RiSE Lantern Festival in Las Vegas

The Lantern Show

The lantern festival in Thailand is a spiritual journey that you experience once in a lifetime. But why are we talking about it here? Well, good news — you don't have to travel to Thailand to feel the magic!

A more economical option is the RiSE Festival in Las Vegas, held annually in October.

What to bring

Festival Features

How to Get to the Festival

The RiSE Festival takes place at the Moapa River Reservation in the Mojave Desert, about a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas. On the day of the event, you have two options to get there:

• Shuttle Service: RiSE offers shuttle services (for an additional fee) from several hotels, transporting attendees to and from the event.
• Driving and Parking: Drive north on the I-15 freeway for about 30 miles and take exit 75, where security will direct you to parking.

Upon arrival, you'll be about a 10-15 minute walk from the event location.

Festival Schedule

Here's the RiSE Festival schedule so you can plan your day:

• 3:00 PM — Gates open
• 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Music by local artists, food, and drinks
• 8:15 PM — First lantern launch
• 8:45 PM — Second lantern launch
• 8:50 PM — Fireworks

Just like in Thailand, you'll feel the ecstatic energy of the crowd, see smiles on strangers' faces, and hear the excitement in their voices.

How It’s Set Up

At the center is a stage where local artists perform. Around the stage, in an extended circle, are torches marking the spots where attendees can launch lanterns. Food trucks and alcohol tents line the perimeter.

As the sun begins to set, the mood of the crowd shifts from high-energy to more calm and contemplative.

What to Bring

You don’t need to bring much, as you’ll be provided with two lanterns, markers, matches, and a mat to sit on. Here’s what you can bring:

• Sweaters for cooler evening temperatures
• A camera (tripods are not allowed)
• Wet wipes and toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer

You can also bring snacks if you plan to stay for a long time. There are food and drink vendors on site, but they can be quite expensive. You can't bring alcohol, but you can bring water.

Most importantly, wear comfortable shoes. Expect your shoes to get dusty, so choose ones you don’t mind getting dirty.

Lighting the Lanterns

Lighting lanterns is surprisingly more challenging than it seems, and the festival staff may not provide as much instruction as needed. Here are some useful tips to help your lanterns take flight:

1. 01.Open the lantern carefully: Avoid tearing it. Place the block right above the torch until it fully ignites. Be careful not to let the sides of the lantern catch fire. The main reason most lanterns don't fly is that the sides burn. If you burn a hole in the lantern, it will be harder to make it fly.
2. 02.Hold the lantern over the flame: Keep it there until you feel some resistance when the lantern starts to lift on its own. If you don’t notice this happening after a few minutes, hold the lantern about half an inch above the ground as it continues to fill with hot air. Be very patient until you feel it begin to rise.
3. 03.Gently release the lantern: Watch it as it flies away. Make sure it’s safely airborne before you stop monitoring it. Many lanterns will fall or fail to fly and may land on someone.

If you make a mistake on the first or second try, don't worry! Stay calm and be patient.

Immerse yourself in the magic of the RiSE Festival by booking a tour and tickets with American Butler!