A festive parade of lanterns will light up the night on Sunday, Nov. 4, as Raritan Headwaters Association celebrates the European Laternelaufen tradition on a walk through the meadows of the Fairview Farm nature preserve.
Raritan Headwaters’ sixth annual Lantern Walk will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. and will feature a bonfire and musical accompaniment as revelers carry illuminated paper lanterns through the fields at sunset. Hot apple cider and snacks will be served.
“It’s a magical sight, seeing everyone carrying their beautiful lanterns through the meadows,” said Cindy Ehrenclou, executive director of Raritan Headwaters. “Adults seem to love it as much as the children do.”
Those on the Lantern Walk will be given colorful paper lanterns made in Germany and lit by small electric candles. There will be an early walk for young children starting at 5 p.m. and a later walk starting at 6 p.m.
Admission is $20 per adult for Raritan Headwaters members, $25 for adult non-members and $15 for children 12 and under. Each admission includes a complete lantern with a light; smaller lanterns for children and larger ones for adults. Admission without a lantern is $10.
Advance registration is required. Learn more and register online here. For additional information, contact Jody Marcus at jmarcus@raritanheadwaters.org or 908-234-1852 ext. 320.
The rain date is Sunday, Nov. 11.
Laternelaufen, German for “walking with lanterns,” is an autumn tradition marking the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of the harvest.
Fairview Farm is located at 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster. The 170-acre nature sanctuary includes trails through woods and meadows, a bird and butterfly garden, a small pond with a dock, and a restored barn complex.
About Raritan Headwaters
The largest watershed organization in New Jersey, Raritan Headwaters has been working since 1959 to protect, preserve and improve water quality and other natural resources of the Raritan River headwaters region through efforts in science, education, advocacy, land preservation and stewardship. RHA’s 470-square-mile region provides clean drinking water to 400,000 residents of 38 municipalities in Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris counties and beyond to some 1.5 million homes and businesses in New Jersey’s densely populated urban areas.
Raritan Headwaters recently was accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, meaning it has been recognized as a strong and effective organization committed to professional excellence and maintaining the public’s trust.
To learn more about Raritan Headwaters and its programs, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org or call 908-234-1852.
