Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 8 PM - 10 PM
Pacific Grove, California 93950
For over one hundred years the citizens of Pacific Grove
have celebrated its history and culture with a summer festival called the Feast
of Lanterns. This Festival has evolved over its 100-plus year history from the
ceremonial end to the Chautauqua Assembly with a lantern parade to the beach
and fireworks over the bay to a multi-cultural community event filled with
entertainment.
Come down to Lovers Point Park on Saturday, July 30th and
join the community of Pacific Grove in continuing this memorable tradition. The
Feast of Lanterns Pageant is FREE for the public!
The Legend of the
Blue Willow
No one knows who first told the story of the "Blue
Willow". Perhaps it was a Chinese storyteller who began telling the tale
of Chang and his love for the beautiful Koong-se, and how they flew away as
immortal doves, forever free. The Pacific Grove version was first told by Pauline
Benton of the Red Gate Shadow Players in 1958 at Pacific Grove's Methodist
Church - where the lovers fly away as Monarch Butterflies to return again every
fall.
The Story
Long ago in far off Cathay, a land now called China,
there lived during the reign of Emperors a wealthy Mandarin named T'so Ling.
His land holdings were vast and fertile, and his treasures beyond counting. His
palace was built of fine woods and rich lacquers with a roof of blue tile that
gleamed in the sun, and a handmade fence that ran below the palace. Behind the
palace grew an orange tree, and beside the palace ran a river with a graceful
willow that gave shade in the heat of the day.
Of all T'so Ling's possessions, his beautiful Princess
daughters with their jewel names were his greatest joy. The Mandarin delighted
most in his eldest daughter, Koong-se, who he named Topaz, so named for the
golden lights that twinkled from her eyes. Topaz passed her days in a
summerhouse that leaned over the rippling water, where she did elegant
embroidery on silk while listening to tales of old Cathay as told by her
faithful nurse, Chun Soy.
T'so Ling thought Topaz so lovely that he wished to crown
her as Queen. A coronation ceremony was planned, and all the princes,
potentates, maharajahs and lords of the realm were invited to attend the
coronation. One of the old Mandarins brought a chest of gold so impressive that
T'so Ling thought this rich man would make a fine husband for his daughter
Topaz. T'so Ling made plans to combine the coronation with a marriage feast.
Topaz heard this news and became quite despondent, for
she had fallen in love with a poor, young scholar called Chang. Hearing of
this, T'so Ling forbade his daughter to marry Chang. Topaz wandered off into
the dark to drown herself. T'so Ling alerted the villagers to search for Topaz
with lighted boats and lanterns. During the search Topaz and Chang reunited. In
a final burst of lights, Topaz and Chang were illuminated as they changed into
Monarch butterflies and escaped into the sky.
The pageant, which takes place on the last night of the
Festival, tells the story in pantomime and ends with a burst of fireworks
overhead as the lovers are seen for a brief moment departing in the guise of
Monarch butterflies.
Full Schedule:
Full Schedule:
- Kids activities from 11:00am till 7:00pm.
- Yoga with the Royal Court 11:15am till 12:30pm.
- Pier Entertainment starts at 12:30pm.
- Pageant and Sponsors walk starts at 8:00pm.
Cost: Free
