It’s the time of the year again, when the community starts making their parol lanterns and holiday decor to adorn their houses for the yuletide season. In San Francisco, on Saturday, December 10, 2016, the community will be holding the 14th Annual San Francisco Parol Lantern Festival – a must-see event during the holiday season.

The festival begins with a series of parol lantern-making workshops held at the Bayanihan Community Center and are still going on. Parol workshops are open to the public.

The parols made during these workshops are then displayed during our anticipated parade & festival held in Yerba Buena Lane, Jessie Square and St. Patrick’s Church. This year, we expect marchers from over 25 local organizations to gather for a lively parade and festival which includes performances, community presentations and the annual Tala Awards for the best parol lanterns.

This year participating contingents who are vying for the Tala Awards are expected to incorporate the theme - SoMa Pilipinas: Bring Your Culture to Light - in the design of their parol lanterns and presentation in conjunction with San Francisco's newest Filipino Cultural District, SoMa Pilipinas.

Each year, the SoMa community showcases the parol lantern - the quintessential Filipino symbol of hope, blessings, luck, peace, and light during the holiday season - and brightens the Jessie Square, Yerba Buena Lane and Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Street. 

The Parol Lantern Festival & Parade will start at 5PM on Saturday, December 10, 2016. The parade will start at Yerba Buena Lane and end in at Jessie Square and/or St. Patrick's Church, where program festivities will take place. 

SCHEDULE

5PM: Entertainment & Parol Gallery in Jessie Square
6:15PM: Parade Starts at Yerba Buena Gardens
6:30 - 8PM*: Program & Tala Awards in Jessie Square
* In case of rain, the parade will be cancelled and all program activities will take place inside St. Patrick's church at 6:30pm

We hope that you can join this year's Parol Festival!