Water Lantern Festival · Light Up the Night Together, San Jose

About this event

WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LuufeWcxRdbEUazGHqERVh

Water Lantern Festival · Light Up the Night Together 🏮 Saturday, November 14 · 4:00–6:30pm · Almaden Lake Park, San Jose

As the sun sets over Almaden Lake, thousands of glowing lanterns drift across the water, each carrying someone’s hope, wish, or memory. It’s one of the most beautiful evenings of the year in the South Bay, and it’s even better shared.

Join TownFlame for a festival evening with company. Whether you launch a lantern or just watch from the shore, you won’t be standing in the crowd alone.

How it works We meet up, do quick intros, and form small circles of 4 to 6, each with a circle lead, so everyone has a group from the start.

🏮 Launching a lantern? Your circle walks in together, spreads blankets side by side, and enjoys the food trucks, music, and scavenger hunt. At 5:00 we decorate lanterns. Each person shares what they’re writing and why, and those are some of the best conversations you’ll have all year. Then we launch together between 5:30 and 6:30.

🌅 Just watching? No ticket needed. You’ll have your own circle on the public shoreline outside the festival area, with a picnic, good company, and a view of the lanterns drifting across the lake.

At 6:30 everyone regroups at the meeting point for a quick “what’s next?” round. Pitch your next adventure, find your crew, and join an optional dinner nearby.

Tickets (only if you want to launch) Buy your own at waterlanternfestival.com. Each ticket includes festival entry, a lantern kit, and an LED candle.

• General admission is currently $34.99 . Prices go up closer to the date and are $61.99 at the gate , so buy early.

• Coming with friends? The 4-pack is $24.99 per person , which is a perfect circle of four.

• Kids under 8 get in free. Tickets are non-refundable but transferable.

Schedule

🕓 4:00 Meet at our meeting point (final spot announced in the event chat on the day) Budget enough time for parking. 🚶 4:30 Circles head into the festival or settle on the shoreline ✍️ 5:00 Lantern decorating 🏮 5:30–6:30 Lantern launch 👋 6:30 Regroup at the meeting point, then optional dinner

Meeting point (confirmed on the day) We’ll post the exact spot in the event chat on Saturday, once we see the festival layout. It will be one of these:

• Option A, east side (Winfield Blvd entrance): by the bocce ball courts along the east parking lot. This is closest to the festival entrance and easiest for anyone launching a lantern.

• Option B, west side (Almaden Expressway entrance): by the snack bar building near the playground. It’s quieter, with a view across the lake to the launch.

The two entrances are about a 10–15 minute walk apart along the lake. Parking

• Free street parking on Winfield Blvd near the park entrance is our recommendation. It’s the festival’s own suggested overflow, but it fills up fast , so plan to arrive by 3:30 .

• Santa Clara Valley Water District lot is the other overflow option the festival lists. Check the festival’s event guide closer to the date for any fee.

• Park lots charge $6/day at the kiosk (cards accepted). On festival day, the east lot is limited to event parking and expected to fill early.

• Carpool if you can. With about 2,000 people expected, spaces are scarce, and the ride over is a good chance to meet someone before the event.

What to bring A blanket or lawn chair, warm layers for after sunset, and your own snacks if you like. The festival is alcohol-free and goes ahead rain or shine.

Make it a full Saturday Start the day with our Social Trails walk on Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View (10:30am, with pho lunch), then end it with lanterns on the lake. Come solo. Most people do. That’s the point.

Join TownFlame , Make Life Happen.

Liability Waiver: Participation in TownFlame events is voluntary and involves social interaction in public spaces. Activities are designed to be inclusive and respectful. Participants assume all risks and release TownFlame, its organizers, volunteers, and affiliates from liability for injury, illness, or damages, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

By attending, participants acknowledge that photographs, audio, and video recordings may be taken during events, and grant TownFlame the right to use such media for promotional and marketing purposes, in any format or platform, without further consent or compensation.

From Growth Social Volunteering Professionals