FAQ

The Lights Festival is an event where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can come together to have an uplifting, positive, and unforgettable experience! Some participants use the lantern release as a way to honor lost loved ones. Some will write on their lanterns a list of their hopes and dreams for the future, while others will use it as a way of letting-go of things from their past. And some come to just enjoy food, live music, dancing and the breath-taking sight of lighting the sky with thousands of lanterns! We love seeing the variation of significance this event has for different people. We hope you’ll join us! Watch this short video for a better idea of what to expect from The Lights Fest!

Yes! We have made Safety the cornerstone of our business practice. Even though we utilize extremely safe, custom lanterns, we hire outside fire professionals who specialize in wildfire control throughout the US. These certified personnel help us better understand each individual region, and provide us with customized fire action plans and the on-site resources to combat any situation.

Yes! Our lanterns are extremely safe and 100% biodegradable. The lanterns are made from rice paper, string, and bamboo. Our lanterns are very different from the generic sky lanterns anyone can purchase online. There is no metal wire in them. The rice-paper body of the lantern is fire-resistant to prevent the flame from traveling from the small fuel-source suspended in the middle. We have a very thorough clean-up crew who gathers the lanterns within 24 hours after the event and disposes of them properly. Our crew is equipped to retrieve lanterns that may end up landing in trees, and though uncommon, a tree service company will be brought in if needed.

We have spent countless hours designing our unique lanterns, and we have multiple styles and sizes for us to choose from. We know the burn time for each style lantern we have. Through many trials and testing, we are able to predict how far a lantern will travel, considering factors such as burn time, humidity, temperature, wind direction and speed. We select the perfect lantern style for each event, based on the venue and weather conditions. We have purposely reduced flight time for our lanterns to be able to bring this magical event to areas that this would otherwise be unavailable.

 

The rice-paper body of the lantern is fire-resistant to prevent the flame from traveling from the small fuel-source suspended in the middle. We have designed the fuel source in such a way that the flame is completely out before the lanterns descend and land. Regardless, we always have a fire crew waiting in the landing zone as a precaution.

Yes! Safety is our #1 priority. We are proud to say that we have held this event dozens of times in multiple countries and have a perfect safety record.

The lanterns we supply to our participants have been strategically chosen for each specific venue and weather conditions. We do not allow outside-lanterns to be released at our events. We do not condone the private release of sky lanterns launched outside of a professionally-run event, like ours. Our team knows how to produce a safe lantern launch, and we encourage anyone who is considering purchasing lanterns themselves online and having their own private launch to instead attend one of our events! We strive to educate others on the differences between our lanterns and generic ones available online. We want to do our part in making sure no harm comes to our beautiful planet or it’s inhabitants. We know lantern releases can be a very healing experience for people, and we are proud to provide a way for you to do it safely and responsibly.

The Lights Fest is for all ages! There’s nothing like seeing the amazement in a child’s eyes while they gaze up into this truly magical sight. There is ample security at each event. Participants are not permitted to bring in alcohol or weapons of any kind.

Creating memories that will last a lifetime is what we are all about! We hope to see you at The Lights Fest!

Due to safety concerns, Lanterns are only permitted to be launched at the authorized time and place. Lanterns are not to be purchased for use outside of the venue. Participants who fail to abide by these rules may be subject to prosecution by local fire authorities and law enforcement.

As stated in the terms and agreement provided at the time of purchase, tickets are non-refundable. Event dates and location are subject to change. If an event is cancelled and a make-up date is not scheduled within 90 days of the original event date then refunds will be offered. If you purchased the optional Refund Protection Plan for your ticket, or if your event was cancelled, you can submit your refund request here: https://www.thelightsfest.com/refunds/

Refund requests must be made within one year from the date of purchase. After one year, tickets are no longer refundable but will remain transferable for use at a future event. 

 

Tickets are transferable. To transfer your ticket to someone else, you simply need to forward the email containing the tickets to them, or print and give the tickets to them, but the name on the ticket does NOT need to be changed. They will not have any problem checking-in to the event with your original tickets. They will need to sign a waiver at the event.

To transfer your ticket to a different location please email us at info@thelightsfest.com with your request.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: As The Lights Fest is an outdoor event we sometimes encounter unpredictable or bad weather. Event date and location are subject to change. In cases where the weather forces us to cancel a Friday or Saturday event the first possible make-up date will be the Sunday of that same weekend. If Sunday is not an option the second backup date will be within 90 days of the original event date. Refunds are not offered when the weather forces a rescheduling or relocating of an event. Your tickets will be valid for the first available make-up date that we schedule. If a make-up date is not scheduled within 90 days of the original event then refunds will be offered.

Alcohol is not permitted at the event.

Make your experience comfortable by bringing collapsible chairs, blankets, etc. If you want to travel light, feel free to purchase these items at our on-site merchandise tent.

The difference between the “VIP” ticket and the “Early Bird” ticket is the price. Those who have managed to save their spot on their city’s event page will get VIP access to registration. After VIP tickets are sold out, early bird registration will begin, followed by other pricing tiers.

We love your pets! … but they’re not allowed at the event. We do make exceptions for service animals. Keep in Mind that loud music and the possibility of fireworks may provide an uncomfortable atmosphere for your service animal. Please keep them on a leash.

Due to safety regulations, The Lights Festival is unable to hold events within city limits. To ensure we produce a safe and magical evening, Fire Marshals require our events to be held at venues with sufficient acreage and away from homes and businesses.

The Lights FestivalTM is an event produced by Viive Events. We are a for-profit company with a dedication to making a lasting impact in each community we visit. For this reason, we partner with local charities and causes wherever we go. Visit the Events section of our website to see who we have partnered with. Feel free to send us an email at charities@viiveevents.com to share your suggestions for ways we can help your community!