FESTIVALS IN PAMPANGA
CUTUD LENTEN RITES (City of San Fernando)
Re-enactment of Christ’s passion and suffering observed every Lenten season at Cutud, San Pedro San
Fernando Pampanga. The re-enactment shows the sufferings of Jesus Christ, nailed to the cross with the
three flagellants nailed on the wooden cross and they are placed on the top of the makeshift calvary.
GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL (City of San Fernando)
Days before Christmas, giant lanterns made of colored crepe and Japanese paper with frames of
intricately tin-wired skeletons containing electrical mechanism and a thousand bulbs, highlights the San
Fernando Giant Lantern festival. The lanterns dance, blink and brilliantly twinkle in kaleidoscopic pattern
and cadence with the band music. Through the years, different provinces in Pampanga showcase their
different designs and craft and compete against each other.
HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL (Angeles City – February and Lubao – April)
This is an annual exhibition of hot air balloons, sky diving, micro light demonstrations, small planes flybys and fly-ins. This is the country’s largest aviation sport event today. Participants from all-over the
world flies to the Philippines to join their local counterparts in this spectacular event.
SINUKWAN FESTIVAL (City of San Fernando)
Residents of Pampanga celebrate this day as their Foundation Day showcasing Kapampangan’s culture,
traditions, events, activities, and other socio, civic and economic related events.
IBON-EBUN FESTIVAL (Candaba)
Ibon-Ebon Festival, also called “Birds and Eggs Festival,” is a celebration held during the first and second
days of February in Candaba, Pampanga. It was first celebrated on February 1 and 2 in 1998 and has
been running successfully up to now. This festival is also a celebration for another year of bountiful
harvest. The main features of the festival are the migratory birds. These wandering birds not just
promotes Candaba but also advocates tourism in the Philippines.
This festival is one of the biggest and most awaited events in Pampanga. Throngs of people go here
because of the two-day multi-activity festival showcasing street dances, kite flying competition, food
and cooking contest, a parade and a lot of other activities and presentations. Common, endemic, and
rare birds are chippering and chattering merrily along with the spectators. It's as if they know that they
are the stars of this lively event.
This festivity is dedicated to the famous Candaba Swamp that serves as a home of almost 14,000 kinds
of nomadic birds belonging to over 40 avian species. They gather each year in the swamp as a stopover
before continuing their travel to the different parts of the world. This natural bird haven in the
Philippines is one of the top tourist destinations, especially for bird lovers. During the migratory season,
bird watchers flock the Candaba Swamp just in time for the multitude of birds landing in the area.
The streetdance competition takes the challenge to the next level as it releases a theme – performers
should include in their choreograph the imitations of bird movements. Dancers flap their arms and bob
their heads as if they are possessed by a lovely bird spirit. They also wear multicolored and fabulous
costumes to brighten the festival. After the parade, awards are given to the groups with the best
costumes and most amazing performances.
Objectives
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To endorse the protection of the environment.
To promote ecotourism in the province.
The food production.
Attractions/Events
The festival Showcases:
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Local duck-egg industry in Pampanga
Street dancing
Exhibits
Bird watching and tours
Parade
Candaba Swamp
River cruise at the Pampanga River
Bird kite flying
Harvest fest
Trade fair and tiangge
Jamming with “Ibon” dancers
Grand streetdancing parade
Dragon boat race
Street concerts with local bands
Pinukpukan Festival (Floridablanca)
Caragan Festival in Mabalacat City
Sinukwan Festival
CALENDAR OF EVENTS (FESTIVALS) IN PAMPANGA
January
February
Aguman Sanduk
(Minalin)
Majigangga Festival (giant
puppets) – Feast of the
Three Kings (Sta. Ana)
Caragan Festival (Mabalacat)
Philippine International Hot-Air
Baloon Fiesta
(Angeles City)
Ibon-Ebun Festival
(Candaba)
April
May
March
Philippine International Baloon
Festival
(Lubao)
Sabuaga Festival (Easter
Sunday)
(Sto. Tomas)
Manggahan Festival
(Arayat)
June
San Pedro Cutud Lenten
Rites
(City of San Fernando)
Santero Festival
(Macabebe)
Pinukpukan Festival (Floridablanca)
Sampaguita Festival (Lubao)
Seafood Festival (Masantol)
Mais Festival (Mexico)
Apung Iru Fluvial Procession
(Apalit)
Libad Fluvial Festival
(San Luis)
July
August
Ampalaya Festival
(Floridablanca
Apung Monica Fluvial Procession
(Minalin)
Kamaru Festival
(Magalang)
October
Pyestang Tugak (City of San
Fernando)
Tigtigan Terakan keng Dalan
Fiestang Kuliat
(Angeles City)
November
Makatapak Festival
(Bacolor)
Duman Festival (Sta. Rita)
Binulu Festival
(Porac)
Ataol Festival (Casket
Festival)
Sto. Tomas
Sun Sea Moon Festival
(San Simon)
December
Ligligan Parul
(City of San Fernando)
Sisig Festival
(Angeles City)
Sinukwan Festival
(City of San Fernando)
Dukit Festival
(Betis, Guagua)
Pyestang Tugak Festival (Frog) (City of San Fdo)
KAMARU FESTIVAL – Magalang
Sisig Festival (Angeles City)
SABUAGA Festival – Sto. Tomas
DUKIT FESTIVAL (Woodcarving) – Betis, Guagua, Pampanga