Festivals & Events of Ilocos Province
Festival is an often regularly recurring program of cultural performances, exhibitions, or
competitions. Well, Ilocos has numerous festivities that they are celebrating more than just
existence. Traditions, costumes, delicacies, and harvests from the catch - these are some factor
that could be found in our festivities. Experience Ilocos Vacation, Groove, Sing and whoop it up.
Come and celebrate with us!
Sinait Garlic Festival - It happens during the 1st to 3rd of May that showcase the talent, ingenuity and
hard work trait of Ilocano Farmers in various competition form. It is also known as the Sinait Bawang
Festival. The province-wide cooking contest is also held side-by-side with the Search for the Biggest
Garlic Bulb and Garlic Bundling, whose categories include Longest Twined Garlic, Creative Bundling, and
Bundling Competition which also allows tourist participation.
Viva Vigan Festival - Every first week of May, Vigan plays host to visitors for this festival featuring
painting and product exhibits, a Calesa parade, and other cultural activities.
Longaniza Festival - The Longaniza Festival of Vigan City held every 22nd of January featureing
the “Longest Longaniza” with the hope of entering to the Guinness Book of Records as the longest
Longaniza of the world. The Longaniza plays a major role in promoting the identity of the city as a
major producer of Longaniza which is famous not only locally but also overseas.
Pinakbet Festival - A festival celebrating a favorite and unique dish of the Ilocanos, “pinakbet” featuring
street dances and cooking competitions. A day to honor the farmer’s industry and housewives cooking
skills. competitions where the best of Ifugao crafts are displayed.
Tabako Festival - Celebrated every last week of March in Candon City, as thanksgiving for the city's
bountiful harvest of tobacco as it's their major product.
Binatbatan Festival of the Arts - The “Heritage City,” as Vigan is known, bursts into merry
colors through its Binatbatan Festival, luring hordes of local and foreign tourists to its streets
lined up with ancestral houses. The festival got its name from the Iluko term batbatin, or
separating cotton balls from the seeds of the local fruit tree kapas sanglay. The cotton balls are
then spun and used in weaving the abel, which Chinese merchants then residing in Ciudad
Fernandina, the Vigan of old, exported and which was among the local products shipped during
the galleon trade from the 15th to the 18th century.
Semana Santa - St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral is the venue of religious rites during the Holy
Week. The Good Friday procession features decorated carrozas bearing life-size statues of
Spanish vintage. On Easter Sunday, the dawn celebration depicting the Resurrection of Christ,
called “Sabet,” is a scene to behold.
Kannawidan Festival - In this festival, the Ilocano people showcase cultural shows, native
products and the talents of the Ilocanos. Kannawidan Ylocos Festival became an annual festival that
aims to create awareness on the preservation of the province' rich cultural heritage, practices and
traditions, and a showcase of the different agriculture and industry products of the province.
Vegetable Bowl Festival - A town west of the city of Vigan in the province of Ilocos Sur, it is very
interesting to know that in spite of the small size of the town, it has managed to evolve as an
important portion of the economy of the province.
Pamulinawen Festival - Featuring floral and dance parade. Every February 10 (feast of St. William)
in Laoag City.
Guiling-Guiling - Celebrated a day before ash Wednesday in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The residents
dressed in their Ilocano costume adorned with antique jewelries, dance and sing around the town
while being given the sign of the cross instead of gray ash, pounded rice is used.
December Festival - Features lantern parade & competition, chritmas dressing up and palarong
pamasko in Laoag City.
Damili Festival - Highlights street dance competition pantomiming pottery making which is an industry
of San Nicolas.
Farmer's Festival - Bacarra. A festival that highlights a street dance parade participated in by dressed up
farmers with their products, agro-industrial, trade fair, contest of the biggest farm harvest and livestock,
“pinaka” contests agro products.
Magdadaran: Talip Festival - Held in Adams & Carassi. Aims to commemorate the ancient peace pact
that has brought lasting peace between and among ethnic tribes in the province of Ilocos Norte & its
environs to cultivate and bring to the fore their rich culture, customs and indigenous traditions. Is also
celebrated to enhance fellowship and stronger ties among the tribes and Ilocanos intermingling with
them.
Gameng Festival (Ilocano word for Treasure) - The festival aimed to strengthen Solsona’s culture,
promote for cultural products and designs, preserve and conserve the historical and cultural treasures
and resources of through the Gameng Festival.
“Dulang” Food Festival uncovers the culinary skills of the Laoagueños and revives the
typically-Ilocano cuisine like the “pinakbet, bagnet, tinodok,” including the famous Ilocano
wine”Basi”.
Dinaklisan Festival “Panagdaklis” is an ethnic way of catching fish used by the fishermen of
Currimao before and even today. Using their initiative, knowledge and skill, the coastal villagers
invented indigenous fishing gadgets and the most common among them was the “DAKLIS” The
festival showcases the traditional livelihood of the fishermen. Since this is the trademark of our
town, we must give importance and dignify this income-generating occupation of the people.
Bac-Bacarra Festival - The highlight of the festival is the conduct of the Bac-bacarra Street
Dancing, a legendary dance, which depicts the history of the town, and the traditional thanksgiving to
the abundant fish catches to the patron Saint Andrew the Fisherman. Fishing industry is well-known
in the locality where the fish products have quality taste and high valued
Pista'y Dayat (May 1) - Pangasinenses and visitors alike take to the beaches to celebrate Pista’y
Dayat. Revellers enjoy the traditional offering of the mass on the beach, fluvial parade, marathon
and the selection of "Lingas na Dayat" with the event center at the Lingayen Public Beach.
Feast of The Señora De Manaoag - Celebrated after the Holy Week, the feast of the Lady of the Most
Holy Rosary widely known as Señora de Manaoag, is the patroness of the sick, the helpless and the
needy.
Feast of The Señor Divino Tesoro (Starts April 24) - Devotees congregate to Calasiao for the feast of the
Señor celebrated with a 9-day novena that starts on April 24 and ends with a 3-day festivity on May 2 to
4.
Panangedayew, Dagupan City (Nov. 27 - December 2) - is a Pangasinan word which means to
uplift is celebrated with activities that includes garden show, trade fair featuring "bangus
bagoong", peanut brittle, quilted products, housewares, etc.
Bangus Festival - In celebration of the bountiful harvest of milk fish in the area, town comes
live with activities such as the longest grill, street dancing and 101 ways of cooking bangus.
Puto Festival - Celebrated in Calasiao, Pangasinan honoring the product that has supported a lot of the
citizens through the years. Rice cakes in white and brown can be bought anytime of the day.
Agoo Semana Santa. In the oldest town of La Union, the life-sized statues depicting the
Stations of the Cross are pulled by devotees along the proccessional roads during the Good
Friday procession. During the Holy week the town people of Agoo come up with religious
activities to make the occasion more meaningful and sacred.
Rambak. A yearly Holy week celebration spearheaded by the Provincial Government f
featuring water sports, band concerts, fluvial parade and reenactment of the resurrection
rite at the Bauang Beach after the Easter Sunday mass.
Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay.The Filipino-Chinese community in San Fernando
celebrates the Feast of Our Lady by bringing the original statue from Taal, Batangas to the
temple for the weeklong activities held on the second week of September which is the 5th
day of August in the Lunar calendar.
San Fernando Town Fiesta. The capital town of San Fernando is the center of festivities
on February 6 to 12 to honor St. William, the Hermit.
