The Mekong Night Festival made its return to River Prairie Park in Altoona on Saturday, Aug. 16, for an all-day and -night event celebrating Southeast Asian culture through live music and activities, food and drink, and more.

The festival, hosted by the Hmong American Leadership & Economic Development organization for its fourth year, also commemorated the 50th anniversary of Hmong and Southeast Asian diaspora in the Chippewa Valley.

Around 8:30pm, one of the event's most-anticipated moments arrived: the Lantern Launch Ceremony. The traditional-style water wishing lanterns were released into Prairie Creek as the sun went down, meant to carry messages of love, remembrance, and hope as they flowed down the creek.