14/10/2026
Taralets
Eight festivals, 500 performers, one Baguio morning you shouldn’t miss!
Mia Magdalena Fokno | October 14, 2026
BAGUIO CITY — If you have been meaning to explore the Cordillera but never seem to find the time, here's your chance to enjoy eight of its festivals without leaving Baguio.
And yes, you can do it all in one morning.
On Saturday, October 17, more than 500 performers from the region's six provinces and two cities will take over the streets for the fifth Cordillera Festival of Festivals, bringing their music, dances, colorful attire, and community traditions to the heart of the city.
The celebration starts at 8 a.m., with a street parade leading to a cultural showcase on Upper Session Road, near Post Office Park. 
For Baguio residents, it is a rare opportunity to see celebrations usually held in different provinces, sometimes hundreds of kilometers apart, without packing a bag or planning a long road trip.
And these are not eight versions of the same festival.
Abra brings the Kawayan Festival, Apayao the Say-am Festival, Benguet the Bindiyan of Kabayan, Ifugao the Gotad ad Ifugao, Kalinga the Tachok-Salip, and Mountain Province the Lang-ay, featuring the Pasuk-ey tradition. Baguio City joins with Panagbenga, while Tabuk City presents Gabbok.
Each carries its own stories, customs, and ways of celebrating community life. 
Department of Tourism- Cordillera Administrative Region Office Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said the event is intended to help people appreciate the traditions and heritage of the region's indigenous communities, not merely watch a colorful performance.
Now in its fifth year, the festival has been held in Baguio since 2022, although tourism officials are considering rotating future editions among the region's provinces and cities.
The celebration is also attracting visitors from outside the region. Around 50 balikbayans are expected to join a four-day caravan covering Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Benguet, and Baguio to experience local destinations and cultural practices.
But locals need not travel far to join the fun.
The parade will begin along Harrison Road, pass through Magsaysay Avenue and Session Road, and end near Post Office Park on Upper Session Road, where the main stage will be set up. 
So bring your family, invite your friends, grab your morning coffee, and find a good spot along the route. Come for the lively performances, but stay for the stories behind them.
After all, how often do we get to experience so much of the Cordillera in one Saturday morning?
Reporting note: The published parade advisory confirms the 8 a.m. start and route. Participants will assemble at Melvin Jones before proceeding through Harrison Road and Session Road to the Post Office Park. The city has also announced road closures on October 16–17, so spectators should expect traffic adjustments. 
📷 MMCF
