Picture a Kansas dusk where tiny hands and seasoned hearts all lift lanterns together, each light carrying a memory sky-high or drifting softly across the water. That’s the simple magic Liberty hopes to kindle—and it’s only a 20-minute drive from your hookup at Junction West Coffeyville RV Park.
Key Takeaways
• Lantern event: safe LED lanterns you decorate, then float or launch into the sky
• Location: calm pond in Liberty, Kansas—20 minutes from Junction West Coffeyville RV Park
• Best time: Saturday evenings; check the launch time in the guide below
• Who can join: kids, grandparents, wheelchair users, RV guests, even leashed dogs
• Easy paths: smooth, wide walkways and golf-cart rides from RV parking to the pond
• What you need: chairs, bug spray, light jacket, cash for snacks, water bowl for pets
• Extra fun: craft tables, history stories, Memory Wall, soft music under 60 decibels
• Safety first: permits, insurance, tethers on lanterns, clean-up crew ready
• Good for the planet: rice paper, bamboo frames, no open flames, quick debris pick-up
A lantern release looks effortless, yet every glowing moment rests on thoughtful prep. The bullets above give you the big-picture scoop; the sections that follow drill down into the “how” so you can roll in with confidence instead of questions. Read on for insider tips, local inspiration, and the practical checklists that turn a dreamy idea into an evening everyone—from toddlers to great-grandparents—remembers.
Because Liberty’s pond sits close to a major RV route, the event doubles as both a heartfelt memorial and an easy add-on to a weekend road trip. You’ll discover which permits keep the fire marshal happy, which snacks keep kids patient, and how a quiet soundtrack under 60 decibels keeps conversation flowing. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to park, when to launch, and how to leave the shoreline cleaner than you found it.
Curious if the ceremony will fit your crew, your rig, or your timeline? Keep reading for:
• Kid-safe lantern tips that beat screen time every Saturday night.
• Wheelchair-smooth paths and reserved RV parking so grandparents can settle in without a wobble.
• Brief but rich stories that link every glowing lantern to local history—from Dalton Defenders to modern-day heroes.
• Exact launch times, Wi-Fi reach, and yes—whether your leashed pup can sit beside you.
One guide, four checklists, zero guesswork. Ready to see how Liberty’s first lantern release can turn an ordinary weekend stay into a shared moment of light you’ll talk about long after the embers fade? Let’s dive in.
Lantern Releases 101: Magic in Minutes
Lantern festivals look dreamy, yet the nuts and bolts are refreshingly simple. Each paper vessel—crafted from rice paper over a bamboo frame—holds an LED tea light or battery candle instead of an open flame, preventing wax drips and wild sparks. Families decorate the panels with markers or seed-paper notes, then watch their messages float across dark water or rise into the dusk.
Beyond the visuals, the act itself works like a group exhale. Setting intention, releasing grief, and witnessing hundreds of tiny lights join together creates a shared hush that even energetic kids feel. Studies on ritual show that synchronized experiences deepen social bonds; neighborhood parents often report fewer meltdowns and more meaningful dinner conversations after attending.
Three Kansas Festivals to Spark Your Imagination
If you want a preview before Liberty launches its own ceremony, three regional gatherings deliver proven playbooks. First up is Wichita’s Lanterns of Life Festival on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025, from 5–8 p.m. Hosted by Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, the evening blends live music with a 7 p.m. reflection and launch. Food trucks ring the Memory Garden, so pack lawn chairs, blankets, and sunscreen while you personalize pre-purchased lanterns.
Later in the season, Overland Park dazzles families at the Arboretum during the Moon & Water Lantern Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Running 3:30–9 p.m., the free event layers lion and dragon dances over interactive games before a 7 p.m. water launch. Details live on the city calendar at Moon and Water Lantern, and remember—only service dogs are allowed on those botanical grounds.
Kansas City rounds out the trio with its popular Water Lantern Festival. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; the lantern release glows between 8:30 and 9:30. Bring bug spray, warm layers, and online tickets purchased through the KC Water Lantern page before they sell out.
How Liberty Can Light Its Own Tradition
The first choice is location. A calm pond near Liberty’s ball fields gives parents clear sightlines for kids while providing roomy gravel lots for oversized RVs. Easy shoreline access shortens retrieval time for tethered lanterns and lets elderly guests stay close to the action without steep banks or long walks.
Permits come next, and they matter more than any string of twinkle lights. Start 60 days out at Liberty City Hall or the Montgomery County Clerk’s office to secure a special-event permit that covers open flames and mass gatherings. Hand officials a tidy site map showing launch zones, first-aid tents, ADA-wide paths, and emergency lanes.
Insurance keeps everyone calm. Single-day event policies of $1–2 million generally run a few hundred dollars and cover fire suppression, property damage, and—most importantly—the peace of mind parents and retirees crave. Schedule a walk-through with the fire chief one week prior so extinguisher stations, crowd barriers, and wheelchair paths meet code without last-minute reroutes.
Sustainability makes or breaks community goodwill. Stick with rice-paper lanterns, bamboo frames, and LED candles. Pre-tie 20–30 ft fishing-line tethers so lanterns don’t drift past retrieval range, and train a shoreline crew armed with pool skimmers and mesh nets to scoop debris within 15 minutes of the final launch.
Finally, layer in heart. A Memory Wall invites photos and handwritten notes, while a five-minute Reflection Circle led by a local faith leader keeps the tone reverent. Background music should hover below 60 decibels so personal conversations can bloom. Closing the night with a QR-code survey lets residents steer next year’s improvements—because nothing builds tradition like genuine community ownership.
Smooth Sailing for RV and Accessibility Needs
Liberty’s tentative layout already factors in rigs and rolling walkers. Oversized motorhomes will park in the gravel lot beside the ball fields, leaving standard vehicles to fill adjacent grass strips. Traffic volunteers armed with laminated role cards guide each coach into place and keep exit lanes clear for a calm, fender-free departure once lanterns fade.
LED path lights and reflective tape drape every cable so no one trips after twilight. A 48-inch-wide blue-banner corridor runs from parking to the front-row viewing area, wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs alike. For those who prefer seated comfort, a reserved chair row sits along the pond’s edge; a modest PA system ensures spoken tributes reach even the back benches without forcing anyone to stand. A volunteer with a handheld radio monitors the lane throughout the night so assistance arrives quickly if a guest needs help returning to the lot.
Fast Answers for Every Type of Visitor
Parents eager to peel kids off screens will find hands-on craft tables stocked with markers, stickers, and biodegradable seed-paper notes. LED candles stay cool to the touch, and the first-aid tent sits within 100 feet of the launch zone to handle scraped knees or sudden headaches. Hungry families can refuel at a church bake sale or grab dinner from local food trucks, which means even picky eaters enjoy something tasty before the lights go up.
Snowbird couples appreciate smooth concrete pathways and golf-cart shuttles that whisk them from the oversized lot to shoreline seating. History buffs can chat with volunteers from the Dalton Defenders Museum, while photographers capture golden-hour reflections of lanterns mirrored on still water. Remote-working nomads finish deadlines knowing the ceremony runs 6:30–7:30 p.m., and a boosted Wi-Fi hotspot reaches the craft zone so livestreams stay steady; leashed dogs may lounge outside the launch cordon as long as you pack a portable water bowl.
Why Junction West Coffeyville RV Park Makes the Perfect Basecamp
The park’s pull-through sites sit 12 miles east of Liberty along US-166, giving you full sewer hookups, 30/50-amp power, and a fenced dog area without the need for complicated back-ins. A tall treeline buffers highway noise, while picnic tables and fire rings provide a natural transition from road to relaxation. Free fiber Wi-Fi lets you upload lantern photos before your marshmallows finish toasting.
Arriving early unlocks a 4 p.m. hospitality hour at the park clubhouse, where free coffee and local pastries pair with a volunteer briefing on ceremony etiquette. After the lanterns, return to a quiet-hours-friendly firepit for cocoa and story sharing. The mix of reliable utilities and community vibe turns a single night’s stay into the kind of campground memory campers trade over breakfast long after the trip ends.
When you’re ready to let a lantern carry your hopes skyward, make Junction West Coffeyville RV Park your easy-going home base. Our spacious pull-through sites, spotless showers, and hot-coffee hospitality keep the practical stuff covered so you can focus on the glow, the stories, and the company you keep. Reserve your spot today, roll in stress-free, and watch how one gentle evening in Liberty turns into a memory that lights up every mile of your travels. We’ll have a warm welcome—and maybe a spare marker for your lantern—waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lantern events can feel mystical, yet most questions boil down to logistics and safety. The answers below cover everything from kid handling to weather plans so you can spend less time scrolling and more time enjoying the evening.
Q: Is the lantern release safe for kids to handle?
A: Yes—each lantern uses a cool-touch LED tea light instead of an open flame, and a volunteer team shows kids how to decorate and launch them while parents stand within arm’s reach, so little hands stay burn-free and everyone enjoys a calm, supervised experience.
Q: What are the exact start and end times of the ceremony?
A: Craft tables open at 5:30 p.m., the short memorial program begins at 6:15, and the collective launch runs 6:30–7:30 p.m., leaving you plenty of time to pack up and be back at Junction West Coffeyville RV Park before the park’s quiet hours start at 10.
Q: Do I need to reserve an RV parking spot or chair in advance?
A: Oversized RV spaces and a front-row chair row are free but limited; a quick call to Liberty City Hall (620-555-0147) lets you add your name to the list so a volunteer can wave you straight to your marked spot when you arrive.
Q: Are the paths and seating areas wheelchair and walker friendly?
A: A 48-inch-wide gravel-over-concrete lane connects the parking lot to a level viewing area where folding chairs are pre-set, letting guests with mobility aids roll in smoothly without negotiating slopes or grass.
Q: Can I bring my leashed dog to the ceremony?
A: Absolutely—well-behaved, leashed pups are welcome outside the immediate launch cordon, and water stations sit near the craft tables, so your four-legged co-pilot can relax while lanterns drift overhead.
Q: Will there be reliable Wi-Fi for live-streaming or remote work?
A: A booster on the scorer’s tower pushes out a public network that reaches the craft zone and half the shoreline; most guests can post photos or live-stream, though heavy video uploads may run smoother back at the RV park’s fiber connection.
Q: How can my family personalize a lantern to honor someone?
A: Each kit comes with markers, seed-paper shapes, and a peel-and-stick photo frame; simply write a message, attach a small picture or the seed paper, and watch your tribute drift skyward or glide across the pond with the rest.
Q: What historical story does this ceremony commemorate?
A: Liberty dedicates the release to local service members from World War I through today, weaving in the Dalton Defenders’ 1892 stand as a symbol of hometown courage, so every light honors both national sacrifice and small-town resilience.
Q: Is there a cost for lanterns or entry?
A: Entry is free, and one lantern per guest is covered by community sponsors; additional lanterns cost $5 each at the check-in tent, with proceeds funding next year’s clean-up and veteran outreach programs.
Q: What if the weather turns bad at the last minute?
A: Light rain shifts the launch under the picnic pavilion where guests share a group reflection instead, while thunderstorms postpone the event to the following evening at the same times, with updates posted by 2 p.m. on Liberty’s Facebook page.
Q: How are you protecting the environment during and after the launch?
A: Lanterns are made of rice paper and bamboo tied to a 20-foot retrieval line; a shoreline crew collects every piece within 15 minutes of the final release, so no debris travels downstream or litters nearby fields.
Q: Are restrooms, snacks, and first aid close to the viewing area?
A: Yes—ADA portable restrooms, a church bake-sale booth, two food trucks, and a staffed first-aid tent all sit within a 100-foot radius of the seating line, so you can grab a cookie, a coffee, or a bandage without missing the glow.
Q: Will there be good photo opportunities for sunset shots?
A: Photographers love the west-facing pond because Kansas’ peach-and-lavender dusk backlights the lanterns; arrive by 5:45 p.m. to claim a shoreline tripod spot and capture mirror-like reflections before the sky goes fully dark.