The festival’s theme this year is “Passing the Torch, Forward in Light.” CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO – The Parol Lantern Festival returns this year to bring holiday cheer to the Filipino American community in San Francisco.

Fil-Am community members will once again create handmade parol lanterns – the quintessential Filipino symbol of hope and blessings – to display at a free, family-friendly celebration of the holiday season.

SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District, in partnership with Filipino American Development Foundation and South of Market Community Action Network, will present the 22nd Annual Parol Lantern Festival on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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The center is located at 701 Mission Street in San Francisco.

Events during the festival include “A Taste of Christmas,” a sampling of traditional Filipino holiday snacks and treats from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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There will be new offerings from the Filipino Cultural Heritage District’s new eateries – Izzy and Wooks, Mestiza and Sarap Shop.

The “Parol Stroll” and “Tala Awards” will start at 5 p.m. at Jesse Square on Mission Street, right next to St. Patrick’s Church.

Organizers said the festival carries forward practices, art forms and stories that have been passed down by elders, families and communities with this year’s theme, “Passing the Torch, Forward in Light.”

“When I migrated to the United States, I was hoping that those who were not familiar with the parol tradition would learn…(and) will carry (on the tradition) in the Filipino American community. We’re looking forward to young people becoming interested in the tradition of arts and crafts,” stated MC Canlas, community strategist at Bayanihan Community Center, who initiated the parol-making workshops in SOMA Pilipinas.

A parol-making workshop, slated on Dec. 7, is open to the public. Participants will learn the traditional art of parol-making from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the YBCA Grand Lobby. RSVP here.

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