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Hala Bira! Ati-Atihan Festival 2020 is Here!

Photo by Bernardo "Berniemack" Arellano III, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License

The Ati-Atihan Festival returns this January 10 to19 in Kalibo, Aklan for 10 days of fun and cultural festivities! Locals of Kalibo hold the Ati-Atihan in commemoration of the Santo Nino. The event also celebrates the Atis, the aborigines of Aklan.  Participants apply soot on their skin and don tribal costume as they dance in a parade accompanied by loud drums, whistles, and simultaneous yells of “Hala Bira!”

Spectators can sample the best local cuisine at Pastrana Park and partake in week-long snake dancing and nightly parties at Magsaysay Park. Booths for local clothing and other suppliers will also be set up at Veterans Avenue. Meanwhile, the Kalibo Plaza Trade Hall will host the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Trade Fair all throughout the festival.

Here is the schedule of activities for this year’s Ati-Atihan. Please note that the schedule may change depending on the event organizers. 

Photo from Magalhaes under public domain license

Friday, Jan. 10, 2020

Sadsad (Dancing Live Music)

Students Night at Kalibo Pastrana Park  at 7:00 PM

Sat, Jan. 11, 2020

Regional Airsoft Competition – Kalibo Pastrana Park at 9:00 AM

Auto show – Kalibo Pastrana Park at 3:00 PM

Live Music – Magsaysay Park at 7:00 PM

Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020

Motorcycle Ride – Kalibo Pastrana Park at 1:00 PM

Nightly Dancing –  Magsaysay Park at7:00 PM

Monday, Jan. 13, 2020

Parade of Floats and Tribes – Kalibo Pastrana Park at 1:00 PM

Activity to be announced – Magsaysay Park at 7:00 PM

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020

Sang Kalibo Tamboe and Street Party – Street Around Kalibo Pastrana Park from 2:00 PM – 12 MN

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020

Pagdyaw kay Sto. Nino – Major Streets of Kalibo from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Battle of the Sounds – Kalibo Pastrana Park at  7:00 PM

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020

Sinaot sa Calle – Major Streets of Kalibo from 8:00 AM- to 2:00 NN

Aklan Higante Contest –  Major Streets of Kalibo from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Friday, Jan. 17, 2020

A whole day of Ati-Atihan street dancing: “Sadsad Pagpasaeama” –  Major Streets of Kalibo at 8:00 AM

Kalibo Invasion-Spectrum – Goding Ramos Park, Capitol from 7:00 PM to 2:00AM

Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 

Dawn Penitential Procession – Major streets of Kalibo at 4:00 AM

Tribal, Balik-Ati & Modern and Individual Ati-Atihan Contest – From D.Maagma Street to major streets of

Kalibo at 8:00 AM

Hornada (Blessing of children) – In front of the St. John Baptist Cathedral at 12:00 NN

Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020

Transfer of Sto. Nino De Kalibo and Pilgrim – In front of the St. John Baptist Cathedral at 6:30 AM

Religious procession and torch street dancing –  Major streets of Kalibo and Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist at 2:00 PM

Closing liturgical celebration: Sadsad Paghatod” – Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist to the Shrine of Sr. Sto. Nino De Kalibo at 8:00 AM

“Pagpadungog”  – Magsaysay Park, Kalibo at 9:00 AM

Photo by Enzo Bontia under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

The Essentials

  • When: January 10-19, 2020
  • Where: Kalibo, Aklan
  • How to get there: Airlines offer daily direct flights to Kalibo, Aklan, from Manila. 

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