Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

Lakewood Cemetery invites the public to its annual Lantern Lighting Celebration on the weekend of September 18-19, 2026. The event offers an opportunity for people to remember loved ones and celebrate their lives by decorating and then releasing floating, candlelit lanterns onto Lakewood's onsite lake. This event is open to the public.

At the event, people can decorate a paper lantern sleeve with favorite pictures, messages, personal sayings, poems, and other symbols of remembrance. At dusk, in a beautiful ceremony, attendees gather to release their lanterns onto Lakewood's ten-acre lake, as the names of loved ones are read aloud accompanied by the stirring sound of bagpipes. The effect of the candlelit lanterns floating on the lake is breathtaking and magical, connecting people to their loved ones and to others who are remembering and grieving.

Throughout the event, guests can enjoy live music, food and refreshments from local food trucks, and the beauty of Lakewood's scenic grounds. Self-guided tour brochures of the cemetery will also be available.

WHERE: Lakewood Cemetery

3600 Hennepin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55408

WHEN: September 18-19

5:00 - 8:30 p.m. each night*

*Attendees have the option of choosing one of two evenings to honor their loved ones - Friday, September 18th or Saturday, September 19th.

COST: Admission is free, but there is a fee per lantern: Lanterns are $10 advance / $15 day of.

MORE INFO: https://www.lakewoodcemetery.org/lantern-lighting-celebration/

Visit YouTube to watch a short video from a previous year's event or watch this longer video to hear attendees speak about their experience.

About Lakewood: A Place to Remember

Lakewood is a serene haven in the heart of Minneapolis's renowned Chain of Lakes-a place to come together to honor, remember, and reflect. Since 1871, Lakewood's 250 acres of urban memorial parkland have served as a community gathering place and a chronicle of our region's traditions, cultures, and people. Home to more than 4,000 trees representing over 150 species, Lakewood is also an accredited Level II Arboretum, reflecting its commitment to stewardship, preservation, and the natural beauty that defines the landscape. A history keeper and a thought leader, Lakewood honors its roots as a landmark cemetery while reimagining its role in modern life through thoughtfully designed events, experiences, and spaces.

Today, Lakewood is making memorialization more relevant, accessible and inviting for new audiences and generations-with more creativity and choices. As a nonprofit organization governed by a board of trustees, Lakewood is committed to preserving and enhancing its grounds and architectural treasures and uses proceeds generated from activities and events for that purpose. Lakewood invites the public to explore all that it has to offer. Learn more at https://www.lakewoodcemetery.org

URL:

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3784872-0?pid=9968

Date and Time:

Friday September 18, 2026

( 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM)

Venue Details: Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55408, United States

Category: Community