Water Lantern Fest Floats Into Voinovich Park

Sure, you’ve strolled along Edgewater Beach or maybe even kayaked the Cuyahoga River. But take a deeper dive into our waterways this month with a wave of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River fire and the city’s subsequent environmental and sustainability efforts. Cleveland’s first Water Lantern Festival ($25 per person) sets sail June 15 at Voinovich Park, where attendees will receive an LED lantern crafted from a wooden base and rice paper on which they can write inspirational quotes, love letters and messages of hope. “It’s a new, exciting way to connect with and enjoy the lakefront,” says Matt Gray, the city of Cleveland’s chief of sustainability. As the sun sets, the handmade lanterns will be launched out onto Lake Erie, setting the water aglow for a night of renewal and restoration. “Our biggest natural resource as a city and as a region is Lake Erie and the rivers that feed it,” says Gray. “The more people have a direct connection with the lake, the more they value it.” waterlanternfestival.com