Experience 20 days of merry making with street parties, endless food, and wonderful masquerade costumes that make up Bacolod City’s MassKara Festival.

It is considered by the likes of CNN and National Geographic as a must do experience when visiting the Philippines. The celebration starts between Oct 1 to 19, with the biggest event starting on the weekend nearest to the 19th.

The Festival started in the early 1980s when the world sugar prices plummeted; Bacolod City being the country’s sugar capital hit a major crisis. Then tragedy struck again when Luxury Liner MV Don Juan bound for Bacolod sank taking with it many Bacolodnons including those from prominent families.

Masskara is a combination of the English word “mass” and the Spanish “kara,” meaning “face”. The Festival was meant to uplift the people of Bacolod thus a “smiling mask” that proudly represents what the Negrenses does best, putting on a happy face when confronted with challenges. As a means of cheering up the populace and boosting moral, they decided to throw a party! A festival of dancing, music, feasting was created, where participants adorn masks with smiling faces.

Today MassKara is one of the most recognizable Filipino Celebrations worldwide earning Bacolod it’s nickname “City of Smiles“.