The Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in mid-December in the City of San Fernando in the Philippines. The festival features a competition of giant parol lanterns, which are traditional Filipino Christmas decorations made of bamboo and paper. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”.

The festival traces its roots to the 1900s, when small lanterns were used to light the way to church during the nine-day novena before Christmas. The lanterns gradually became bigger and more elaborate, and in 1931, electricity was introduced to make them more dazzling. The lanterns can measure up to 20 feet in diameter and have up to 10,000 bulbs. Each lantern is controlled by a rotator, a device that switches the lights on and off in sync with the music.

The festival attracts thousands of spectators who marvel at the colorful and intricate designs of the lanterns, which reflect the culture and creativity of the people of San Fernando. The festival also promotes tourism and industry in the city, which is known for its skilled craftsmen and artisans. The festival is usually held on the Saturday before Christmas Eve at the Robinsons Starmills Pampanga mall.