Facts About Higalaay Festival
The Higalaay Festival is a vibrant annual celebration in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, held on August 28 to honor St. Augustine, the city's patron saint. Also known as the Friendship Festival, its name is derived from the Cebuano word "higala" meaning friend, which aligns perfectly with Cagayan de Oro's nickname, the City of Golden Friendship. This tradition dates back to August 28, 1780, when Father Pedro de Santa Barbara established the first Christian church near the fort, marking St. Augustine's feast day as a pivotal event for the community.
Beginning in the first week of August, the festival features a variety of exciting events, including the Garden Show and Agri Fair, Kumbira Culinary Show, Cowboy Festival, Kahimunan Northern Mindanao Food and Lifestyle Show, Miss Cagayan de Oro, Kagay-an Festival Marathon, Carnival Parade, Parade of Floats and Icons, Bisperas Fireworks Display, Religious Procession, Fluvial Procession, and Pyrolympics.
Some of the festival's standout events are the Kumbira Culinary Show, Cagayan de Oro Carnival Parade, Parade of Floats and Icons, Fluvial Procession, and Pyrolympics. The Kumbira Culinary Show is a popular three-day event featuring live cooking competitions. The Carnival Parade is a vibrant street dancing competition where different barangays compete for the Best Carnival Parade title. The Parade of Floats and Icons sees various groups and institutions showcasing their creativity as they march through the city streets, drawing thousands of spectators. The Fluvial Procession and Pyrolympics, hosted by SM City Cagayan de Oro, are also major crowd-pleasers.