Firelight Lantern Festival 2026
14th annual Firelight Lantern Festival
November 6 & 7, 2026 ~ Crystal Palace, Picton
The Department of Illumination lights up the night with The Firelight Lantern Festival, a cherished Prince Edward County tradition since 2013. Two magical evenings of arts and music will unfold at the Crystal Palace in Picton, Ontario. November 6 & 7, 2026. Friday night’s musical headliner is Grievous Angels and Saturday night’s headliner will be Cue The Funk! Save the date!
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2026 ~ 7PM to Midnight
GET YOUR ELBOWS UP WITH HEADLINERS THE GRIEVOUS ANGELS
Ages 19+ - Join us for the art party of the year!
Headliners are alternative Country band The Grievous Angels. Engage with installations from DOI artists, an illuminated performance from North Fire Circus, and as always, a few creative surprises throughout the evening.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2026 ~ 6 to 11PM
Headliners are hometown heroes Cue the Funk
The outdoor portions of the festival are FREE, but please consider dropping a donation into one of our donation boxes to support the festival.
EVENT SCHEDULE
6PM - Gather at Benson Park. Giant puppets, handmade lanterns and a performance by The Aurora Borealis Community Choir at 6:30. Dress warmly!
7PM SHARP - Community Procession departs towards the Crystal Palace accompanied by Spencer Evans & the Goat Steppers. Doors open at the Crystal Palace at 7PM in case you don’t want to or are unable to do the parade. DJ Ombudsman and DJ Balso will be spinning tunes while you take in the art installations made by Department of Illumination artists!
7:30-8:30PM - Kids craft inside the Crystal Palace with Sharon Hart
7:40PM - Fire show by North Fire Circus outside Crystal Palace
8:30-10PM - Cue the Funk - Main Stage Crystal Palace. Cue the Funk are a 9-piece, PEC and Belleville-based funk band, bringing the best, good-time-ready, and authentic live dance music to the party. Their love of funk, disco, soul and hip-hop grooves will keep the dancers burning up the floor all night long!
WHAT TO WEAR: Dress up in whatever wild and wonderful costume you wish – especially if it’s illuminated!
WHAT TO BRING: A lantern! Check back in September for a schedule of our lantern making workshops, or get on of our lantern kits, we will also have a limited number of handmade lanterns for sale at Kelly’s Shop just in advance of the festival.
EAT & DRINK: Both evenings are licensed inside the Crystal Palace; bar service by County Cider Co. and Kaleidoscope Catering serving from their food truck all night long.
PLEASE DONATE: The Lantern Parade and outdoor performances are all FREE, however donations are greatly appreciated and help keep this event going!
TICKETS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
TICKETS FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6 (19+) - All tickets just $20 (HST inc). Buy wristbands at Kelly’s Shop (cash preferred - 197 Main St. Picton). Tickets available at the door while they last; no online tickets available.
TICKETS FOR SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7 - Adults $25, kids $5. Buy wristbands at Kelly’s Shop (cash preferred - 197 Main St. Picton). Saturday tickets online/at door: $30 adults, $10 kids. Watch here for a link for online tickets.
The Firelight Lantern Festival draws inspiration from traditions of many lantern festivals throughout the world which use light as a symbol to bring people together. The timing of our festival in mid-November coincides with the European tradition of Martinmas which originated in France in honour of St. Martin, a friend of children and patron of the poor. Martinmas is celebrated throughout Europe, its signature being children’s lantern processions. As fall ends and the darkness of winter descends upon us it is easy to feel isolated, especially living in a rural community. Our festival acts as a beacon to encourage our residents, both adults and children, to conjure their own light, bringing it into their hearts and homes to sustain them through the darkness. Making a lantern is a literal application of this metaphor, but in gathering people together to make lanterns in town halls, schools and living rooms, our camaraderie grows and we feel the warm glow of making beautiful things with our hands alongside friends and neighbours.