Water Lantern Festival Orange County 2026: Dates, Tickets & What to Know

Looking for a memorable way to spend a summer evening in Orange County? The Water Lantern Festival Orange County is returning to Santa Ana for three nights this summer, bringing glowing lanterns, live music, food, activities, and a beautiful community lantern launch to Centennial Park.

The 2026 Orange County Water Lantern Festival is scheduled for Friday, July 31; Saturday, August 1; and Sunday, August 2, with gates opening at 5:00 PM each evening. The event takes place at Centennial Park in Santa Ana.

Whether you’re planning a family outing, date night, evening with friends, or simply looking for something different to do in Orange County, here’s what you should know before you go.

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Water Lantern Festival Orange County 2026 Dates & Location

Dates:
Friday, July 31, 2026
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Sunday, August 2, 2026

Time:
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location:
Centennial Park
3000 W Edinger Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92704

The official event schedule lists gates opening at 5:00 PM, with food, music and activities available throughout the evening. Lantern decorating begins around 7:30 PM, followed by the lantern launch from approximately 8:00–9:00 PM.

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What Is the Water Lantern Festival?

The Water Lantern Festival combines an outdoor community festival with a personal lantern-decorating experience.

When you arrive, you’ll receive the supplies needed to create your lantern. Guests can decorate their lanterns with anything meaningful to them — hopes, dreams, messages to loved ones, memories, celebrations or simply something fun.

As sunset approaches, everyone gathers near the water for the main event: the lantern launch.

Hundreds of glowing lanterns floating across the water together create the signature experience the festival is known for. The organizers describe the evening as one centered around reflection, connection and celebration.

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What Happens During the Festival?

There’s plenty to do before the lanterns ever touch the water.

5:00 PM – Gates Open

Arrive early, find a comfortable spot and explore the festival.

5:00–9:00 PM – Food, Music & Fun

Enjoy food trucks, live music and other festival activities while you wait for sunset.

7:30 PM – Design Your Lantern

This is your opportunity to personalize your lantern with drawings, messages, names, wishes, memories or whatever has special meaning to you.

8:00–9:00 PM – Lantern Launch

The highlight of the evening begins as guests launch their illuminated lanterns onto the water.

9:00 PM – Event Ends

The festival concludes after the lantern launch.

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What Does Your Water Lantern Festival Ticket Include?

According to the festival organizers, admission includes the materials needed to participate in the lantern experience.

Your ticket includes a:

• Floating water lantern
• Decorating kit
• LED candle
• Marker
• Event wristband
• Access to live music, food trucks and activities
• Lantern launch experience

The event website currently lists general admission beginning around $30.99, with prices increasing as the event approaches. Ticket prices and availability can change, so it’s a good idea to check the official festival website before attending.

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Is the Water Lantern Festival Good for Kids?

Yes. This is definitely one of the reasons we’re featuring it for our Family Fun Friday series.

The Water Lantern Festival is designed to be family-friendly, and children can participate in decorating lanterns alongside their parents.

Even better for families: children under 8 are admitted free and do not require a ticket. Children ages 8 and older need admission.

It could make a particularly fun summer memory for kids — especially once they get to see the lantern they decorated glowing out on the water.

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Not Just for Families

Although this makes a great family outing, there are plenty of other reasons to go.

Date Night

Grab something to eat, decorate lanterns together and enjoy the waterfront atmosphere as the sun goes down.

Friends Night Out

Bring a group, blankets and lawn chairs and turn it into a relaxing summer evening together.

Birthdays & Celebrations

The festival can also be a meaningful way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or milestone.

Remembering Someone Special

Some attendees use their lantern to write a message or memory honoring someone important to them.

The festival specifically encourages guests to personalize their lanterns with meaningful messages or intentions before the community launch.

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What Should You Bring?

The festival recommends bringing a few things to make the evening more comfortable:

Your event ticket
Have your ticket ready when you arrive.

Lawn chairs or a blanket
You’ll likely want somewhere comfortable to relax while enjoying the music and waiting for the lantern launch.

Sunscreen and bug spray
You’ll arrive while it’s still daylight and remain outdoors into the evening.

Weather-appropriate clothing
Orange County evenings can cool down after sunset, so consider bringing an extra layer.

Our tip: Get there early. You’ll have more time to find a spot, grab food, enjoy the entertainment and decorate your lantern without feeling rushed.

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What Happens to All Those Lanterns Afterward?

One of the first questions that comes to mind when you see lanterns floating across a lake is understandably: What happens to them afterward?

According to Water Lantern Festival, its crews collect the lanterns following the event and clean the venue afterward. The festival says the lantern covers are biodegradable, their bases are made from natural wood, and reusable LED candles are used instead of an open flame.

That means you can enjoy the experience knowing the lantern launch isn’t intended to leave hundreds of lanterns behind in the water.

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Is the Orange County Water Lantern Festival Worth Checking Out?

We think this one deserves a spot on the summer calendar.

There are plenty of concerts, fairs and festivals around Orange County, but watching a lake slowly fill with illuminated lanterns offers something a little different.

And you don’t necessarily need a special occasion.

Bring your kids. Make it a date night. Meet up with friends. Celebrate something. Remember someone. Or simply write a wish on your lantern and enjoy a beautiful Orange County summer evening.

Water Lantern Festival Orange County

📅 July 31 – August 2, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Centennial Park, Santa Ana
🎟️ General Admission currently from approximately $30.99

For current ticket prices, availability and event updates, visit the official Water Lantern Festival Orange County event page before heading out.

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Looking for More Things to Do in Orange County?

At CA Real Estate Group, we don’t just help people buy and sell homes throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County — we love sharing the communities, events and local experiences that make Southern California such a great place to call home.

Follow our Family Fun Friday series for more local events, weekend ideas and things to do around Cerritos, Buena Park, Anaheim, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Long Beach and surrounding Southern California communities.

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