8th Annual Lantern Festival (Event Over)

6pm to 9pm 8th Annual Lantern Festival at Lake Hibiscus, Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave, Jamaica Plain FREE ($10 suggested donation, if you want to send out your own lantern) This is based on the Japanese midsummer Bon Festival, a Buddhist ritual in memory of loved ones in which lanterns represent the souls of the dead are floated out to sea and prayers are offered so that they might rest in peace. You can write some thoughts about your departed on the shades of the lantern, then watch it float about Lake Hibiscus. From 6pm to 8pm, the evening starts with performances of from the Samurai drummers of Tsuji Daiko, dance performances from the Chu Ling Dance Academy & Showa Boston Institute, and local gospel singers Ron Murphy, Athene Wilson, & Wannetta Jackson. It's okay to bring picnic. A flashlight is suggested (but you'd be okay without one). There will be a $5 fee for parking at Forest Hills Cemetery, but it's a short walk from Forest Hills, Orange Line (via Tower St, East of station). (Rain date: THUR 7/20) http://melpoing.tripod.com/ http://www.showaboston.org/ http://www.chulingdance.com/chu_home.htm http://www.foresthillstrust.org/