Cemetery lantern festival lives

The Forest Hills Educational Trust announced today the annual Lantern Festival will go on after all this summer. In December, the trust announced the suspension of all programs in 2011 following the departure of three staffers, including the executive director. But in an e-mail today, the trust said:

After temporarily suspending programming for strategic planning, the Forest Hills Educational Trust is pleased to announce that the 13th annual Lantern Festival will be held on Thursday, July 14th (raindate: July 21). A much-loved community event for Jamaica Plain, as well as Greater Boston, the Lantern Festival draws its inspiration from the Japanese Bon Festival -- a celebration each year when a door opens to the world of their ancestors allowing loved ones to send messages to the other side. It is a time when neighbors come together to share stories, celebrate, and honor the memories of loved ones.

Although the Lantern Festival is inspired by Japanese Buddhist tradition, it incorporates the diversity of the community that provides its setting and includes many multi-cultural events throughout the day.

Thanks to Ron Newman for forwarding the e-mail.