SOAP LAKE — A new community celebration is coming to Soap Lake later this month, following the city council’s unanimous approval of a special event permit Monday night. The Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce will host its first-ever Lantern Festival on Feb. 21 at the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort. 

Chamber President Karen Woodhouse said the event has been years in the making. 

“I’ve been wanting to do this for three years now,” Woodhouse said, explaining she hoped to bring a bright, family-friendly activity to the community during the quiet winter season. “I wanted to do something in February, in the dead of night… and thought, okay, we should be able to do something.” 

The festival will begin at 3 p.m. with registration and children’s lantern assembly inside the resort bistro. Kids will receive a complimentary lantern, and additional lanterns will be available for purchase. Each will be fitted with an LED light. 

At 4 p.m., the festivities will move outdoors with a traditional dragon dance, followed by a parade leading guests into the lodge courtyard. Lantern releases will take place afterward, though Woodhouse emphasized safety is the top priority. 

Because open flames are prohibited, the chamber worked closely with Grant County Fire District 7 to develop an alternative method. Lanterns will be illuminated with LEDs and lifted using a helium-assisted technique — all while remaining tethered.  

“We’re going to be real careful,” Woodhouse said. 

Weather permitting, smaller floating lanterns may also be launched on the lake, though final plans will depend on shoreline conditions. 

Beyond the visual spectacle, Woodhouse said the event carries a deeper meaning.  

“It’s about hope and prayer, and new beginnings,” she said.  

While inspired in part by Lunar New Year traditions, she noted the festival is intended for everyone in the community. 

Interest is already building. According to Woodhouse, the resort has received calls from people outside the area inquiring about the event, some of whom “didn’t know there was a resort in Soap Lake” but have since booked stays. 

The chamber is hosting the event in partnership with the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort, with sponsorship from local businesses including Cloudview Kitchen and Recollections. For now, the chamber is paying event costs out of pocket, but Woodhouse hopes future tourism funding may help sustain similar events. 

Despite the newness of the festival, she said the goal is simple: bring people together.  

“We’re kind of nervous… I think we’re going to get more people than we anticipate,” she said. 

The event will include music, food and drink, photo opportunities, mooncakes and a lantern-lit atmosphere throughout the evening. 

“It’s going to be fun,” Woodhouse said. “We just want to do something positive for Soap Lake.” 

The Lantern Festival will be held at 236 Main Ave. E, with activities running from 3 to 6 p.m. Weather may affect portions of the schedule.