Does anyone know how to make one of those flying luminaria thingies?

[grasswire]

I've seen them on video. Some kind of a paper contraption with a candle inside that goes up like a helium balloon would go?

We are holding a family picnic on the riverfront lawn in July, and I'm thinking how very cool it would be to launch one of those in the twilight. It's a momentous occasion, with the college boy off to Russia for a whole year of study, and new twins in the fam, and so on.

I don't know what the thing called or how to make it.

[PoliticAverse]

1. They're often called 'Sky Lanterns'...

Long instructions from someone: http://blog.skylighter.com/fireworks/2008/11/how-to-make-chinese-sky-lanterns.html

Don't burn down the neighborhood...

[HarveyDarkey]

2. If it were bigger and carried people

we'd call it a hot air balloon from the looks of it.

[grasswire]

5. oh thanks

I had never heard the name of the things before.

[warrior1]

3. I would do it with flameless candles

You wouldn't want to start a fire somewhere. Just saying.

[Ineeda]

4. flameless won't work

because you need heat for the balloon to rise. Here's a web site that sells them and has a short demonstration video.
https://www.theskylantern.com/shop/index.php?osCsid=f7e4a5e524dc6a92f490df5a29ca3ac4

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. lets hope you are not in an arid area

the feds are already worried about fires this year

[kurtzapril4]

7. If the lantern gains enough altitude

the flame goes out. Or the wind blows it out. I've never seen one of those sky lanterns land with the candle still burning.

[grasswire]

10. no worry where I live

good point though

[ohiosmith]

8. If there is a Chinatown near you check there.

[grasswire]

9. yeah, I've been looking into that.

I know of a very large Chinese novelty store in Chinatown here.