Events and Festivals in Iloilo City

DINAGYANG SA ILOILO

 Dinagyang Festival‘s

highlights are celebrated every 3rd or 4th weekend of January, every year. The highlights are composed of the Ati-Ati Competition, the Kasadyahan Festival, the foot and fluvial procession, and the religious sadsador religious street dance. Dinagyang is the Best Tourism Event in the country. Various festivals in the country learned and applied innovations in their own by watching Dinagyang. it's a religious and cultural festival in reverence of “Sr. Santo Nino”

A fluvial parade is held on Friday. It also serves as the highlight of the religious aspect of the festival.

Kasadyahan is held on Saturday and is a cultural competition showcasing the diverse and colourful Festivals of each participating municipality of Iloilo Province.

Chinese New Year Festival Held during the First Full Moon of the year, lighted paper lanterns of various shapes and sizes line on street corners in downtown area of the city. At night, Iloilo is alive and busting with merriment that features lavish and colourful fireworks display, Chinese cultural and variety shows and night bazaar where festive goods are on sale.
Not to miss out is its most spectacular festivity, the lion and dragon dance performed to the beating of the gong and drums accompanied with acrobatic performances. The food festival that features a variety of culinary delights adds flavor to the festive spirit of every Ilonggos.

Paraw and Samba Regatta Festival

 The sunny but cool and windy February climate paves the way for the annual Paraw Regatta along Iloilo Strait. Colorful paraws (local sailboats) vie for trophies and cash prices for the different categories of the contest.

 The contest gives tribute and honor to this water vehicle as an indispensible partner of local fishermen and as a common means of transportation between Iloilo and Guimaras and the other nearby coastal towns.

Side events also include; Porma Balas a sand sculpting competition; search for Ms. Paraw Regatta; Beach-volleyball; Beach-soccer; and the Samba Regatta, a music and dancing competition which has resemblance of the mardi gras in Rio de Janeiro.