As the Sun Rises, So Does Hope
Before HopeFest fills downtown with music, laughter, art, movement, and community, we invite you to join us for a quiet moment of reflection.
The HopeFest Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony is a dedicated time to honor the lives of those we have lost to suicide, addiction, and mental health challenges. It is a space for families, friends, and community members to remember loved ones, reflect on their journeys, and acknowledge the profound impact they continue to have on our lives.
This is not the beginning of a celebration.
It is the beginning of a day rooted in love, remembrance, and hope.
Why a Sunrise Ceremony?
We understand that some have wondered whether remembering those we've lost before a day filled with activities and community could feel like "having a funeral at a party."
We see it differently.
Grief and joy can exist together.
The Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony creates intentional space for reflection before the day's festivities begin. Rather than asking families to carry their grief quietly throughout the event, we begin by honoring it openly. Together, we will speak the names of those we love, honoring each life with a flower until a single arrangement stands as a living symbol of every story remembered.
Then, as the sun rises, we move forward together.
The remainder of HopeFest is not a continuation of the ceremony—it is a celebration of life, recovery, resilience, connection, and hope. It is an opportunity to gather as families, support one another, learn, laugh, create memories, and continue the work of building a community where stigma ends and hope begins.
For many families, celebrating life after taking time to remember it can be one of the most meaningful ways to honor someone they love.
What to Expect
The Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony is intentionally quiet, intimate, and reflective.
During the ceremony, guests will experience:
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A peaceful, lantern-lined gathering at sunrise
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Inspirational stories of hope and healing
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A community reading of names honoring those we have lost
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A beautiful floral tribute created throughout the reading of names, with each flower representing a life remembered
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Music, moments of silence, and time for personal reflection
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Coffee, warm beverages, and a welcoming atmosphere
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Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, whether your loved one struggled with suicide, addiction, or mental illness, or whether you simply wish to stand alongside others in remembrance, you are welcome here.
From Remembrance to Hope
As the ceremony concludes, HopeFest begins.
The music starts.
Families gather.
Children play.
Art fills downtown.
Neighbors reconnect.
Stories of recovery are shared.
Hope takes center stage.
We believe remembering those we've lost and celebrating the lives that continue are not opposing ideas—they are part of the same journey.
By beginning the day with remembrance, we create space to fully embrace the hope, healing, and connection that follows.
Because every life matters.
Every story deserves to be remembered.
And every sunrise reminds us that even after the darkest night, hope returns.
We invite you to begin HopeFest with us.
Reading of Names
One of the most meaningful moments of the Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony will be our Community Reading of Names.
We invite families, friends, and loved ones to submit the name of someone they wish to have remembered during the ceremony (it can be just first name or first and last name). As each name is spoken aloud, a flower will be placed into a shared arrangement, creating a beautiful tribute that grows with every life honored.
What begins as a single empty vase will, by the end of the reading, become a vibrant arrangement representing the lives that continue to shape our community through love, memory, resilience, and hope.
The completed floral tribute will remain on display throughout HopeFest as a reminder that every story matters, every life leaves an impact, and no one is forgotten.
Names may be submitted in memory of anyone whose life was touched by mental health challenges, substance use, or suicide. You are welcome to submit the name of a family member, friend, neighbor, coworker, or anyone whose memory you wish to honor.
Submissions are due by midnight on September 13th to allow us time to thoughtfully prepare the reading.
Please Note: While we will make every effort to include every submitted name, names received after the submission deadline may not be included in the live reading. Submitted names will be treated with the utmost care and respect.
