Rain postpones Lantern Walk in Fox Chapel's Salamander Park

A celebration of light in Fox Chapel will have to wait.

Heavy rain predicted for Saturday has postponed the park conservancy’s Winter Solstice Lantern Walk until Saturday, Jan. 8.

“For the safety of our guests, we have to push it back,” said Mandy Steele, councilwoman and conservancy co-founder.

The lantern walk is a celebration of the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.

Volunteers will illuminate the trail at Salamander Park beginning at 5 p.m.

The event will wrap up a year’s worth of fundraisers aimed at protecting the borough’s green spaces.

The conservancy hosted three earlier lantern walks, each highlighting a different borough park.

The summer fundraiser, hosted at the borough’s newest recreational space, Hardie Valley, boasted 1,200 candles scattered throughout the meadows and trails. It featured performances by members of the Pittsburgh Opera and dancers from Attack Theatre.

The fundraisers have brought in nearly $100,000, but Steele said a larger part of the mission is to educate people on how to connect to the parks and grow them for the future.

Steele’s goal is to get people outside and learn the importance of conservation.

“Take a magical nighttime walk in the winter woods and help us bring light into the darkest time of the year,” Steele said.

A light meal and hot chocolate will be provided as a “thank you” for supporting the inaugural year of the parks conservancy.

Parking will be available along Hemlock Hollow at McCahill Park. Hemlock Hollow will be closed to through traffic until 7 p.m.

The event is free, but donations are welcome.

Guests are asked to leave pets at home.