Glowing lanterns made Lake Havasu shimmer Saturday evening when more than 2,000 people participated in the Water Lantern Festival at Rotary Park.

The festival is one of many that take place throughout the country. The participants were able to write messages of hope and love on their lanterns , as well as write messages in memory of  loved ones no longer here.

The festival benefits the organization water.org. Water.org is a nonprofit that raises funds to provide loans to people throughout the world that need access to clean water. The loans enable those without that access to implement infrastructure to provide clean water.

For more information, visit the website water.org.

Pool noodles were set up to provide a barrier for the lanterns and crews were in place to clean up the lanterns after they were in the water for a period of time.

Here are photos  from the event.

Dallas and Charli Trowbridge color their lanterns Saturday afternoon. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Participants sit along Rotary Beach before sunset for the Water Lantern Festival. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Participants sit along Rotary Beach before sunset for the Water Lantern Festival. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Mills and Karen Kinsey of Kingman, AZ hold the lanterns they made for the festival. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene