Iloilo Festivals

The Ilonggos love their festivals, so it is not surprising that these are already part of their culture. Most Iloilo festivals are religious in nature, but often, Ilonggos combine these religious festivals with folk celebrations. They view these fiestas as opportunities to pass on their beliefs and traditions to the younger generations.

Curiously, you will see that personal concerns seem to fade away during these festivals. People are more aware of their heritage and culture because of these fiestas. In truth, Iloilo festivals provide families and friends with the perfect reason to feast and celebrate.

Iloilo festivals are quite numerous that no one is entirely sure how many festivals there are actually in Iloilo; however, all of these festivals truly reflect the Ilonggo culture. If you are considering visiting Iloilo, you should try to plan your visit in time for their big festivals, so you will enjoy a glimpse of the history, culture and tradition of Iloilo.

Dinagyang Festival

One of the biggest Iloilo festivals that you should definitely look out for is the Dinagyang Festival. It is the festival honoring Santo Niño or the child Jesus. It is held on the fourth week of January and it commemorates the Christianization of the native Malays during the Spanish era. This festival is quite similar to the Mardi Gras of Brazil. It is wild, dazzling, outlandish and quite riotous. The costumes and the floats reflect Iloilo’s artistry, ingenuity and craftsmanship. The parades truly display their cultural heritage. This festival is a week-long event of partying for the whole city. Millions of people flock to Iloilo for film festivals, marathon runs, masses, processions, beauty pageants, concerts and contests.

Fiesta of Arevalo

Every third Sunday of the month of January, the Fireworks Display Contest is held in Arevalo, Iloilo City. It is actually part of the Fiesta of Arevalo; and in truth, it is the highlight of the event. This contest turns the fiesta into a celebration of blazing fireworks that light up the city’s skyline.

Feast of Our Lady of Candles

The city celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Candles every second day of February. This is one of the biggest Iloilo festivals and this is when opulent religious pageantries grace the city. People from all over the Western Visayas flock to Iloilo for garden shows, grand cock derbies, agro-industrial exhibits, carnivals, concerts, contests and more. Many people believe that this festival symbolizes the city’s prosperity and the people’s love for huge fiestas and celebrations.

Carabao Carroza Race

One of the most unique Iloilo festivals is the Carabao Carroza Race which is held every May in Pavia. This festival is entirely about carabaos. The highlight of the event is the 400-meter race where the participants are carabaos pulling their own carrosa.

Santacruzan Festival

Iloilo festivals also include the Santacruzan Festival which is celebrated from April 24 up to May 31. This celebration is big in Sta. Cruz, Arevalo in Iloilo City. This includes a mayflower festival and grand processions with huge arches.

Cry of Sta. Barbara

There are Iloilo festivals that are celebrated to commemorate the history of Iloilo. One of this is the Cry of Sta. Barbara which is celebrated every 17th of November in Sta. Barbara in Iloilo. This festival commemorates the first cry for revolution against the Spanish conquistadores. The festival usually opens with a huge parade with participants dressed up in Spanish attires. Aside from the parade, there are cultural presentations as well.

More Festivals

There are still other Iloilo festivals that are just as fun, unique and exciting. Some of them include Iloilo-Guimaras Paraw Regatta, Pasungay, Hinugyaw, Paghukon, Molo District Fiesta, Mandurriao-District Fiesta, Santacruzan, Pagtaltal in Barotac Viejo, La Paz District Fiesta, Ilonggo Lantern Festival, Ilonggo Music Festival, Christmas Light Festival and the Ilonggo Festival which is curiously held every October in SM Megamall

These Ilonggo festivals are testimonies to Iloilo’s multi-faceted tapestry of culture and history. The city has the biggest, longest and most colorful festivals in the country. And if you are planning to visit Iloilo, you should definitely time your visit to any of their festival. It will make your trip more exciting and memorable.