KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) An evening of remembrance, reflection, and community connection will return to Keene later this month as Monadnock Peer Support prepares to host its fourth annual Floating Lantern Festival at Stonewall Farm.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. and is free for the public to attend. Organizers expect hundreds of people to gather at the farm for a variety of activities culminating in a lantern launch at dusk.
Participants will have the opportunity to write messages of hope, remembrance, gratitude, or personal reflection inside floating lanterns before releasing them onto the water alongside others from across the community. The coordinated launch has become the centerpiece of the annual event and a visible symbol of support and connection.
According to Monadnock Peer Support, proceeds from lantern sales help fund its peer-led mental health programs, which are offered at no cost to individuals seeking support through shared lived experience and community-based wellness resources.
“The Floating Lantern Festival creates a space where people can pause, reflect, and feel connected, sometimes without needing to say a word,” said Melissa Callender, acting executive director of Monadnock Peer Support. “It’s a powerful reminder that support doesn’t have to be clinical or complicated. Sometimes it starts with showing up and realizing you’re not alone.”
In addition to the lantern release, attendees can take part in a range of family-oriented activities throughout the evening. Planned attractions include arts and crafts, wagon rides, face painting, games, axe throwing demonstrations, and an outdoor screening of the Disney film Tangled after sunset.
Lanterns will be available for purchase for $15 during the festival or for $10 in advance. While admission is free, organizers encourage attendees to purchase lanterns as a way to support the organization’s ongoing services throughout the Monadnock Region.
Additional information about advance lantern purchases, sponsorship opportunities, and festival details is available through Monadnock Peer Support.