Perth's Magical Lantern Event Turns Into Nightmare
What was promised as an enchanting evening of floating lights at Jackadder Lake in Woodlands turned into widespread disappointment for many Perth residents during the first weekend of November 2025. The highly anticipated Water Lantern Festival, which attracted approximately 5000 attendees across two days, failed to deliver the core experience participants had paid for.
Pre-Paid Promises Go Unfulfilled
Attendees who had purchased tickets in advance, some paying around $50 per person, arrived expecting to decorate and release wooden or rice paper lanterns bearing personal messages. Instead, they were met with signs stating the event had run out of lanterns due to "unforeseen circumstances" and "unforeseen inventory issues." The shortage affected numerous guests who had pre-purchased their tickets, with staff admitting they had sold additional door tickets on Saturday without reserving lanterns for prepaid customers.
One frustrated attendee who drove over an hour to reach the festival described it as "oversold and disorganised" in social media posts. "No notice, no apology — the night was completely ruined," they reported on Instagram.
Social Media Backlash and Refusal Refusals
The fallout was immediate and vocal across multiple platforms. A TikTok video documenting the experience quickly amassed 83,000 views, with the creator stating: "They ran out of lanterns so we paid $50 to watch other people's lanterns — oh, and no refund either." Comments flooded in encouraging affected customers to contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook became hubs for shared frustration, with many attendees reporting they were refused full refunds despite not receiving the goods they paid for. The event's website clearly states that refunds are only available to those who purchased additional ticket protection, leaving most customers without recourse through official channels.
Some individuals reported being offered only gift vouchers as compensation, which many found unacceptable given the circumstances. "We contacted them demanding a full monetary refund after their offered 'compensation', which was a gift voucher," one Reddit user stated, adding they would contact Consumer Affairs if not refunded promptly.
Official Responses and Environmental Concerns
Consumer Protection WA issued a clear statement regarding the situation. A spokesperson emphasized that "under the Australian Consumer Law, once payment is accepted businesses are required to supply the goods or services within the agreed time frame" and that consumers are entitled to a full refund if this doesn't occur. They advised credit card users to explore chargeback options with their financial institutions.
The City of Stirling, which had promoted the event on its website and social media channels, found itself facing questions about how the event received approval. Residents questioned both the organizational oversight and the environmental implications of releasing numerous lanterns into Jackadder Lake.
Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin acknowledged the lantern shortage while noting that the majority of event feedback had been positive. He confirmed the City was following up with organizers about the refund process for affected customers.
Organiser's Response and Troubled History
Water Lantern Festival marketing manager Tess Rowser expressed that the company was "deeply sorry for the disappointment" caused to Perth residents. She described the inventory shortfall as "baffling" given their data indicated a surplus of lanterns before the event.
The organization has promised full refunds plus complimentary VIP tickets to their next Perth event scheduled for late March 2026. They're conducting an internal audit to determine where the breakdown occurred in their forecasting, logistics, or distribution processes.
This isn't the American-based festival's first challenge in Australia. Earlier in 2025, their planned Canberra event was cancelled after the National Capital Authority cited insufficient information from organizers. The company has also had to distance itself from fraudulent events like "Lantern Festivals Australia" that have scammed Australian consumers.
Consumer Protection WA had actually issued a warning about such fraudulent lantern events in September 2025, with Commissioner Trish Blake noting scammers often create artificial demand by marking dates as "sold-out" to rush ticket purchases.
