Entry No. 86 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: after-dark

Water Lantern Festival at Prospect Lake

Each summer, hundreds of people gather at Prospect Lake to decorate floating paper lanterns with an LED candle inside, then release them onto the water together after sunset. Gates open in the early evening with food trucks and live music; lantern decorating starts around 8 p.m. and the launch runs roughly 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., covering the lake in reflected light. Every lantern is collected afterward so nothing is left behind.

The move: Decorate a paper lantern together, then wade to the shoreline and set it adrift among thousands of glowing lights on the lake.

📍 Before you go One-night annual event (held around late June); buy tickets in advance. Each ticket includes a lantern and decorating kit. The launch happens after sunset, so dress for cool evening air.

• 📍 Colorado Springs (Memorial Park)
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Memorial Park - Prospect Lake, 1605 E Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23