On New Year’s Eve, I had this great idea to buy Chinese wishing lanterns and release them on the beach in a peaceful, beautiful ceremony to ring in 2016. It turned out to be (thanks to a very windy evening) a chaotic, unsuccessful attempt at serenity that left my brother with a few less eyebrow hairs and nearly set the northern half of Miami Beach on fire. We walked back to our house physically defeated, my children screaming “are we going to be sent to jail?!” and with a pack of unused lanterns in tow.

Which is exactly why, when I saw that there was a Lantern Fest coming to St. Louis, I knew I had to check it out. I envision it being like our New Years eve jaunt, but only successful and stress free because someone else is doing the dirty work (i.e. ensuring the surroundings are safe for flaming, flying objects…)

The festival is Nov. 5th in Eureka. Come and enjoy food, live music, a stage show, familiar princesses, face painters, s’mores, balloon artists and more. Then, at dusk, every adult sets off a lantern and boundless photo opps and ooo-ahh moments begin (as is evidence from these photos from Lantern Fest events around the country). Buy your tickets HERE and use code CARADISEFOUND at checkout to recieve 20% off your purchase. See you there!