Festival Girl Rates: 5.5/10
The Filipino Lantern and Cultural Festival last Saturday was a chance to get a start on some early Christmas celebrations. To help kick off the celebration, there was a parade, Christmas choir singers, a lantern making competetion, food stalls, a gift stall, sports demonstraions, a talent quest, traditional Filipino native costumes and other festive Filipino activities.
All the sights, all the sounds, the aroma and flavours of the Filipino Christmas were in Parramatta.
Festival Girl Highlights:
It was my first taste of Halo Halo a Filipino shaved ice dessert OMG - OMG. It was such a hot day, this dessert was my staple for the day.
Hello Halo Halo
Some performers singing in the amphitheatre
Filipino beauties posing for a picture
Traditional dressed Filipino lady
Free concert given to the public: Go Pinoy!
Adorable older ladies dressed in native clothes - love the colours and textures.
Markets with Filipino treats for sale
The parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks and rice paper and had a candle or coconut oil lamp for illumination.
The festival is centred on the parol or lantern which symbolises the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men
This stall was so cute, you all know by now that I love the concept of recycled goods and giving things a second life. My Ecofriend makes accessories that are handmade from recycled foil juice packs, vinyl, chips packets, candy wrapper, nylon sacks, jute, rice flour bags, aluminum cans, bottles, old telephone directories, old magazines, and used newspapers. They are lovingly made by poor women to benefit their families and the environment.
Totally in love with this red bracelet made completely of buttons - but as 'thought' about it for a minute - the girl pictured bought it. You snooze you loose I guess...
The Gift stall and Parols for sale
Traditional Filipino ladies - this costume is so feminine and pretty, I love the use of lace
Festival chief organiser Emma de Vera said the star was the Filipinos' most cherished symbol of yuletide celebrations, hence the importance of the Parasol
Festival Girl Lowlights:
Ahhh Parramatta parking as usual. Especially around Christmas time. I would have liked to see a bit more arts and crafts, but of course I always do. Maybe some more cultural stores or information for the patrons. But all in all, a fun event.
Maligayang Pasko! Merry Christmas!
If you love Christmas like I do, here are some other Family Fun festivals coming up celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.
If you love Christmas like I do, here are some other Family Fun festivals coming up celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.
Love,
Festival Girl xox
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