In the quiet moments before dawn breaks across Folsom Lake, a familiar tradition will once again begin to take shape along the shoreline at Beals Point. As Easter morning arrives on April 5, hundreds are expected to gather in the early morning darkness, coming together for a service that has become one of the region’s most enduring and meaningful holiday traditions.
Now marking its 65th year, the annual Easter Sunrise Service stands as a reflection of faith, family and community—one that has grown from a simple, spontaneous moment into a deeply rooted gathering that continues to bring generations together each spring.
As the sky begins to lighten over the Sierra foothills, the stillness of the lake is slowly replaced by the sounds of quiet conversation, greetings among familiar faces and the soft notes of music preparing to begin. For many in attendance, it is a moment that feels both timeless and personal—an experience that blends the beauty of nature with the shared observance of Easter morning.
The non-denominational service welcomes all who wish to attend, offering a setting that is intentionally open, relaxed and inclusive. The program traditionally includes live music, scripture readings, prayer and communion, creating a thoughtful and reflective atmosphere as the sun rises over the water.
While the setting itself is powerful, it is the story behind the service that continues to resonate just as strongly.
More than six decades ago, Jim “Digger” Williams and his wife Sharon arrived at Beals Point expecting to attend a lakeside Easter service, only to find that it was no longer taking place. Faced with an empty shoreline in the early morning darkness, the couple made a simple decision that would ultimately shape a tradition lasting generations.
Over the years, Sharon Williams has shared the story of that first morning with countless attendees, a simple but powerful moment that ultimately inspired a tradition still going strong today.
“We went there that year not knowing that it wasn’t happening anymore; it was just dark and empty,” she has recalled. “So, we just stayed there, and we had our own service. We took our time and we celebrated in our own special way.”
That quiet, unplanned moment became the foundation of what would follow. The Williams family returned the next year, and then again the year after, gradually building a tradition rooted not in organization or scale, but in sincerity and a desire to share something meaningful with others.
Over time, word spread and attendance grew. What began as a personal act of faith evolved into a community gathering that would come to define Easter morning for many in the Folsom and Granite Bay areas. Despite its growth, the service has remained grounded in its original spirit—simple, welcoming and centered on reflection.
The event has endured through decades of change, pausing only under rare circumstances, including a year of severe weather and the public shutdown during the 2020 pandemic. Even then, the Williams family continued their observance privately, underscoring the deep personal commitment behind the tradition.
Today, the Easter Sunrise Service remains a true family-led effort, carried forward by multiple generations who have embraced both the responsibility and the meaning behind it. Sharon Williams continues to be part of the tradition she helped create, while her children and grandchildren now play key roles in organizing and sustaining the event.
In recent years, her grandson Anthony Williams and his wife, Gaw Vang Williams, have taken on significant leadership in planning and coordinating the service. From organizing logistics and preparing musical elements to ensuring the event remains welcoming to all, their efforts reflect a thoughtful balance between honoring tradition and guiding it into the future.
Anthony Williams has previously shared that the family is thankful for the many who continue to return year after year, calling the service a labor of love they are committed to carrying forward. He described it as a special and welcoming space where the community can come together each Easter.
For those who attend, the experience often becomes something deeply personal. Many families return year after year, building their own traditions around the gathering. Some have been attending for decades, while others arrive for the first time and quickly understand what has drawn people back for generations.
Part of that connection comes from the setting itself. With no walls, no stage and no formal structure beyond the program, the service offers a rare opportunity to step away from the pace of everyday life. Attendees gather along the shoreline, seated in chairs or on blankets, watching as the first light of Easter morning spreads across the lake.
It is in those quiet moments—before the music begins, before the first words are spoken—that the significance of the gathering is often felt most strongly.
As the service reaches its 65th year, it stands as a powerful reminder of how something small can grow into something lasting. What began with one couple choosing to stay on an otherwise dark and empty morning has become a tradition that continues to bring people together year after year, just as the sun rises over Folsom Lake.
This year’s Easter Sunrise Service will take place Sunday, April 5 at Beals Point Recreation Area, located at 7806 Auburn Folsom Road. As has become tradition, attendees are encouraged to arrive early in the pre-dawn hours to allow time for parking, finding a place along the shoreline and settling in before the service begins. Gates will open for parking at 6 a.m., with the program beginning at 6:30 a.m. as the sun rises over Folsom Lake. Those planning to attend may wish to bring chairs or blankets for seating as they take in the morning gathering. Standard California State Parks parking fees apply. For more information, organizers have an event page on Facebook here.
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