Asian Water Lantern Festival
Saturday, August 2, 2025 – Chippawa Park Pond
90 First Ave, Welland: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Dusk)
Rain Date: August 3, 2025
Free to attend, this event is designed to address anti-Asian racism, by creating a safe space, using art to encourage dialogue, compassion and understanding. This quiet and personal reflective event is family-friendly and designed to especially accommodate those with mobility and sensory/auditory concerns.
We’re hoping you can volunteer with us, to bring this event to the community.
Interested in being a vendor? Click below to register.
Enjoy live traditional and modern Chinese music, vocalists, dancers, interactive workshops and visual artist to aid in decorating your water lantern and get to know more about the Asian communities in Niagara. Be sure to stay for the Great Launch at dusk when all the lanterns will be floated upon the water at once. This event is free to attend, to enjoy the live entertainment and watch the water lanterns float upon the pond. Some suggested items to bring: lawn chairs or blankets to sit upon, bug spray and a flashlight to use once the event is over.
Water Lantern Kits are available for purchase on-line now until July 25, 2025. We sell out each year. A limited supply of water lanterns may be available on-site. CASH ONLY.
For $30, an Enhanced Experience Ticket buys one Water Lantern Kit, which includes:
- 1 Up-Cycled Road Banner Bag created from old event street banners and sewn by New Canadian and Immigrant Volunteers from the Bridges Niagara (while supplies last)
- 2 bio-degradable water lanterns and 2 candles
- Markers to decorate
- Asian Cultural Artists to inspire or assist you in your water lantern creation
- 4 small cultural snacks/candies
There are no refunds unless the event is cancelled. In the case of bad weather or postponement, we will make notices on our Facebook page @niagarafolkarts. Note that in case of bad weather, the postponement date will be Sunday, August 3, 2025. Please revisit this page for details if bad weather or postponement occurs on August 2, 2025.
Parking at the event.
Free parking is available at the curbs that touch and surround Chippawa Park, with a few dedicated spots located on First Avenue between Fitch Street and Linrose Avenue. Please be respectful when parking on adjoining side streets as we want to be good Neighbors to the homeowners there. There are 2 Accessibility spots located near the pavilion, on First Avenue, which will not be monitored by event organizers.
Accessibility Parking
Not monitored by the Festival, there are a few spaces in the existing parking lot and curb parking, located near the 90 First Ave Sign. We have made arrangements to have a drop off area near the Rose Garden, at the top of the hill, near the Fitch Street/First Ave intersection. From there, a paved pathway will lead to the event site, about a 1 minute walk. This is a good option for those with mobility concerns.
