AAPI Montclair is back with its third annual Lantern Festival for Justice and Remembrance as we near the middle of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The free event will take place at Edgemont Park in Montclair on Sunday, May 21st, and include thousands of lanterns that will light up the sky. Read on for details about the 2023 Lantern Festival and to learn more about AAPI Montclair.
Lantern Festival Details
The 2023 Lantern Festival for Justice and Remembrance will take place in Montclair on Sunday, May 21st from 6PM – 9PM on Valley Road in Edgemont Park. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is set for Sunday, June 4th. This event was created by AAPI Montclair in 2021 to remember those who have been killed or harmed by violence, injustice, and anti-Asian hate — with the lanterns serving as a memorial.
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“Let’s stand together against all forms of hate and celebrate community and solidarity, and our shared goals of securing justice for all,” AAPI Montclair stated on the website.
Happenings in addition to the lanterns include live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, the opportunity to dedicate lanterns with a special message, community partner tables, and a program featuring local and state leaders. Some of the sponsors for this event include Montclair Public Library, Toni’s Kitchen, Montclair Scholarship Fund, Succeed2gether, and Montclair History Center.
Although the lantern festival is free, those interested in donating or sponsoring a lantern can do so here. Funds will be raised to help cover the cost of the event, support AAPI Montclair, and raise funds for Friends of the Howe House as well as the Belleville Historical Society’s campaign to repair the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church, a National Historic Site where Chinese immigrants fleeing violence in the West were welcomed.
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About AAPI Montclair
AAPI Montclair is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that represents Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Montclair, North Jersey, and beyond. Its mission is to help create a more inclusive community by uplifting the experiences of AAPI people while promoting awareness and education about AAPI culture and history. The organization hosts a variety of events throughout the year to help spread core values of inclusion and belonging, community, diversity, and justice — including special events for each year’s AAPI Heritage Month.
