Planning a Community Lantern Walk
Lantern walk is a tradition that embodies the values of community, nature, and inner light. Held in the evening, adults and children gather with handmade lanterns. Lanterns symbolize the light within each of us as we move through the darker seasons. The walk begins with a gathering where songs and stories are shared, often focusing on themes of light, warmth, and togetherness. As twilight descends, participants light their lanterns and embark on a candlelit walk through nature. This peaceful procession fosters a sense of reverence for the natural world and a shared experience of beauty and quiet reflection. Afterwards there is a connection over drinks and bonfires.
Here’s a list of roles and responsibilities designed to inspire and guide your group in organizing a gathering. These suggestions can help support collaboration, making it easier to bring your vision to life as a community:
Glow Captain
Oversees the creative crafting of lanterns.
Responsibilities:
Create and share a poll to determine the best day and time for the majority of the group to gather and make lanterns.
Decide on the lantern design for the year and share an online tutorial link before the meetup date via the group’s communication platform.
Finalize the date, time, and location of the meetup, including estimated material costs and a reimbursement link. Consider weather conditions and the need for a covered structure, and share these details in the group.
Send a message with a list of needed supplies and gather additional materials not covered by the group.
(Optional) Create a lantern at home to use as an example.
Arrive early to set up tables and greet members. Assist in pairing Bigs and Littles and provide a quick demonstration if needed.
See the materials list at the bottom for making a tissue lantern. Links to tutorials for different styles of lanterns are also included.
Keeper of the Spark
The guiding force behind the gathering, ensuring everything runs smoothly and radiates warmth and light!
Responsibilities:
Three to five weeks before the Lantern Walk, post a poll in the group chat to find a date that works for most families, ideally between mid-October and mid-November.
Decide on the time and location of the Lantern Walk, and share this information with the community.
Share a volunteer signup sheet for special roles: Glow Creator Captain, Guardians of the Flame, Feast Masters, Trailblazer of Light, and Event Architects. Follow up after a week to remind everyone to fill it out.
Determine the flow of the evening’s events and address any questions in the group chat, keeping an eye on all the gathering's details.
Guardians of the Flame
Ensures the fire is safely maintained and glowing bright.
Responsibilities:
Create a poll or send a text to coordinate firewood and solo stove contributions.
Designate an area for families to unload wood upon arrival.
Start and tend to the fire during the lantern walk. Consider recruiting older youth to help with fire management, under adult supervision, to keep the fire going throughout the walk. This is a Rites of Passage tradition that I’d love to see passed on to someone when they become 10 or 11.
Feast Masters
In charge of coordinating and setting up food and drinks.
Responsibilities:
Decide on the type of feast: potluck, dessert, or drinks only.
Share the feast plan with group and decide whether to announce what everyone is bringing or keep it a surprise.
Arrive 10 minutes early to set up a cozy table (confirm if tables are available at the location).
Direct families on where to place food, ensuring extra plates, cups, silverware, and a trash bag are on hand.
Cleanup table afterwards. Through food scraps, trash, etc.
Trailblazer of Light
Leads the lantern walk by lighting the way. This revered role is entrusted to the Elders of our community—those who carry the inner light and guide others with wisdom and grace.
Responsibilities:
Begin the evening by gathering everyone with a few heartfelt words, then lead the families along the lantern-lit path.
Along the way, pause in the woods for a magical moment where everyone joins together to sing a song, creating a shared experience of wonder.
Event Architects
Orchestrate the setup and takedown of the gathering.
Responsibilities:
Involve older tweens and teens in the setup process to create a sense of purposeful giving.
Before the Lantern Walk: Request candle donations a few weeks prior.
At the Lantern Walk: Arrive early to set up glass jars with candles along the path, which adds an enchanting touch. Remember to bring lighters or ask others to contribute them.
Collect lanterns along the path, enlisting the help of youth to assist with this task.