Halloween Lanterns Festival, Friday Night

The inaugural Halloween Lanterns Festival at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is set for October 27 and 28, 6:30 to 9:00 PM each night. This two-night, family-friendly event will illuminate the trails of the 120-acre Arboretum, a truly unique natural gem of Jacksonville. Guests will enjoy myriad entertainment opportunities including music, food trucks, adult libations, kids movies, a scavenger hunt, and more!

Luminary bags will pepper the landscape, glowing lanterns will hang from trees, and laser lights will be projected up into the forest—all creating a magical nighttime experience. In addition, each guest will receive a paper lantern and light to carry throughout the park, allowing each person to add to the glowing spectacle. This year's event will be Halloween-themed, so don’t forget to dress up and join in the festivities!

Lantern Parades will commence two times each night—at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Our DJ will announce when it is time to line up at our designated starting point. The parade will go around the entire BOOO-tanical Lake Loop! Also, a Silent Disco is a magical addition to the party! Participants get a pair of wireless headphones to dance the night away under our illuminated “Disco” pavilion. Jam out with us 7-8 PM each night. Note: Silent Disco headphones require a specific ticket purchase and are not included in general admission.

Parking

Parking at the Arboretum is very limited! Do not expect to find a space at the park. Instead, plan to park at our designated overflow lot at Seacoast Charter Academy, 9570 Regency Square Blvd. Jacksonville Florida, 32225. A free shuttle will ferry festival-goers to and from the Lanterns Festival. The trolly will run each night from 6 PM to 9:30 PM.

Costumes are encouraged. Weapons, real or fake, are NOT permitted. Costume masks covering the entire face are NOT permitted for guests over the age of 17. Light Sensory Warning: The Lanterns Festival contains bright, flashing lights that may cause discomfort to those sensitive to such stimuli.

Please Note: Lanterns will be carried and not released into the air. Releasing floating lanterns into the air is illegal in the state of Florida. Doing so is harmful to the environment and having hundreds of burning candles in a forest is never a good idea. All lanterns will have battery-operated lights. No open flame of any kind is permitted. Again, lanterns will not be released into the air.

Walk at your own risk. There are paved paths that are wheelchair accessible, however, there are also offroad, dirt paths at this location of the event. Please be aware and take caution. Dogs will not be permitted inside the Arboretum for this event. Service animals are allowed, but no pets, please. More details to come, so stay tuned for event updates.

SCAM NOTICE: 904TIX is the only website that is authorized to sell tickets for the Halloween Lanterns Festival. If you are contacted about purchasing tickets over the phone, on social media, or via email, do not give them your information!