The Water Lantern Festival was held at Clapham Common for the first time on Saturday, part of a global series staging more than 100 events.
Hundreds gathered around Long Pond, usually home to the Clapham Model Yacht Club, to release paper lanterns inscribed with messages to loved ones.
The evening opened at 3.30pm with food stalls, live music and family activities before the main lantern launch at sunset.
Tess Rowser, a spokesperson for the event, said: “It offers a space for both individual reflection and collective connection, allowing people from all walks of life to come together and experience something meaningful.”
Organisers emphasised the festival is secular but takes cues from Japan’s Tōrō Nagashi and other traditional lantern festivals.
Tickets cost £35, including a kit made from biodegradable paper and wood, an LED light and markers for participants to decorate messages before setting them afloat.
Although the event was ticketed, members of the public could also watch from the pond and join in.
The London event was framed as an inclusive community gathering rather than a religious observance.
The festival is alcohol-free, with organisers stating that no alcoholic drinks are permitted “for the safety and enjoyment of all guests.”
A clean-up operation took place immediately after the event, with volunteers using nets and small boats to retrieve lanterns from the water.
The London team said it worked closely with Lambeth Council and environmental contractors to ensure compliance.
Unlike the infamous illegal rave in 2020, the Clean Water Festival left the space spotless, and the site was ready to use again the following day.
The Water Lantern Festival is part of a global tour visiting more than 100 cities across North America, Europe and Asia each year.
The organisers, Water Lantern Festival LLC, say they donate a portion of proceeds to environmental and community organisations, including a partnership with Water.org.
The tour will continue across North America, Asia and Europe, with further UK events in Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh later this year.
