There’s something timeless about the gentle glow of a lantern. Whether drifting across water or towering above a field, these lights have long symbolized connection, transformation and hope in cultures across the globe.
In China, lanterns mark the end of Lunar New Year. In Thailand, they’re released during Yi Peng for good luck. This summer in Denver, these luminous symbols will illuminate the night, first at the Denver Water Lantern Festival and then at Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park.
These events differ in style and substance but share a common goal: bringing people together under the soft glow of thousands of lights. One offers a serene lakeside moment of reflection, while the other transports guests to a shining wonderland across twelve acres of whimsical, immersive art.
Here’s what to expect from each festival, beginning with the Water Lantern Festival, which kicks off first in mid-July.
From July 12 to 13, Carpenter Park Lake in Thornton will host the Water Lantern Festival, a serene experience designed to connect people through a tranquil lantern release. This two-day event, named the No. 1 Festival by USA Today in 2019 and 2020, invites participants to decorate and launch their own lanterns into the water alongside thousands of others.
“This Water Lantern Festival creates a beautiful and unique way to share your hopes, dreams and aspirations,” says Event Director Nate Sorensen. “It’s a night that you will never forget.”
The event is family-friendly and features food trucks, live music, giveaways, a scavenger and vendors from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Guests will design their lanterns at sunset before launching them onto the lake in a stunning display of floating light and positive energy.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, warm clothes and bug spray for maximum comfort. All materials needed for the lanterns — including LED lights and decorating supplies — are included with the ticket. Whether you're there to remember someone, dream of the future or simply soak in the atmosphere, the experience is designed to be deeply personal and visually breathtaking.
Bright Nights
Just ten days after the lanterns float away in Thornton, a completely different kind of luminous journey begins in Denver. Starting July 23 and running through October 5, Bright Nights at Four Mile returns for its third year, transforming Four Mile Historic Park into a glowing dreamscape filled with interactive art, oversized lantern sculptures and immersive storytelling.
“Every possible inch of the Park will be covered in lanterns," says Jennifer LaGraff, CEO of Four Mile Historic Park. "From the moment guests enter through a massive tunnel of enchanting Chinese fairies, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure style of exploration with must-see lanterns and interactive experiences.”
Created in partnership with Tianyu Arts and Culture, the festival features more than forty larger-than-life lanterns spread across the park’s twelve acres. This year’s theme introduces three dazzling new realms: Farmhouse Flora and Fauna, Chinese Dreamland, and an expanded interactive zone.
Highlights include a glowing gooseberry tunnel, a bamboo forest, a 65-foot-long wheat farm and a 23-foot-tall cherry blossom gate. Guests can swing amidst the lanterns, get lost in smoke-filled morning glory blooms, play panda-themed whack-a-mole or even connect via video call with the Cleveland Asian Lantern Festival. Food options include hearty plates from Big Belly Brother’s BBQ and sweet treats like Kona Ice and hot churros on select nights.
Bright Nights runs Wednesday through Sunday from 7 to 11 p.m. Weekly adults-only nights (21+) take place on July 30, August 27 and September 17, offering a more relaxed experience with DJs and specialty cocktails sans screaming children.
Tickets range from $19 to $48, with proceeds supporting Four Mile Historic Park’s educational programs, animal care and the preservation of the Four Mile House Museum, which is Denver’s oldest standing structure. With its playful atmosphere and radiant artistry, Bright Nights turns a historic Denver landmark into an immersive wonderland that glows well into the fall.
So grab a blanket and get ready to bask in the glow, because in Denver this summer, nightfall doesn’t mean lights out. It means lanterns on.
In China, lanterns mark the end of Lunar New Year. In Thailand, they’re released during Yi Peng for good luck. This summer in Denver, these luminous symbols will illuminate the night, first at the Denver Water Lantern Festival and then at Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park.
These events differ in style and substance but share a common goal: bringing people together under the soft glow of thousands of lights. One offers a serene lakeside moment of reflection, while the other transports guests to a shining wonderland across twelve acres of whimsical, immersive art.
Here’s what to expect from each festival, beginning with the Water Lantern Festival, which kicks off first in mid-July.
Water Lantern Festival
Lanterns illuminate the night at the Water Lantern Festival.
Courtesy of Denver Water Lantern Festival
“This Water Lantern Festival creates a beautiful and unique way to share your hopes, dreams and aspirations,” says Event Director Nate Sorensen. “It’s a night that you will never forget.”
The event is family-friendly and features food trucks, live music, giveaways, a scavenger and vendors from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Guests will design their lanterns at sunset before launching them onto the lake in a stunning display of floating light and positive energy.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, warm clothes and bug spray for maximum comfort. All materials needed for the lanterns — including LED lights and decorating supplies — are included with the ticket. Whether you're there to remember someone, dream of the future or simply soak in the atmosphere, the experience is designed to be deeply personal and visually breathtaking.
Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park's ladybug lantern installation.
Courtesy of Bright Nights at Four Mile
Bright Nights
Just ten days after the lanterns float away in Thornton, a completely different kind of luminous journey begins in Denver. Starting July 23 and running through October 5, Bright Nights at Four Mile returns for its third year, transforming Four Mile Historic Park into a glowing dreamscape filled with interactive art, oversized lantern sculptures and immersive storytelling. “Every possible inch of the Park will be covered in lanterns," says Jennifer LaGraff, CEO of Four Mile Historic Park. "From the moment guests enter through a massive tunnel of enchanting Chinese fairies, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure style of exploration with must-see lanterns and interactive experiences.”
Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park's monkey lantern installation.
Courtesy of Reminisce Photography
Highlights include a glowing gooseberry tunnel, a bamboo forest, a 65-foot-long wheat farm and a 23-foot-tall cherry blossom gate. Guests can swing amidst the lanterns, get lost in smoke-filled morning glory blooms, play panda-themed whack-a-mole or even connect via video call with the Cleveland Asian Lantern Festival. Food options include hearty plates from Big Belly Brother’s BBQ and sweet treats like Kona Ice and hot churros on select nights.
Bright Nights runs Wednesday through Sunday from 7 to 11 p.m. Weekly adults-only nights (21+) take place on July 30, August 27 and September 17, offering a more relaxed experience with DJs and specialty cocktails sans screaming children.
Tickets range from $19 to $48, with proceeds supporting Four Mile Historic Park’s educational programs, animal care and the preservation of the Four Mile House Museum, which is Denver’s oldest standing structure. With its playful atmosphere and radiant artistry, Bright Nights turns a historic Denver landmark into an immersive wonderland that glows well into the fall.
So grab a blanket and get ready to bask in the glow, because in Denver this summer, nightfall doesn’t mean lights out. It means lanterns on.
