SPECTATORS and tourists may expect a bigger and grander Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) this year.

This was according to the GLF Executive Committee and the GLF Foundation Inc., which are planning various activities in line with the 110th celebration of the festival, one of the most awaited Christmas festivities in the country.

GLF 2018 chairman Alex Patio said the festival will kick off as early as October with a caravan in several Robinsons malls in Metro Manila and Cebu City this year.

Patio also bared that the world-class Fernandino-made giant lanterns will also invade other Kapampangan events like the Sinukwan Festival and Pampanga Day both set in November.

“We are coming up with a month-long festivity starting with the Sinukwan Festival and Pampanga Days and will be culminated with GLF competition itself on December 15, up to barangay showdown on January 2,” he said.

Another addition to this year’s festival will be the return of Barangays San Pedro and Del Carmen in the roster of competitors along with last year’s participants Barangays Sindalan, Calulut, Telabastagan, Del Pilar, Sindalan, San Agustin, San Agustin, Sta. Lucia, Del Pilar, Del Rosario, and four-peat champion Dolores.

“Barangay Dolores is proposing that they will just be in for an exhibition and not join the competition but we are still checking and finalizing some matters, especially on subsidizing funds for them to ensure that we will not violate any rules,” Patio added.

Patio also disclosed that Robinsons Starmills have also prepared a bigger venue for the festival to accommodate the growing number of local and foreign tourists.

With the bigger venue, Patio said more activities will be expected including modern carnivals, food fairs, night market and others.

“We want to strengthen our city’s brand as the Christmas capital of the country and the world as well. The GLF is now on its 110th and we want the festival to step up and offer a bigger variety of fun to our fellow Fernandinos, Kapampangans and the visiting crowd,” he said.