Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival 2024 in Pennsylvania

Inspired by the iconic Thai Lantern Festival, Night Lights events take place throughout the year in multiple locations across the US. One of such celebrations goes down at Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Spectacular festivities are held for a weekend in September and draw about 250,000 revelers.

Lantern Release

Pocono Lantern Festival highlights the mass lantern release, typically scheduled for an hour after sunset. The folks launch their glowing lanterns altogether and set the night sky aglow for up to 30 minutes. We recommend arriving before sunset or even earlier in the day to pick an excellent picnic spot for viewing this jaw-dropping sight. Also, feel free to bring your camp chairs and blankets.

Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival Entertainment

In addition to lanterns, the Night Lights festival features other entertainments, from live music and stage performances to face painting. Food vendors are also there to keep you full and happy. Generally, the gates are open between 3 pm and 9 pm, so you have plenty of time to bond with friends or have a great family time.

Tickets

Tickets for the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival will cost from $74 or $79 at the door, depending on the day of the festival. Visitors can also purchase Early Bird Tickets to receive a discount.

Festival History

The founder of the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival was living in Thailand when he was first inspired by the traditional lantern festival in Chiang Mai. So, his goal was to bring this community-driven experience to the USA. In Thai culture, sky lanterns are said to symbolize the release of negativity and worries. As a sign of renewal, they are considered good luck. However, recognizing that a trip to one of these festivals can be expensive and not accessible to everyone, the founder created Night Lights so that everyone could enjoy this magic. That is why the festival does not take place in one specific city but travels around the USA and creates great emotions.