Eastern beach will be lit up by floating lanterns this Saturday

A breath-taking and reflective experience is taking over Geelong waterfront this weekend.

Geelong is set to glow this April as the Water Lantern Festival returns to Eastern Beach Reserve on Saturday, 18 April. From 3pm, locals and visitors will gather to experience a celebration that is equal parts serene, emotional, and magical.

For nine years, the festival has illuminated waterways across the globe, with more than two million lanterns launched in over 175 cities. This Geelong edition offers residents a chance to create a luminous memory with friends and family that will linger long after the final lantern drifts away.

Geelong Water Lantern Festival

When: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 3:00 PM

Where: Eastern Beach Reserve, Geelong VIC 3220

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

 

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Attendees are encouraged to personalise their lanterns, writing messages of love, remembrance, or aspirations on the delicate paper before assembling it around an LED candle. As the sun dips below the horizon, these lanterns are launched onto the water, transforming the surface into a shimmering tableau of light and meaning.

The day begins with gates opening at 3pm, welcoming guests to a festive atmosphere filled with food, music, and family-friendly fun. Food lovers will be spoilt for choice with vendors including The Yumpling Truck, Pizza Forno, Grillz Master, Twista Bro’s, Ice Screams, Nana Chamoy, and Franklin Coffee. Live performances by Nick Anderson and Bella Deer will provide a soundtrack to the day’s joyful energy.

From 5:30pm, participants can decorate and prepare their lanterns, readying them for the highly anticipated launch between 6:00 and 7:00pm. By the close of the evening at 7:00pm, the event concludes, leaving a peaceful, glowing impression on both lake and soul.

 

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Beyond the lantern launch, the festival offers a rich array of activities designed to connect the community. Guests can explore the variety of food vendors, enjoy live performances, and even take part in a scavenger hunt. For many, the highlight remains the shared act of reflection and release, a symbolic gesture that resonates across ages and backgrounds.

Organisers recommend bringing an event ticket, a lawn chair or blanket, sunscreen, insect repellent, and weather-appropriate clothing to ensure maximum comfort during the evening. Lanterns are provided, but participants are encouraged to make them their own, decorating with messages, drawings, or patterns that reflect their personal journey.

It’s a glorious moment of reflection that visually looks stunning as the lanterns float across the bay.

Final tickets are available for purchase online at $59.99, whilst event day tickets will be released for a higher price tomorrow. Pick up yours here.