WALPOLE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A pond at Alyson’s Orchard will glow with the light of hundreds of lanterns this Sunday, as Monadnock Peer Support Agency holds its third annual Floating Lantern Festival—an event dedicated to mental health awareness and community connection.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, the festival has been moved to this Sunday, June 1, due to weather. The event will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sarmas Pond and is free to attend.

The festival is designed to create a space for reflection, hope, and solidarity for those affected by mental health challenges. At dusk, participants will release lanterns onto the water in a collective display of support and remembrance. Each lantern can be personalized with artwork or written messages before being launched.

In addition to the lantern release, the evening includes live music, dancing, and a variety of family-friendly activities. Visitors will find face painting, lawn games, a maker’s market, and craft kits for children supplied by Home Depot. Food will be available for purchase from Alyson’s Tavern, and guests are encouraged to bring picnic dinners, blankets, chairs, and flashlights.

Lanterns can be purchased for $15 on the day of the event or reserved ahead of time for $10. Proceeds support Monadnock Peer Support’s programs, which provide peer-led services to individuals seeking support in their mental health journeys. The agency promotes a vision of inclusive, stigma-free communities where no one feels isolated or judged because of mental health struggles.

Parking will be available near the orchard’s store and event center, with free wagon rides shuttling attendees to the pond. Separate registration tables will accommodate both advance and same-day lantern purchases.

More details and pre-order options are available at www.MonadnockPSA.org.