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Participant Packet

The Lights Fest

Event Date: September 12, 2020

[email protected] | thelightsfest.com


Event Day


September 12, 2020 - THINGS GET MAGICAL!

Whether you’ve never done anything quite like this - or if you are a Sky Lantern pro, this info pack contains all the details you need to make sure you have the most magical day of your life. Please read this packet in its entirety to help things run more efficiently.

  • WHERE: Country Thunder | 2303 Richmond Rd | Twin Lakes, WI | 53181 |
  • Map Link
  • WHEN: Saturday, September 12th
  • Time: Gates open at 4:00 PM. All times are in Central Time Zone
  • Planning: Rain and high winds can postpone any event. Please plan to keep the following day (Sunday) as the possible return date. If weather does not allow for the event that weekend we will announce the new date.
  • What To Bring: Chairs, blankets, and umbrella. A phone or camera to capture the moment. Outside drinks and food are welcome, but alcohol is not permitted. All coolers will be checked when entering our event.
  • What to Wear: Be prepared for cooler temperatures at night fall. Jackets and blankets are suggested. Bring your own face mask.
  • Tickets: Please double check NOW that you have your tickets. A printed or mobile ticket is needed for entry to the event. We get a lot of emails the day of the event from participants who can't find their tickets and are needing them resent, but our customer service hours are limited on the weekends and we may not get to your request before your event.
  • Parking: Gates open at 4:00 PM. To help with traffic arriving and exiting the event, please come early. Many of our venues are located off of smaller roads, and traffic can back up closer to gates closing. We also ask if you can please carpool.
    • There will be a $10 parking fee upon arrival at the venue. Please bring cash for parking.
  • Check-In Time/packet pickup: Check-in will begin at 4:00 PM on Saturday. Your event lantern will be handed out during check-in. Remember no outside lanterns are allowed. Our special event lanterns are designed for safety and close landing zones.
  • Food Options: There will be food trucks available for you to purchase food and drinks.

Outside drinks and food are welcome, but alcohol is not permitted. All coolers will be checked when entering our event. *Please keep in mind that these options are subject to change*

Social Distancing and Safety Measures:

• All Lights Fest staff will be wearing gloves and masks when interacting with participants. If you wish to wear a mask, please be sure to bring your own.

• To ensure that social distancing guidelines can be followed, only a limited number of participants will be able to attend.

• The tiki torches in the launch zone will be more spread out so each group of participants can stay 6 feet apart.

• There will be an overflow area for people who prefer to sit away from the main crowd and watch the lanterns go up. Then, as participants leave and the crowd size in the lantern lighting/launching area starts to get smaller, those in the overflow area can feel free to come light their lanterns when they’re ready.

Policies and Rules

THE LIGHTS FEST RULES:

1. Follow all rules and instructions from the online-waiver.

2. No lighting the lanterns before it is time.

3. One strike, you are out. No exceptions.

4. No taking or moving tiki torches from their original spot.

5. No children under 13 can light lanterns.

6. 13-17 year old's need parent supervision when lighting a lantern.

7. No outside lanterns. Our lanterns are event lanterns and are designed with safety in mind.

8. Please pick up all garbage at the festival. Garbage cans will be place throughout the festival area.

9. No outside lighters, matches and weapons of any kind.

10. We love your pets! However, they’re not allowed at the event. We do make exceptions for service animals. Keep in Mind that loud music and the possibility of fireworks may provide an uncomfortable atmosphere for your service animal. Please keep them on a leash.

11. Please leave grills and BBQs at home.

12. Umbrellas, small canopies, and low-to-the-ground sun shades are okay, but for safety reasons we ask participants to leave large tents and canopies at home.

Safety and online-waiver: Each participant has signed our online-waiver at checkout.

You warrant and represent by attending the event that you have been notified about the rules and waivers and that you agree to be bound by them - and that you may be personally liable for violating the rules.

Schedule of Festivities

Lantern Launch, weather, and approval to launch

The Lights Fest is Saturday, September 12.

First parking arrival time will begin at 4:00 PM and closes at 7:00 PM. Check-in is where participants will receive their lanterns. Other swag will be available for purchase while entering our festival area.

Check-in gates will close at 7:00 PM. The lantern launch will be no earlier than 7:00 PM. The launch of the lanterns is 100% dependent on the weather and fire team approval. While the launch is anticipated to happen shortly after sunset, it could be any time after due to waiting for the approval.

We’ll have music and some dancing. Food options will be there to satisfy your hunger, you are welcome to bring food and water as well. Alcohol is not permitted. Several other vendors will also be selling other items.

Once it gets dark, and we get the approval, we will begin the Sky Lantern Launch. We will give a brief description on stage of how to light off a lantern. We will do a quick countdown to launch the lanterns all together. After you have set your lantern to the sky, the festival will continue to play music.

Time Schedule:

Please keep in mind that times are subject to change.

  • 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM  - Check-in will be open for participants. The festival area will have music, pre-party fun, food, dancing and so much more.
  • 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Relaxing and Announcements
  • 5:00 PM* - Entertainment
  • 7:10 PM - Sun sets and the countdown begins
  • 8:00 PM* - Kids Dance Party
  • After dark** - Lanterns are released and the magic happens.

*Please note that the actual time of the entertainment and announcements can change.

**Please note that the actual time of the lantern launch will be based on when it is dark and the fire marshal give us the go-ahead to launch.

Charity

We are The Lights Fest and we support Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.). We are passionate about this cause and are committed to being involved in the fight against human trafficking.

Join the fight with us and please donate if you can. Any donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. This is such a dark and unimaginable issue, but it is vital to have hope and support the organizations who are making a difference. Please, shine your light with us and let's help O.U.R. bring these children out of the darkness.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE