Celebrate the end of summer and the gift of community with a magical lantern parade on Chocorua Lake at dusk.

On Sunday, September 1, at 6PM, join Chocorua Lake Conservancy for its Annual Picnic in the Grove by Chocorua Lake, followed, at dusk, by the Parade of Lights on the lake. BYO picnic, drinks, chairs, flashlights or headlamps (important!), and whatever else you might need. Then, decorate your canoe or kayak with lanterns, lights or candles to participate in the parade, or watch the beauty unfold from the shore. Please be sure you also have flashlights or headlamps as needed for safety on shore before and after, lifejackets, and whatever else you need to be safe out on the lake. The parade will begin to assemble soon after the sun sets at 7:25 PM. The Parade is follow-the-leader. The head boat will be identified as the boats assemble in the water, and then will lead everyone in a figure 8 from the Grove out into the big lake and then under the bridge to loop around Little Lake before heading back under the bridge to line up again and make for the Grove!

The Parade of Lights was started in the 1960s by painter and landscape designer Sam’l Newsom, a longtime Chocorua resident, and his friends. Newsom, who designed landscapes as disparate as the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and the Remick Park in Tamworth, was inspired by aspects of the Japanese festival celebrations he witnessed during his time living in Japan. Come see for yourself why this tradition continues so many decades after its inception. Boats will put in from the Grove at the Route 16 end of Chocorua Lake Road, or you can put in at the Island off of Rt. 16 and paddle over toward the Narrows Bridge for the start of the parade.

If you’re able, join us in the Grove by 5:30 PM for a brief performance by traditional Indian dancer Mouli Pal and other dancers, following Mouli’s movement workshop, Song of the Lake Through Mudras. More info HERE.

Banner image: The Parade of Lights on Chocorua Lake. Photo: Betsy Memishian