Cameron Art Museum’s Floating Lantern Ceremony

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) –The Floating Lantern Ceremony returns to the Cameron Art Museum Sunday, inviting visitors for a moment to reflect, remember, and look forward.

Now in its tenth year, this annual event has become a meaningful experience for many. Held on the first Sunday after New Year’s, the ceremony brings people of all ages together to celebrate the power of memory and renewal. Attendees can wander through the museum grounds, marvel at the variety of lanterns on display, create their own, and later release them into the reflecting pond as the evening unfolds.

The ceremony is not just about lanterns, however. This year, the event features live music, scattered around different areas of the pond. As temperatures drop, visitors can warm up by campfires and enjoy s’mores.

For many who return year after year, the ceremony is a cherished tradition. September Krueger, the Director of Lifelong Learning at the museum, explains why the event has such lasting appeal. “It’s an opportunity for people to come out, reflect, and celebrate while also looking ahead to the new year,” Krueger says.

Jean Lozada, the museum’s Volunteer Coordinator, says the best part of the event is seeing familiar faces each year. “It’s become a tradition for so many of our visitors. One of the best things is asking people if they’ve participated before. Many of them have, and they always come back because there’s always something new to remember.”

The Floating Lantern Ceremony is open to everyone, whether you’ve attended before or this is your first time. The lantern lighting and floating ceremony will take place from 5 to 7 PM around the museum’s reflecting pond.