Experience the Bright Festivals in Bacolod

For decades, Bacolod was a great fishing village on the coasts of Negros Occidental and Negros Island, but now it is also the bustling capital, communications, commercial, and service hub of Negros Island and its twin province Negros Occidental.

Smiling faces abound in Bacolod. People from Bacolod tend to be mild-mannered and soft-spoken, which is obvious when you meet someone from the city. When it comes to celebrations and festivities in this city, it's no surprise that they're full of fun.

A Glimpse of Negros Occidental Bacolod City Festivals

Below are the various Festivals that you can experience in Bacolod City all year round:

Masskara Festival

Artist Ely Santiago combined "mass" or a large group of people and "cara," which is the Spanish word for "face," to create the term "MassKara" meaning a multitude of faces. Maskara, the Filipino term for "mask," is also a play on the Spanish word máscara, since the festival's masks are usually embellished with smiling faces, leading to the nickname "City of Smiles" for Bacolod itself.

Among the locations where the event is commonly held are the Bacolod Government Center, the Lacson Tourism Strip, as well as the Bacolod Public Plaza.

When to visit: Masskara Festival is celebrated in Bacolod City on the fourth Sunday of October every year.

Panaad sa Negros Festival

The Panaad sa Negros Festival draws thousands of tourists each year. The yearly Panaad Festival of Bacolod City usually includes a variety of themed pavilions displaying the history, culture, arts, and greatest goods of the province as well as its tourist industry. Visiting Bacolod City during this festival lets you experience everything that each city and municipality has to offer as they can all be found in one convenient spot.

Known as the Mother of all Festivals in Negros, the Hiligaynon word for "vow" or "promise," Panaad, is also the Hiligaynon phrase for "mother of all festivals" in Negros. This celebration is a kind of thankfulness for the divine sustenance and a display of a pledge in return for a prosperous life. The celebration is held in the Panaad Park, which also houses the Panaad Stadium.

When to visit: Panaad sa Negros Festival is celebrated in Bacolod City in the month of April every year.

Halandumon Festival

The Halandumon Festival is a street-dancing competition among the several barangay festivals in the city. Tourist attractions in the city of Bacolod now include the Bacolod City Government Center Football Field, which hosts the annual Bacolod City Barangay Festival.

As part of the Halandumon Festival, the barangays are actively involved in making them feel that as a group, they play an important role in uniting their people and tapping their potential while showcasing their abilities and creativity.

The term "Halandumon" means "memorable" or "worthy of being remembered" in Hiligaynon.

When to visit: Halandumon Festival is celebrated in Bacolod City between the 16th to the 18th of June every year.

Feast of St. Sebastian

In honor of the city's patron saint, St. Sebastian, Bacolod's Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of St. Sebastian. During Diocletian's persecution of Christians, the Roman Catholic Church considers Sebastian a saint and a martyr as he was assassinated while proclaiming his Catholic Faith. Based on the story, he tried to warn Diocletian about his sins and was battered to death as a consequence of his effort.

After a liturgy conducted by a Catholic Bishop, this event comes to a start. For the street children and citizens of Bacolod City, the capital city, the local government conducts a various range of games and activities to play. This annual festival in Bacolod is commonly hosted in the Public Plaza of Bacolod City.

When to visit: The Feast of St. Sebastian is celebrated in Bacolod City on the 20th of January every year.

Bacolaodiat Festival

The terms "Bacolod" and fookien word "Lao Diat" combine to form the phrase "Bacolaodiat" (which means celebration). Every year, this event takes place from the final week of January to the first week of February. In the Philippines, this is known as Bacolod's New Year's Eve.

In addition to the Imperial Village and Chopsticks Alley that can only be seen during this festival, tourists and visitors flock to see the Lantern Dance Parade and the Cultural Events. The dragon and lion dances, the religious rites, the gift-giving and family feasts, and, of course, the spectacular fireworks show make this holiday even more amazing not to mention the street dancers and their colorful costumes.

When to visit: The Bacolaodiat Festival is celebrated in Bacolod City simultaneous with the Chinese New Year every year.

Chicken Inasal Festival

To promote culinary tourism, the Chicken Inasal Festival was created. In addition, this is a part of the city's 80th anniversary celebrations. A total of 25 chicken sellers in Bacolod cook over 3, 000 pieces of chicken thighs, some of which originated from the Manokan Country.

The City Government planned the Chicken Inasal Festival by providing free tickets to the local indigents and street children in order to keep the throng under control. They also invite them to attend and join the feast. There is a police presence at the event to ensure public safety and order. During the celebration, there are also traffic enforcers on duty to handle the flow of traffic during the festival.

When to visit: The Chicken Inasal Festival is celebrated in Bacolod City in the month of May every year.

Rum Festival

Tanduay Distillers came up with the concept of a Rum Festival and pitched it to the Bacolod City Council. A law signed by former Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang in 2019 was approved to honor this yearly occasion. According to the legislation, Bacolod is known as the "Sugar Capital of the Philippines" and the "home of the world's biggest selling rum," which Ang noted.

The festival celebration honors the modest sugarcane, which has played an essential role in the growth of both the firm and the city.

When to visit: The Rum Festival is celebrated in Bacolod City in the third weekend of August every year.

Other Festivals to explore near Bacolod:

• Pasalamat Festival in La Carlota

• Bailes de Luces Festival or Festival of Lights in La Castellana

• Sinigayan festival in Sagay City

Festivals in different cities not only promote and take pride in Filipino culture, tradition, and talents but also greatly contribute to Philippine tourism and the economy as well.

If you want to be part of this celebration in Bacolod City and planning to invest in a house and lot in the City of Smiles, Lumina Homes has two (2) communities available in this region:

• Lumina Bacolod – Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
• Lumina Bacolod East – Granada Alangilan Road, Bacolod, Negros Occidental

Be proactive and seize the chance to live independently as soon as now in this one of the most-sought after locations in the Philippines and savor not only the food and festivities, but also a wide array of tourist spots located near these two communities.

Don't forget to visit us on the sites mentioned above or you can also make your home reservations anywhere anytime through our Lumina Homes Online portal!