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The Ultimate Guide to Davao’s Kadayawan Festival

Established as a humble tribal gathering in the early 1970’s, this highly-anticipated festival in Davao has since transformed into a month-long cultural phenomenon, uniting the region’s diverse collection of indigenous tribes to give thanks for the season’s bountiful harvest. Today, the Kadayawan Festival continues to bring together locals and travellers alike for seven days of music, dance, food and drink in the streets of Davao, with multiple events taking place all week long.

From flower-inspired parades to bustling fruit markets, Davao’s Kadayawan Festival has something for everyone.

Lumadnong Gama

Kick off Kadayawan with an inside look into the lives of the locals. Featuring artefacts, products and cuisines from the region’s 10 tribes, this educational showcase is the perfect introduction to the festival’s program of events.

© Roberto Verzo

Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan

Lumadnong Gama too tame for your liking? Take things up a notch at Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan – an exciting street dancing competition that takes over Davao’s major roads before a final face-off near Rizal Park.

© Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ

Hudyakaan Sa Kadayawan

Setting up shop in Rizal Park, this three-week long food and beverage bazaar is the perfect place to refuel once the final clash of Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan is complete. Indulge in local delights like kinilaw (raw fish) and ginanggang (grilled banana), or simply enjoy a feast for the senses as you wander the seemingly endless rows of stallholders.

© Keith Bacongco

Dayaw Market

Rather prepare a selection from the season’s harvest your own way? Make sure to visit the Dayaw Market, where a cornucopia of local, sustainable and organic produce overflows at every turn. Take your pick of mangosteens, rambutans and marangs, or simply dig in to a freshly-picked durian – Davao’s celebrated ‘king of fruits’.

Pamulak Sa Kadayawan

Finish off your festivities with a tribute to the season’s other major spoils at Pamulak Sa Kadayawan. A colorful way to bring the celebrations to a close, this grand, flower-themed parade sees Davao’s major thoroughfares flooded with blooms as elaborate floats pass by.

© Constantine Agustin

Ready to experience the city’s most exciting annual celebration? Plan your stay with Park Inn by Radisson Davao and enjoy the best of the Kadayawan Festival on your doorstep.

Top Image © Keith Bacongco