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Lanterns on the Lake

Lanterns On The Lake Brings Community Together for Memories and Hope

| Douglas Jessmer |

It’s time to put your cares, hopes, memories, feelings and dreams on the water.  After a topsy-turvy year, there’s a chance to make memories, honor the past and raise hopes for the future — a water lantern event at Nathan Benderson Park.

NBP Lanterns On The Lake 2020

NBP Lanterns On The Lake will be 4-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. The event is limited to 1,500 participants and is designed to allow abundant space for attendees to move around and maintain social distancing. Participants will be encouraged to wear face masks. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m.

For those who opt not to be at the organized lantern release, there are lantern pick-up and drop-off times.

The park’s nonprofit operator, Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates (SANCA), is host for the event. SANCA President/CEO Tomas Herrera-Mishler invites people to an “artful and magical evening.”

“There’s nothing like seeing the beauty of glowing lanterns floating on our lake,” he said. “If ever there was a year to send your wishes, hopes and prayers out onto the waters, it might be 2020! This moving special event safely draws together our community like few others.”

The fee is $25 until Dec. 1, after which the cost will be $30. Every participant will get a lantern, battery-powered tealight and markers in a reusable drawstring bag.

Tickets are available on the website.

Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates Inc.

Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates Inc. (SANCA) is a not-for-profit 501c3 business created to manage Nathan Benderson Park (NBP), a community/public asset and world-class, multi-use sports venue. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our community and be an economic generator for our region. SANCA’s primary purpose is to develop and promote NBP as a world-class event center, team training site, and Sarasota County Park, while providing outreach programs through recreation, safety training, education, and volunteering as a service to our community. Learn more at HERE.

Photo from Nathan Benderson Park

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