A lot of people put wishes, notes to loved ones who have passed on, or trials that they want to say good bye to.

On my lantern I wrote: This one is for you God! I will always believe!

Buck wrote a thanks to God for all his blessings and June drew something random.

They tried to show everyone what to do but people didn't listen. Everyone started setting them off. But you're suppose to let them fill with hot air for a while before letting them go. People instead were lighting them and just sending them on their merry way. But that doesn't work! So instead there were all these lanterns and flames raining down around us, nearly lighting blankets, chairs, and people's heads on fire. There was screaming and adults leaping over objects to save blankets and children from falling lanterns. We were the front of the crowd too so we got the worst of it. Thankfully nobody was hurt and ... it was actually kind of funny. 

 There were still hundreds that soared into the night sky and it was pretty magical, as I had hoped. Behind us there was a sea of white glowing orbs that people were holding and in front of us there were endless rising stars. June loved it. I hope it's a memory she gets to keep. They even played the song from the Rapunzel movie when they set off sky lanterns. June loved that. After the initial chaos of fire, I calmly took some photos and enjoyed that.

  The lanterns trickled on and then finally ended.

There may have not been everything they promised there and sure, there were some life threatening moments.... ;) BUT over all it was worth all of it. The long drive, the hot afternoon, the crowds. It's not something we will get to experience very often! It was much grander than our New Year's Eve lantern tradition. (although I still love that just as much.) We'll have to go again another year and take Hazel too. We are lucky to have the chance to see our sky become a stage for such wonder.