The city of Mercer Island invites community members of all ages to participate in this year’s Island Lanterns event. Residents can decorate or design a paper lantern to be displayed as part of an illuminated installation at the Veterans’ Pergola in Mercerdale Park (last year’s lantern display is pictured) and at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center from Feb. 1-March 31. Free solar lanterns are currently available for community members to transform with their creativity at the community center, and painted lanterns must be returned by Jan. 31 to be installed for the event. Islanders can paint a lantern with friends at an event from 1-5 p.m. on Jan. 20 at the community center. For more information, visit https://www.mercerisland.gov/parksrec/page/island-lanterns