Lanternfest

The festival of lanterns is a German tradition that takes place in the evening on or around the Feast Day of St. Martin where parents, families and neighbors gather together for a small, neighborhood parade led by St. Martin and his white horse. The children sing traditional songs in the glow of handmade candle-lit lanterns that symbolized the light St. Martin brought into people’s lives.

The Lanternfest is an evening for children to make a lantern, learn the lantern songs and sing them as they walk the downtown streets with lanterns in hand. After making the lanterns and baking the little Weckmänner, the story of St. Martin is told, a shadow puppet show is shown, and the parade of lanterns goes into the streets where participants will sing the newly learned songs. Come enjoy warm baked goodies and beverages as well as a warm glowing atmosphere. Please bring a canned good for donation as well as $5 per family. Email [email protected]