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Purpose
The Pacific Grove Feast of Lanterns, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization
whose purpose is to further and enhance the culture, history
and heritage of the City of Pacific Grove through civic and
cultural activities, including the annual Feast of Lanterns
festival, and to provide scholarships for the continued education
of the Royal Court.
History
Feast of Lanterns festivals and celebrations are centuries old
and are celebrated all around the world and throughout the US
- from NY to Indiana, Ohio, Michigan on to Montana and throughout
California.
No one knows
if the Feast of Lanterns festivals were first celebrated hundreds
of years ago in Japan or China or somewhere else in the ancient
lands of our world, but these festivals of light continue as
part of the international and national landscape. This festival
is not unique to Pacific Grove.
In 1905,
when the Methodists and the Woman's Civic Club of Pacific Grove
organized the first Feast of Lanterns festival as the closing
ceremony to the annual Chautauqua Assembly, their Japanese and
Chinese neighbors were invited and joined in the celebration.
They carried lanterns, brought fish to add to the feast, lit
their boats as they floated off the cove, and enjoyed the amazing
display of fireworks.
When the
Feast of Lanterns was revived in 1958, at the request of then
Mayor Frank Shropshire; his wife Helen; City Councilman Clyde
Dyke and his wife Elmarie Hurlbert Hyler Dyke; they produced
the Festival we know and love today - a multi-cultural folk
festival which our community supports and participates in each
year.
As it was
in 1905, and revived in 1958, and continues today, there is
an opportunity to enjoy music and dancing from around the world,
view exhibits and enjoy the locals literary efforts, meet your
neighbors, and have fun in the fresh air, sunshine, and cool
fog of Pacific Grove.
The Royal
Court
The Feast of Lanterns' Royal Court members are selected by a
panel of community leaders from applicants who are middle and
high school-aged young women who live in the Pacific Grove Unified
School District. The young women who are selected excel academically
and are active in community service and extra-curricular and
non-school activities and represent the City of Pacific Grove
as the Royal Court for one year.
Scholarships
The proceeds of the festival each year, minus operating expenses,
fund an academic scholarship program to benefit the Royal Court.
Invest
in the Future of the Feast of Lanterns
There are a multitude of ways you can help keep the lanterns
lit - become a volunteer at any one of the events or join any
number of planning committees, make a monetary contribution
to the Feast of Lanterns, or become an event or general sponsor.
Volunteer
- it's fun, fun, fun!
Each year the Feast of Lanterns depends on its volunteers to
work with its Board of Directors to put on all the wonderful
events the community enjoys each year. We need help with planning
and with the execution of the events. To find out more about
volunteering, contact the Feast of Lanterns at info@feast-of-lanterns.org with the text "Feast Info" in the subject line, call 831.375.8329 or pick up a FOL Volunteer
form at the Museum, Library, or Chamber of Commerce.
Support
the Feast of Lanterns - The Feast of Lanterns is made possible
through your financial support. Pacific Grove Feast of Lanterns
is a 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to further and
enhance the culture, history, and heritage of Pacific Grove
through civic and cultural activities, including the Feast of
Lanterns festival, and to encourage continued higher education
of the Royal Court through an annual scholarship fund. Learn
more about sponsorships and donations on this website. You can
also mail a donation directly to us at PO Box 809, Pacific Grove,
CA 93950.
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