LANTERN FEST

Glowing lanterns, music, dance and evening tower climbs bring magic and history together.

This year's Lantern Fest was celebrated on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 6-10 pm on the park grounds at Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Highway 98 West, Carrabelle Beach, FL. Each year, our unique outdoor festival lights up the night with magic and history at the 1895 maritime landmark. Special activities included live music and dance, evening tower climbs, ancient craft demonstrations, enchanting glowing lantern display, museum displays, gift shop, and delicious food and desserts.

OUR GUESTS ENJOYED THESE FABULOUS FEATURES

• Over a hundred colorful, hanging lanterns on display. Many of these glowing lanterns are truly works of art and have been painstakingly hand-made by the incredible Joan Matey and other gifted local artists. 
• Bottom Dollar Boys, the remarkably gifted and entertaining musical group, brought their traditional Bluegrass harmonies and mighty fine pickin’. This group has been delighting audiences for over 40 years. They’ve been toilin’ in the fields of Bluegrass, Old Country, Gospel, Americana with a pinch of Blues... 
• The Tallahassee State College Dance Company dazzled guests on the outdoor stage with their superb choreography, amazing talent and imaginative use of glow-in-the-dark props and illusions.
• Ancient Crafts Demonstrations by John Pfund and Chris Cauthen set up the blacksmith forge and Ken Horne showed how to weave rope from local plant fibers.
• Delicious food was served from two local food trucks and desserts from the Beacon Bistro.
• Plus guests enjoyed keeper’s tales, the lighthouse museum, and gift shop. PLUS, there was even wandering Lantern Ladies and the Giant Moth.

Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. Sponsored by the Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union, Centennial Bank, Weems Memorial Hospital, Carrabelle Beach RV Resort, Carrabelle IGA, David Einsenberg, Fathom’s Steam Room & Raw Bar, Franklin's HVAC LLC, Naumann Group Real Estate, Stone’s Home Centers-Carrabelle, Carrabelle Junction, Millender’s Seafood Market, and Mornin’ Bite. Special thanks to the City of Carrabelle and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.