Sky Lanterns

Our city’s numerous parks remain a popular choice for families and businesses to celebrate many different types of special occasions. We frequently host birthday parties, family reunions, retirement parties, company picnics and even gender reveals. People are always looking for ways to make their event special, and we frequently receive calls asking if this or that is allowed in our parks. Every so often, we are asked if sky lanterns are allowed.

If you aren’t aware, sky lanterns (sometimes called Chinese lanterns, Kongming lanterns or aerial candles) are paper balloons that have an open flame suspended beneath them. The flame heats the air in the paper balloon giving it buoyancy allowing it to float up into the sky. There are even some festivals abroad where they launch thousands of lanterns from the ocean coastline. As beautiful as they are, here in Michigan they pose a significant fire danger to the public and are prohibited under the fire code. There have been many fires caused by sky lanterns across the country, including four residential homes that caught fire in Highland Park a few years ago on the Fourth of July.

Sky Lanterns are not permitted in our parks, and it is not legal to launch them anywhere in the City as they are considered unattended fires under the fire prevention ordinance.

Stan Torres, Parks Supervisor