Water Lantern Festival San Jose: What to Know Before You Go
At dusk on three July nights, families at Almaden Lake Park float lanterns they spent the evening decorating until the lake is drifting light. The first hours are a picnic — food trucks, music, blankets. July 17–19, 2026, 5:30–9:30pm, launch from 8:30. Buy tickets early.
Season: July (2026: July 17–19) · Updated October 21, 2026 · refreshed weekly
- Official site: waterlanternfestival.com
- 2026 dates: Fri July 17 – Sun July 19, 5:30–9:30pm; launch 8:30pm to close
- Where: Almaden Lake Park, 6099 Winfield Blvd, San Jose
- Tickets (2026): $29.99 early bird → $57.99 at the gate; 4-pack $24.99 a person
- Kids: Under 8 free, and free entry does not include a lantern
How the evening runs
Gates open at 5:30pm and the first hours are a picnic: food trucks, live music and lawn space. The lanterns come later.
- Arrive near gates-open for blanket space close to the water
- Food-truck lines build from 7pm — eat before them
- Decorating starts around 8pm: markers on white lantern panels, and many families write a message to someone they have lost
- The full effect lands close to 8:45, when July dusk finally catches up
- Pack layers — the lake cools off fast after sunset
Tickets: buy early, and count the kids
Pricing climbs in tiers, so the decision is worth making before the week of. Under-8s enter free but do not get a lantern.
- $29.99 early bird, $30.99 regular, $42.99 last call, $57.99 at the gate
- The Family & Friends 4-pack is $24.99 a person, the best family rate
- Every paid ticket includes a lantern kit, a drawstring bag and conversation cards
- Buy one extra lantern per small kid to decorate, even if a parent launches it
At Almaden Lake Park
The park sits off Almaden Expressway near Coleman Road, and the lot fills on Saturday. Whatever you plan to sit on, you bring.
- Arrive near gates-open or carpool — Saturday's lot goes first
- Lawn chairs, blankets and your own picnic are all allowed
- Outside non-alcoholic drinks are fine; the event itself is alcohol-free
- Service animals only, so leave the dog home
- Strollers roll on the park paths; the launch shoreline is grass and packed dirt
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FAQ
Do the lanterns pollute the lake?
The organizer says every lantern is collected from the water after the event. The lanterns are biodegradable and lit by LED tealights, so there are no open flames.
Which night should we pick?
Friday or Sunday. Saturday is the night whose lot fills first, and all three run the same 5:30 gate and 8:30 launch, so the quieter nights cost you nothing.
Is this a local San Jose festival?
No. The Water Lantern Festival is a touring event, and Almaden Lake Park is its San Jose stop.