The 5th Annual Innisfail Lantern and Light Festival is set for August 21 and 22, 2026, at Centennial Park in Innisfail, Alberta. This year’s event celebrates the natural world with a Flora and Fauna theme, inviting residents to explore illuminated displays inspired by plants, animals, and prairie skies.
The free community gathering will feature a variety of activities, including family lantern decorating workshops, an artisan market, live entertainment, and a twilight lantern procession. A free community BBQ will be served, and an outdoor movie screening is planned. The festival runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 21 and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on August 22.
The festival coincides with the Innisfail Art Club’s Art in Nature Walk, which began June 21 and continues until September 27. The walk and festival together transform Centennial Park into a season-long destination for art and community engagement. The Art Club presented the walk to Town Council in May 2026, and Council later approved $1,765 for a legacy art installation.
Lead organizer Dale Dunham, a former Town Councillor and local businessman, founded the festival in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to bring residents together. That first year saw over 500 free lantern kits distributed. The event has since grown into a signature annual celebration, with past themes including Under the Sea and Galactic Journey.
Organizers are actively seeking community sponsors and volunteers to support this year’s festival. Sponsorship tiers range from Woodland Friends up to $299 to Monarch at $1,000 or more. More information is available on the festival website.
