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- Sinulog Festival. When: Third Sunday of January. Where: Cebu City. Sinulog is an annual religious festival honoring Sr. Sto. Niño. It is considered one of the biggest and grandest Philippine festivals.
- Feast of the Black Nazarene. When: January 9. Where: Quiapo, Manila. This religious feast is celebrated in the heart of Manila, Quiapo. The Black Nazarene is believed to be miraculous, that’s why thousands of devotees come here to participate in the annual Traslación.
- Ati-Atihan Festival. When: Third week of January. Where: Kalibo, Aklan. Another religious festival in the Philippines in honor of Santo Niño is Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.
- Dinagyang Festival. When: Fourth Sunday of January. Where: Iloilo City. Dinagyang Festival is one of the most famous religious and cultural Philippine festivals.
From the lively Ati-Atihan Festival to the grand Sinulog Festival, each event showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. With traditional dances, parades, and delicious food, these festivals offer a unique and unforgettable experience.
- Sinulog Festival
- Ati-Atihan Festival
- Dinagyang Festival
- Pahiyas Festival
- Masskara Festival
- Panagbenga Festival
- Kadayawan Festival
- Moriones Festival
- Higantes Festival
- Zamboanga Hermosa Festival
Location: Cebu City Date: 3rd Week of January This is probably one of the grandest festivals held in the country. The celebration is to honor the life of Santo Nino (The Holy Child Jesus) which is the patron saint of Cebu City. Before the pandemic, this festival attracts more than 2 million tourists from all over the country and even foreigners fro...
Location: Kalibo, Aklan Date: 3rd Sunday of January Ah, the Ati-Atihan Festival. Consider this as the “OG” of all festivals in the Philippines. It is also known as the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals” this event is said to have inspired famous festivals such as the Sinulog and Dinagyang Festival. Like the Sinulog Festival, this event is also he...
Location: Iloilo City Date: 4th week of January If Sinulog is considered one of the grandest festivals in the country, then Dinagyang is considered the most attended. Once again, this festival is held to honor the life of Santo Nino, the Holy Child Jesus, the arrival of Malay settlers on the island, and also the legendary barter of Panay Island fro...
Location: Lucban, Quezon Date: Every May 15th This is one of the famous festivals in the country. The word “Pahiyas” means to decorate. Fitting to its name is the true purpose of the festival. That is to find out which house in the neighborhood is decorated the best with farm products like vegetables, fruits, and many more. Pahiyas is held to honor...
Location: Bacolod, Negros Occidental Date: October This is also one of the grandest festivals in the country is the Masskara Festival, the sheer volume of tourists attending this festival reaches almost 3 million annually. The word “masskara” is derived from the Filipino word “mascara”. Which literally translates to masks. That is the true purpose ...
Location: Baguio City Date: During the Holy Week (March or April) Unlike the previous festivals listed in this article, this is not a religious festival but rather a cultural one. “Panagbenga” comes from the Kankanaey term which means “the season of blooming”. Yup, you guessed that right. Get ready to see more flowers in a day than you would in a s...
Location: Davao Date: Every Third Week of August This festival is also not a religious one, but rather a celebration of life and a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature. It highlights the richness of Davao’s culture and the bountiful harvests, and the serenity of living. Indeed, the Kadayawan Festival is a celebration of Davaoenos’ gratitude to life...
Location: Marinduque Date: During the Holy Week (March or April) This festival is held to commemorate the life of St. Longinus. He is the Centurion who pierced Jesus while he was hanging on the cross with a spear. Moriones was derived from the word “Morion” which refers to the Roman soldiers’ helmet. Although this is a solemn, religious week-long e...
Location: Angono, Rizal Date: 22nd and 23rd Day of November This festival is held in honor of Angono’s patron saint, San Clemente. This is a one-of-a-kind celebration because originally, its purpose was to mock Spanish Hacienderos (Owners of very large pieces of land) as an agrarian protest. In Higantes Festival, the locals create giants measuring ...
Location: Zamboanga City Date: October 12th Also known as “Fiesta Pilar”, this festival is held in honor of Our Lady of Pillar – the patroness of Zamboanga City. It is one of the biggest and most awaited celebrations in the country. Not to mention that it’s also one of the longest, that’s right. This festival lasts for a month. So, if you’re free f...
- Ati-Atihan Festival. When: January. Where: Kalibo, Aklan. The Ati-Atihan Festival is known as the grandfather of festivals in the Philippines since it's the celebration that started many festivals in the country.
- Panagbenga Festival. Photo from the Philippine Department of Tourism. When: February. Where: Baguio City. Panagbenga or the Season of Blooming is one of the longest Philippine festivals, observed during the entire month of February in Baguio.
- Moriones Festival. When: Holy Week, March or April. Where: Marinduque. During the Holy Week in the country, people flock to Marinduque to experience the weeklong celebration of St. Longinus: the Moriones Festival.
- Pahiyas Festival. When: May. Where: Lucban, Quezon. During the month of May, Lucban showcases a unique harvest festival also known as the Pahiyas Festival.
- Sinulog Festival. What to expect: Street parties, colorful parades with participants doing the Sinulog dance, evening pyromusical shows. Where to celebrate: Cebu City, Cebu.
- Dinagyang Festival. What to expect: Inter-school and inter-barangay street dancing contests, fluvial procession, beauty pageants. Where to celebrate: Iloilo City, Iloilo.
- Ati-Atihan Festival. What to expect: Lively dance parades featuring costumes made out of indigenous materials. Where to celebrate: Kalibo, Aklan. When: Every 3rd Sunday of January.
- Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. What to expect: Aviation exhibitions, seminars, and demonstrations. Where to celebrate: Clark, Pampanga/Carmona, Cavite.
The festivals of the Philippines are not to be missed. Each event is hosted and celebrated with enthusiasm, love, and spirituality. There are music and dance, and a reflection on the ethnicity of the Filipino.
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Sep 1, 2023 · From colorful parades to traditional dances and mouthwatering cuisine, Filipino festivals offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of this beautiful nation. If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, make sure to coincide it with one of these top 10 festivals for an unforgettable experience.
