Festivals in the Philippines in October

📍 Naval, Biliran

🗓️ First Saturday of October, during Naval's town fiesta

The provincial capital's festival celebrating the coming of Christianity to Naval, with street dancing by town contingents and the 'Tsinelas Party' street party.

📍 Banaybanay, Davao Oriental

🗓️ October (month-long)

Banaybanay's thanksgiving for a bountiful rice harvest, also honoring the town's early settlers.

📍 Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

🗓️ About 10 days in mid–late October, main showdown day is a holiday

Negros Oriental's 'festival of festivals' in Dumaguete, where contingents from the province's towns and cities compete in street dancing and showdowns, with food and trade fairs.

📍 Tagum City, Davao del Norte

🗓️ Early October, culminating on October 10

Gathering of Tagum's Mansaka, Mandaya and Kalagan peoples with migrant tribes: harvest thanksgiving rituals, indigenous games and cultural presentations.

📍 Sorsogon City, Sorsogon

🗓️ Most of October, around Sorsogon's founding anniversary

Sorsogon's provincial festival of prosperity, known for the Pantomina sa Tinampo street dance ('dance of the doves'), plus a parade of resources and a regional festival of festivals.

📍 San Juan, La Union

🗓️ Late October to early November

Running since about 2006: surfing competitions at San Juan's breaks, plus surf clinics, beach events, music nights and side events in Bacnotan.

📍 Mambajao, Camiguin

🗓️ Third or fourth week of October

Camiguin's week-long thanksgiving for the lanzones harvest, centered in Mambajao, with street dancing in lanzones-themed costumes, a fruit fair and contests.

📍 Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

🗓️ October 1–18 in 2026, highlight weekend mid-October (moved earlier from late Oct)

Bacolod's 'City of Smiles' festival: dancers in smiling, beaded masks and glittering costumes compete in street and arena dance contests, plus the night-time Electric MassKara.

📍 Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur

🗓️ Early October, during the Hermosa Festival (Oct 5 in 2025)

Race of hundreds of colorful vinta sailboats off R.T. Lim Boulevard, one of the highlights of the Hermosa Festival.

📍 Mati City, Davao Oriental

🗓️ Late October, around Mati's October 29 founding anniversary

Mati City's anniversary festival celebrating unity ("sambuokan"), with street dancing and cultural events. The 2025 edition was cancelled after twin earthquakes.

📍 San Jose, Dinagat Islands

🗓️ Last week of September to early October, around the Oct 2 charter anniversary

Dinagat Islands' week-long charter anniversary festival ("bugkosan" means to bind), bringing together the province's seven towns for culture and arts events.

📍 Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte

🗓️ Late September to early October

Dipolog's drum-and-band festival: marching bands from the city and nearby towns parade and compete in an invitational beat and dance parade.

📍 Dumanjug, Cebu

🗓️ Late September to early October, ending on the Oct 3–4 town fiesta

Dumanjug's harvest thanksgiving dance for St. Francis of Assisi; its name blends 'sinanggi' (abundant harvest) and 'sayaw' (dance).

📍 Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur

🗓️ Late September to October; feast of Our Lady of the Pillar on October 12

Month-long fiesta for the city's patroness, Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, with a parade of lights, street dancing, a vinta regatta and dozens of cultural and sports events.