Thank you for playing my game.
The candles have a last-minute bug that they stop at some point. But you don't have to gather anything to proceed to do anything or go anywhere. The player's accomplishment won't be judged in my game ;D You don't have to follow any order to visit any of the points of interest, either. You are free to go anywhere anytime, even the top of the mountain, without any candles, balloons, or cake.