Don't Miss the Best Festival in Philippines
During the Holidays

Are your holidays in the Philippines clashing with an important festival? There is no better way to spend your holidays than celebrating the best festival in Philippines. You should attend the famous festivals in the Philippines if you are visiting there for the holidays. These festivals will truly boost your holiday experience with the spice of cultural and religious authenticity.

Celebrating the Filipino culture while enjoying your holidays is the best thing that you can experience. The Philippines hosts many cultural and religious festivals throughout the year. Some of them are important Filipino holidays and some are almost month-long celebrations. The best festival in Philippines represents the history, heritage, and identity of Filipino culture.

Almost all the communities are very fond of these celebrations and feel privileged to foster visitors to enjoy along with them. The famous festival in Philippines is another way of promoting the rich heritage of the country. It also represents the cheerful nature of the locals who are delighted by these celebrations. The Filipino holiday calendar includes many of the biggest festival in Philippines that can be religious and cultural.

Moving on, the blog will help you understand the importance of these festivals. It includes the music festival Philippines celebrates, a religious festival in Philippines, and the biggest festival in Philippines. Also, you will find out which of them is the best festival in Philippines. If you want to know more about these important Filipino events, read further.

1. Ati-Atihan, Kalibo

Ati-Atihan

The Ati-Atihan festival is one of the most popular and best festival in Philippines. It means imitating the Atihan people. It is celebrated to honour baby Jesus (Santo Nino). These people are suggestively the indigenous group who once lived in Aklan. According to some people, the Ati-Atihan festival is the oldest and best festival in Philippines. The festival is the symbol of unity, where the locals come and pray together to show their faith. In addition, the Ati Atihan festival is a blend of indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures. You will see various colourful costumes, cultural music, dance, unique traditions, and more in the celebrations. The visitors are welcome to join the festivities to have fun and dance to the traditional music.

When is it celebrated?

3rd Sunday of January.

Where is it celebrated?

Kalibo, Province of Aklan, Panay Island.

2. Sinulog Festival, Cebu

Sinulog Festival

The Sinulog Festival is a famous festival in Philippines. It is celebrated in the honour of Santo Niño, or Child Jesus. The festival represents the rich Catholic heritage of the Philippines. The festival is simply the best festival in Philippines as it has so many vibrant colours, costumes, and accessories as the highlights. In addition, this is a whole spiritual experience for people who can enjoy the Sinulog dance. A grand parade marches on the streets for about 12 hours, featuring colourful floats and dancers in traditional costumes. You can enjoy this biggest festival in Philippines and savour the culinary delights. The community spirit will surely amaze you and it will be a highlight of your holidays in the Philippines.

When is it celebrated?

3rd Sunday of January.

Where is it celebrated?

Cebu City, Cebu Island

3. MassKara Festival, Bacolod

MassKara Festival

As understood by its name, the MassKara Festival showcases colourful displays of vibrant masks. People put colourful masks on their faces and dance to the tunes of traditional music. It is the highlight of the festival. The festival is popular for displaying live music and dancing on the streets. If you will join the celebrations, you will enjoy the amazing parade displays highlighting LED and neon lights. Also, the well-choreographed dance performance and live music with a Latino touch will take your enthusiasm to another level. Apart from music, masks, and dance, this festival includes a bunch of delicious food. The food is inspired by many cultures, namely, Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, and more. Do not forget to try the grilled seafood, batchoy, and other regional delicacies.

When is it celebrated?

4th Sunday of October

Where is it celebrated ?

Bacolod City

4. Pahiyas Festival, Lucban

Pahiyas Festival

Talking about the best festival in Philippines, you must attend Pahiyas. It is also known as Thanksgiving in the Philippines and is celebrated in honour of San Isidro Labrador. He was the protector saint of farmers. The locals pay their respects while praying to thank the lord for a bountiful harvest. It's a famous festival in Philippines showing colourful decorations forming the patterns of butterflies, flowers, and other farm displays. It is the biggest festival in Philippines with the largest and most colourful harvest festival. You will adore the vibrant floral displays and the tempting food like rice flour wafers, sausage, Lucban Longganisa, fried kiping, and more.

When is it celebrated?

15th of May

Where is it celebrated?

Lucban, Quezon

5. Kadayawan Festival, Davao City

Kadayawan Festival

Kadayawan is the best festival in Philippines to experience as a tourist. The festival was earlier called the Apo Duwaling festival, symbolising Mount Apo, Durian, and the Waling-Waling orchid. This 5 days long festival is a thanksgiving in Filipino culture. People give thanks to nature for all the gifts they are blessed with. Simultaneously, they thank nature for a bountiful harvest and honour the indigenous traditions of Mindanao. If you get the chance to visit this festival, you will see a display of floral float parades and cultural dances. The locals are engaged in dancing on the streets and participating in jewellery-making competitions.

When is it celebrated?

Every year in August for 5 days

Where is it celebrated?

Davao City

6. Panagbenga, Baguio Flower Festival

Panagbenga, Baguio Flower Festival

The Panagbenga or the Baguio Flower Festival is the best festival in Philippines you can experience during your holidays. This is a month-long festival representing the history, culture, and beauty of Baguio City. It is the season of blooming that symbolises wisdom passing from the older generation to the younger ones. Elders pass their knowledge to their children for the outcome of tradition and innovation working out things together. The entire community celebrates this religious festival in Philippines together. Tourists love to enjoy the celebration. If you plan your holiday in the Philippines during this event, you can see float parades and cultural shows. In addition, it's the music festival Philippines enjoy with live music performances. Also, street dancing makes the event more pleasant and enjoyable.

When is it celebrated?

1st day of February till March

Where is it celebrated?

Baguio City

7. Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival, Tacloban

Kasadyaan Festival

The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is a religious festival in Philippines where you can see lots of vibrant celebrations. The festival showcases the history and culture of Filipino culture with a modern touch added. The colourful costumes and painted designs on the face and body are the highlights of this festival. This famous festival in Philippines includes street parades and sword fights for public displays. It also showcases many dance sequences featuring statues of Santo Niño. This will be quite a unique experience where you can learn about Filipino culture. Compared to the kinds of parades you are familiar with, watching sword fighting performances will be unique to discover. You will surely enjoy the drum beats while watching the parade.

When is it celebrated?

29th of June

Where is it celebrated?

Tacloban, Leyte

8. Giant Lantern Festival, San Fernando City

Giant Lantern Festival

The Giant Lantern Festival is the best festival in Philippines to enjoy during the night. As the name suggests, the festival is all about giant lanterns brightening the sky in the most fun manner. This festival is almost a month-long celebration where unique-shaped lanterns illuminate the sky with their vibrant appearance. This festival represents the Christmas celebration in the Philippines and the lantern lighting runs throughout the entire season. This festival is the cultural heritage of this country. It symbolises the star guiding three wise men towards Jesus Christ's manger. The event is really a famous festival in Philippines, making San Fernando the Christmas capital of the Philippines. Joining this enchanting festival will surely be a blissful experience that you should never miss during your holidays.

When is it celebrated?

Mid-December till January

Where is it celebrated?

San Fernando, Pampanga

9. Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City

Dinagyang Festival

The Dinagyang Festival is the best festival in Philippines for both the locals and tourists. This festival represents honouring unity where people from different backgrounds join together to celebrate their traditions. In this music festival, Philippines showcases red and yellow colours. These colours are the symbol of fire, earth, light, and passion. The rhythm of the drums enhances the spirits of dance performers who wear Ati warrior costumes. Their performances are a representation of traditional choreography and chanting words in rhythms will be an outstanding thing to experience. Overall, this is a globally recognised festival which is the best event to visit in the tourism industry. Tourists are welcome to be a part of this festival.

When is it celebrated?

4th Sunday of January

Where is it celebrated?

Iloilo City

10. Moriones Festival, Island of Marinduque

Moriones Festival

Moriones is a religious event, that shows unique traditions and activities in its week-long celebrations. The event is celebrated in the honour of Jesus. On Good Friday, the people in different parts of the town reenact the story "Passion of Christ". It replicates the story of Longinus, the blind man who speared Jesus' side and miraculously got his eye cured. Instruments like drums, trumpets, horns, and tambourines are used to create sound during the celebration. In addition, people wear painted masks, Roman costumes and helmets with vibrant tunics.

When is it celebrated?

The holy week, which is from the Holy Monday to Easter

Where is it celebrated?

The Island of Marinduque

Read Also: Travel Guide to Philippines | Affordable Trip to Phillippines | Philippines vs Thailand

Top Category

Tags

#Beach Travel

Why Book With Us?

Filipino Travel is an IATA accredited travel agency protected by ATOL and an ABTA member too. What else do you look for - Hurry & ring us to get those eye grabbing deals. We've got the best pricing, personalized staff to look after you, safe and secure payment methods and happy and repeat customers booking with us whilst you're reading this.

Great Savings
We bring you best travel deals from our partners.
Financial Protection
Your all deals are protected by ATOL scheme
ABTA & IATA Agents
We are proud members of ABTA & IATA accredited agent.
Instant Support
Get instant support over the phone, email and whatsapp.