Ati-Atihan Festival

When: Third weekend of January each year, with the biggest celebrations on the culminating Sunday.

Where: Downtown Kalibo, Philippines, with parades and parties across the town centre.

Cost: Mostly free to watch on the streets, though private events, reserved seating and costumes incur charges.

Don’t miss: The day-long grand street parade of drum-heavy tribal groups and the devotional Mass for the Santo Nino.

The Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Philippines is a fusion of indigenous Aeta/Ati traditions and centuries of Catholic devotion to the Santo Nino (Holy Child). Locals call it the ‘Mother of Philippine Festivals’ because of its long history and raw, communal energy.

Expect non-stop street dancing by competing troupes dressed in colorful, often hand-made tribal costumes, loud percussion, and participants who traditionally darken their faces with soot or paint to imitate Ati ancestry; religious rites and a novena to the Santo Nino are woven into the festivities. Most action happens in the town centre around the parish and main thoroughfares, where processions, music and open-air revelry spill from morning into night.

The festival takes place every January, centred on the third weekend and climaxing on the third Sunday - the local observance of the Santo Nino feast. The schedule typically includes nights of street parties leading into a full day of parades and a central Mass on the final day.

If you want to see the biggest spectacles, plan to be in town for the whole weekend: Friday nights build momentum, Saturday offers major parades, and Sunday is the culminant religious and street-dance day.

Fly into Kalibo International Airport (KLO), the main gateway for Kalibo and Aklan; Manila and Cebu run regular connections. From the airport it’s a short taxi or tricycle ride into town - expect traffic and road closures during the festival, so arrive early and give yourself extra time to reach your hotel.

• Respect the religious side: attend the Mass quietly and dress modestly if entering churches or processional areas in Kalibo.

• Be mindful with face paint: darkened faces are a local tradition tied to honoring the Ati; follow local cues and avoid caricature or offensive imitation.

• Wear sturdy, closed shoes and quick-dry clothing - the streets can be crowded, dusty and wet with spilled drinks; bring a small daypack and secure money/phone pouches.

• Stay hydrated and use sunscreen; January is generally dry but the midday sun can be strong and crowds get hot.

• Watch your belongings in dense crowds - pickpockets operate in any major festival - and agree on meeting points with your group.

• Book flights and accommodation well in advance (rooms fill and prices rise); consider arriving a day early to avoid travel delays.