As the days grow shorter and the sun sets earlier, the public is invited to light up the night at Raritan Headwaters Association’s annual Lantern Walk on Sunday, Nov. 7 at Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve at 2121 Larger Cross Road in Bedminster.
In an event that has become a Somerset Hills tradition, families gather to celebrate the harvest season with an evening parade through the meadows of Fairview Farm with colorful illuminated paper lanterns. Children are invited to dress in costume.
“Our Lantern Walk is based on the historic European festival of ‘Lanternenlaufen’, which celebrates the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of the harvest,” said Cindy Ehrenclou, RHA’s executive director. “It’s a magical experience, carrying glowing lanterns through the fields to the sounds of festive music.”
The event begins at 4 p.m., with the first walk leaving at 5 p.m. The second walk begins at 5:30 p.m. and the third leaves at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
Admission price is $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Each ticket includes a lantern complete with a battery-operated light. Additional adult, child, and toddler size lanterns will be sold the night of the event.
Advance registration is required due to limited capacity. Register online here.
Participants are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled walk to pick up their lanterns. The lantern parades will be held on grass trails, so appropriate footwear should be worn. Face masks are welcome but not required. The rain date for the Lantern Walk is Sunday, Nov. 14.
Proceeds from the event will support Raritan Headwaters’ mission of protecting clean water in local rivers, streams and homes through science, education, advocacy, and land stewardship.
About Raritan Headwaters
Raritan Headwaters, a nonprofit conservation organization, has been working since 1959 to protect, preserve, and improve water quality and other natural resources of the Raritan River headwaters region through science, education, advocacy, and land preservation.
RHA’s 470-square-mile region provides clean drinking water to 300,000 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.
To learn more about Raritan Headwaters and its programs, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org or call 908-234-1852.
