Yesterday, we went to the lantern festival in Salt Lake City - technically it was at the Utah Motorcross Campus in Grantsville - We weren't too sure what to expect or what to bring, so we set out with a backpack full of snacks and drinks, a blanket and a camping chair for each of us. We picked up these super cute ones at Walmart (on sale) for about $5!
I knew there would be a lot of people there; however, I had no idea it would be absolutely PACKED! I don't think I have ever seen that amount of people in one place before, and they kept coming and coming and coming. You literally bounced from one line to the next. We decided to join one of the food truck lines. Hannah and I waited about fifteen minutes in the waffle love line before quitting. We hadn't moved an inch and was still a good 90 minutes from the food truck! It was worse then waiting in line at Disney (ok maybe a slight exaggeration there.) So instead, we joined up with Aaron who was waiting, with Lilly Belle, in the Fatty Tuna line.
Quick side note - Beck was at home with my brother - I am so glad we didn't bring him
The girls got fed up being in line pretty quick. Even after getting there chairs at and throwing packets of fruit snacks at them, it was clear that they were heading for a meltdown.
I saw a patch of grass not too far from the food trucks and decided to set up camp there until Aaron got the food. Then the plan was to head over to the fire pits so we would be ready when it was time to light the lanterns. The girls were able to run around on the grass, and even made some friends with other kids whose families had the same thought as us.
Unfortunately, Aaron was in line for a LONG time! So long in fact that it had got dark and we could see the lanterns start to be released.
I will admit that by this point I was fed up, cold, hungry, and ready to go back home! This was not the fun family event I thought it was gonna be. Then I looked at my girls, and they had the biggest smiles on their faces. They were so excited to see the lanterns in the air! Hannah was screaming and pointing out everyone of them while Lilly was just looking up in amazement.
Then, I saw Aaron running over, he opened up the box, got out the lighter, and lit the first of two lanterns. The girls were right there by his side!
I love listening to Lilly yelling at Aaron, "Daddy let go! Daddy let go." Eventually, once the lantern had filled up with the warmth of the flame, he released the lanterns and off they went.
It was so beautiful to see the sky full of thousands upon thousands of lanterns.
We never made it over to the fire pits, but we loved the spot where we were and the view it allowed us to have - and bonus we didn't stink like smoke after. - After letting the lanterns off, Aaron went back to the food truck, picked up our food, and we sat in our camping chairs and watched the lanterns fly away. We also watched thousands of people head back to their cars. Knowing we would be stuck in a parking lot traffic jam, we took our time and enjoyed the moment.
It took us two hours to finally leave the parking lot, and that was only because Aaron noticed a way no one was going. We drove right out!
We got home about one thirty in the morning and crashed! That was until Beck woke me up bright and early to eat :)
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