Higalaay Festival: Cagayan de Oro's Own Festival Character

Every August, the City of Cagayan de Oro transforms into an interesting broadway of festivity filled with series of entertainments, lively and exciting events both civic and cultural, social and traditional, integrated together to form into core events as official activities for the month-long festival celebration of the city called the Higalaay Festival.

Now on its 4th installment, the Higalaay Festival Secretariat recently announced this year's fun-filled core events. This announcement slowly solidified the city's own festival character which was officially unveiled last July 2014 after several changes from previous administration. 

Higalaay Festival (formerly known as Kagay-an Festival), then officially changed to Higalaay Kagay-an Festival last 2014, and finally changed to Higalaay Festival last 2015 is Cagayan de Oro's annual fiesta celebration. Higalaay Festival was crafted and rooted from its own character tagged as the City of Golden Friendship hence, "Higalaay" comes from the Cebuano vernacular "higala" which translates into a "friend".

Higalaay Festival is the most important festivity in Cagayan de Oro as it celebrates the Feast of St. Augustine most specifically every 28th of August as the city's Patron Saint. It is a month-long celebration of religious, entertainment, cultural, social, and tradition.


Check out the schedule of the Core events of Higalaay Festival 2017.

* Higalaay Garden Show and Agri Fair- The garden show will feature an exhibit of garden plants, and landscape artistry by local gardeners and herbal enthusiasts, while the Agri Fair will showcase agricultural products from different barangays of the city.
   Venue: Gaston Park
   Schedule Date: August 01-31, 2017.
* Mindanao Fashion Summit- a 3-day gathering and convergence of some of the most artistic and sought-after fashion designers of Mindanao showcasing their distinctive designs and collections.
   Venue: The Rotunda, Lim Ketkai Center
   Schedule Date: August 03-05, 2017.

* KUMBIRA- The country's longest-running culinary show of the best and latest culinary creations in the region as well as of local brands and products presented by COHARA (Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association).
   Venue: The Atrium, Lim Ketkai Center
   Schedule Date: August 16-18, 2017.

* Cowboy Festival Annual Horse Show- Presented by the Cagayan de Oro Horsemen, Inc., it will feature Horsemen event including Oval Race, Obstacle Race, and Barrel Race participated by Horse enthusiasts all over the country.
   Venue: CDO Uptown
   Schedule Date: August 18-20, 2017.
* Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair- An annual trade fair of the Department of Trade and Industry showcasing the best products of small and medium entrepreneurs in Northern Mindanao.
   Venue: To be announced
   Schedule Date: August 18-29, 2017.
* Kagay-an Festival Marathon- The annual marathon presented by Circle Productions, Inc. with a 3km, 5km, 21km, and 42km run.
   Venue: Centrio Mall, Ayala (Start and Finish)
   Schedule Date: August 20, 2017.
* Cagayan de Oro Carnival Street Dance Competition- Now on its 4th year, it is a street festival marked by merry making, an explosion of colors and synchronized singing and dancing.
   Venue: Luna-Velez Street to Divisoria
   Schedule Date: August 20, 2017.
* Miss Cagayan de Oro Coronation Night- The search for young women with beauty, wit, and charm and presented by MAGS and Rotary Club of East Urban.
   Venue: The Atrium, Lim Ketkai Center
   Schedule Date: August 26, 2017.

* Higalaay Street Parade and Floats (Civic-Military Parade)- The festival's version of the Civic-Military parade accompanied by contingents from different sect such as schools, barangays, civic groups, marching bands, and companies.
   Venue: Rodelsa Circle-Velez-CM Recto-Lim Ketkai
   Schedule Date: August 27, 2017.

* Centrio Mall Bisperas Fireworks- presented by Centrio Mall, Ayala.
   Venue: Duaw Kagay-an Park
   Schedule Date: August 27, 2017.
* Religious Procession- Will mark the religious procession for the celebration of the Feast Day of St Augustine as the City's patron Saint.
   Venue: Fernandez St.-Velez-Capistrano St., and Augustine Cathedral
   Schedule Date: August 28, 2017.
* Fluvial Procession- a community effort to continually bless Cagayan River as well as to promote the endeavors of the stakeholders for the river's protection.
   Venue: Macajalar Bay (Macabalan side)-Cagayan river-Duaw Kagay-an Park
   Schedule Date: August 28, 2017.
* Kagay-an Pyro Musical Festival- The annual pyro musical competition presented by SM.
   Venue: Pueblo de Oro Business Park
   Schedule Date: August 28, 2017.