The origin of most early Philippine festivals, locally known as fiestas ( or ), is rooted in Christianity during the Spanish colonial period. Many barrios and towns were assigned patron saints, and celebrations were encouraged to coincide with Christian holy days. According to historians, these patronal festivals served as a means of promoting Christian practices while blending elements of precolonial rituals and communal gatherings.
Festivals in the Philippines may be religious, cultural, or both. They are held to honor patron saints, commemorate local history, celebrate a bountiful harvest, or promote community products. Common activities include Masses, processions, parades, trade fairs, concerts, pageants, theatrical plays, and various contests and games. Not all festivals are Christian in origin; some are rooted in Islamic or indigenous traditions. There are more than 42,000 major and minor festivals nationwide, most celebrated at the barangay level. Some large observances, such as Holy Week and Christmas, are declared public holidays and are observed throughout the country. __TOC__
List
The partial calendar list contains several of the oldest and larger religious and/or cultural festivals in the country. Each town, city, and village has a dedicated fiesta, resulting in thousands held throughout the year; a few are national in character. Some fiestas may contain multiple/conflicting dates and/or place entries.
January
NameDateLocationNotes Binalbal Festival1Tudela, Misamis OccidentalBaggak Festival5-11Bauang, La UnionCelebrates the municipality's founding anniversaryKuraldal Festival6Sasmuan, PampangaHonours the town's patroness, Saint LucyHinagdanan Festival9Dauis, BoholCelebrates the rich history of the cave and the Barangay Bingag founding anniversary every 9th Day of January Hinugyaw Festival5-10Koronadal CityCelebrates the city's founding anniversaryLingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary9Lingayen, PangasinanCommemorates the landing of General Douglas MacArthur and the Allied Forces in Luzon in 1945.Feast of the Black Nazarene9Quiapo, ManilaCommemorates the translation of the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church in 1789.Coconut Festival1st to 2nd weekSan Pablo City, LagunaHonors St. Paul the first hermit, town patron. Also highlights the coconut, the primary crop of the city. Festival usually lasts a week.Minasa Festival2nd weekBustos, Bulacannamed after the Minasa, a cassava-based cookieBatingaw Festival13Cabuyaocommemorates the legendary golden bell of Cabuyao Halad Festival3rd SundayMidsayap, CotabatoHonours the Santo NiñoFeast of the Santo Niño3rd SundayNationalLiturgical feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú according to the Philippine National Liturgical Calendar.Sinulog Festival3rd SundayCebu, Cebu City (variants in Kabankalan City, Maasin City, Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Pagadian, and Southern Leyte throughout the years)Honours the Santo Niño de CebúTuba Festival20Borbon, CebuHonours the town's patron, Saint Sebastian.Bayluhay Festival3rd weekSan Joaquin, IloiloCommemorates the landing of the ten Bornean datus and the historic barter of Panay IslandBambanti FestivalThird week of JanuaryIsabela ProvinceHighlights the scarecrow ( and celebrates the farmers' abundant harvestAti-Atihan Festival15-21Kalibo, AklanHonours the Santo Niño, and the legendary meeting of the island’a aboriginal peoples with settlers from BorneoBatan Ati-Ati Malakara Festival3rd weekendBatan, AklanSikhayan Festival18Santa Rosa City, LagunaHonors the resilience and perseverance of the people of Santa RosaDugoy Festival18Sablayan, Occidental MindoroCelebrates unity in nature conservation in SablayanFeast of San Sebastian Martir20Lumban, LagunaHonours the town's patron, Saint SebastianLongganisa Festival22Vigan CityCelebrates Vigan's accession to cityhood in 2001Bulak Festival22San Ildefonso, BulacanBulak Festival is San Ildefonso's official town festival. Primarily, the festival is celebrated in honor of the town's patron, San Ildefonso but it also gives honor to the "kapok" plant, also known as "bulak" which played a very important part in the town's history. BULAK is actually San Ildefonso's old name when it was still just a barrio under the neighboring town of San Rafael.Feast of San Ildefonso de Toledo22–24Tanay, RizalHonours the patron of Barangay San Ildefonso, Saint Ildefonsus.Halamanan Festival23Guiguinto, BulacanCelebrated as a token of gratitude of town residents to Guiguinto's patron saint St. Ildephonsus (San Ildefonso), and showcases the town's garden and landscape industry.Pabirik FestivalJanuary 23 to February 2Paracale, Camarines NorteCelebrates the province's gold mining industryKasadyahan Festival4th SaturdayIloilo City ProperShowcases the best festivals of the different provinces and towns across the Western Visayas. The date may change soon as it has been separated from the Dinagyang Festival since 2020Dinagyang Festival4th SundayIloilo CityHonours the Santo Niño and the pact between the island's aboriginal peoples and migrant Bornean Datus Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal and Devotional Fiesta4th SundayIbajay, AklanHonours the Santo NiñoKannawidan 'Ylocos' FestivalJanuary 27 to February 12Ilocos SurDinagsa Ati-Atihan FestivalLast weekCadizHirinugyaw-Suguidanonay FestivalLast weekCalinog, IloiloSanto Niño de Malolos FestivalLast SundayMalolos CityHonours the Santo Niño de MalolosCandle FestivalJanuary 31 to February 2Candelaria, QuezonLiturgical Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Candlemas according to the General Roman Calendar January 20 Pana Pana Festival Tarlac city Tarlac
February
Name Date Location Notes Bambanti Festival February Isabela province Scarecrows and harvest festival World War II Anniversary
World War II sites Pista Sintura
Cotabato City Kaamulan Festival (2nd week) to Malaybalay City, Bukidnon gathering of Bukidnon's ethnic tribes Hamaka Festival (3rd sunday) Taytay, Rizal Pahimis Festival (2nd week) Amadeo, Cavite Pistang Bayan alay kay Sta. MartaFebruary (2nd Sunday)Pateros, Metro ManilaIn honor of town's patroness Santa Marta de Pateros, featuring Pandangguhan Festival (local folk dance competition), "Pagoda" or fluvial parade, and "Cedera" or street selling/night market. Paraw Regatta Festival (3rd Sunday),(21–22) Arevalo, Iloilo City Features racing events between paraws, or Visayan double-outrigger sailboats, from Villa Beach in Arevalo, Iloilo City across Iloilo Strait to the coast of Guimaras Kalilangan Festival (4th week),(20–27) General Santos Hot Air Balloon(Clark Festival) (early Feb.) Clark Special Economic Zone, Pampanga annual tournament of balloonist Chinese New Year (early Feb.) nationwide Lunar new year celebrations in Filipino-Chinese communities Festival of Hearts (month long) Tanjay City The Philippine International Arts Festival(PIAF) (whole month) nationwide Sumilang Festival to Silang, Cavite Honours Our Lady of the CandlesPedrista Festival (Feast of San Pedro Bautista)First Sunday / Week of FebruaryQuezon CityHonours San Pedro Bautista (a Franciscan Martyr) who lived in Quezon City and Founded San Francisco del Monte (Frisco); San Pedro Bautista is one of the Patron Saints of Quezon City Bicol Arts Festival to Legazpi City National Arts Month to nationwide Suroy sa Surigao to Surigao City Salakayan Festival to Miag-ao, Iloilo Lavandero Festival to Mandaluyong Pamulinawen Festival to ,or 7–10 Laoag City Honours the city's patron, Saint William of Maleval Dagkot Festival
Cabadbaran Panranumag Festival
Corcuera, Romblon Simara Island Feast of Our Lady of Candles
Jaro, Iloilo City In honour of patroness of Jaro and the whole Western Visayas, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro (Our Lady of the Candles) The International Bamboo Organ Festival to Las Piñas 10-day series of cultural events Guling-Guling Festival February (day before Ash Wednesday) Paoay, Ilocos Norte Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival
Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental Fiesta Tsinoy
Legazpi City Utanon Festival
Dalaguete, Cebu Kalesa Festival
Laoag City Pagoda sa Daan & Pandangguhan Festival
Pateros Fistahan to Davao City Davao Chinese New Year to Davao City Mandaluyong Liberation Day & Cityhood Anniversary
Mandaluyong Bulang-Bulang Festival
San Enrique, Negros Occidental Patunob Festival to Binuangan, Misamis Oriental Taytay Hamaka Festival to ,or 9–15 Taytay, Rizal 7-day event showcasing artistry and craftsmanship Bod-bod Kabog Festival
Catmon, Cebu Aquero Festival to Aglipay, Quirino Pabalhas sa Tablas
Candoni, Negros Occidental Spring Festival(Chinese Lunar New Year)
Iriga City Tinagba Festival
Iriga City(Bicol) harvest festival, Our Lady of Lourdes Palanyag Festival
Parañaque Tiburin Horse Race
Pasay Pamaypay ng Caloocan Festival
Caloocan Sambalilo Hat Festival to Parañaque Local Media Familiarization Festival to Cagayan de Oro Feast Day of Santa Clara
Pasay Pasayaw Festival to Padre Burgos, Quezon Suman Festival(Aurora Foundation Day) to ,(3rd week) Baler, Aurora Ollalion (Ullalim) Festival(Kalinga Foundation Day) ,or 11–14 Tabuk City celebrates the Kalinga culture Serenata
Pasay Apayao Province Foundation
Apayao Timpuyog Festival
Kiamba, Sarangani Menajak Festival
Calamba, Misamis Occidental Sorteo Grand Festival to (every three years) Carmona, Cavite Tawo–Tawo Festival
Bayawan Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival to Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro Laguimanok Festival
Padre Burgos Kap'yaan Festival
Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental Sinacbang Festival
Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental Babaylan Festival(Babaylanes)
Bago highlights the culture of the first settlers of Bago before the Spanish colonization Dapil Festival(Bangued Town Fiesta) to Bangued, Abra Mutya ng Caraga
Butuan Balsahan Festival
Sibunag, Guimaras Asinan Festival
San Lorenzo, Guimaras Sampaguita Festival to ,(2nd week) San Pedro City, Laguna Honors St. Peter the apostle. Named after the Sampaguita Buybuy Fest/Burgos Town Fiesta to Burgos, La Union Wow Araw ng Caraga to Caraga (regionwide) Panagtitimpuyog to Nagtipunan, Quirino Caraga Anniversary to Caraga Mahaguyog Festival to Santo Tomas, Batangas celebrates the abundance of mais, halaman, gulay and niyog, and highlights General Miguel Malvar Cebu City Charter Day
Cebu City Sibug-Sibug Festival or 17 – 26 Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay foundation day of Zamboanga Sibugay province Caragan Festival to Mabalacat, Pampanga Panagbenga Festival(Baguio Flower Festival) (4th week) Baguio flower festival Hil-o Hil-o Festival to Ma-ayon, Capiz Death Anniversary of Baldomero Aguinaldo
Kawit, Cavite Dia de Zamboanga
Zamboanga City,or Zamboanga Sibugay Itik-Itik Festival ,(last Sunday) Pasig native duck (itik) Nangkaan Festival
Maigo, Lanao del Norte Maniambus Festival
Negros Occidental (provincewide) Sambayan Festival to Tobias Fornier, Antique
March
Name Date Location Notes(commemoration/main attraction(s) Salubong at Ang Pasko ng Pangkabuhay(Feast of the Resurrection)
Parañaque Balayong FestivalBeginning of MarchPalawan MAHAGUYOG Festival (Mais, Halaman, Gulay at Niyog) (1st week),(1–7) Santo Tomas, Batangas week-long celebration of seven-day feast in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas Island Garden City of Samal Festival (1st week),(1–7) Samal, Davao del Norte week-long celebration of Samal's founding anniversary Hinatdan Festival (2nd week) Cebu City Witches Festival (Holy Week) Siquijor Sumbrero Festival (no definite date) Biñan, Laguna Say-am Festival (no definite date) Calanasan, Apayao Kapayvanuvanua Festival to (movable) Mahatao, Batanes Turumba Festival or to Pakil, Laguna seven-day feast in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows Banga Anniversary Fiesta to Banga, South Cotabato Dinagsa Festival to Muntinlupa Tinikling to