Things to do during the Sinulog Festival this weekend
If you plan to join the Sinulog Festival this weekend, it's best to plan your itinerary before heading out to Cebu, so you can enjoy a hassle-free, quick weekend getaway.
Below are suggested activities that you can take part in beginning Friday, January 17 up until Sunday, January 19, the actual day of the Sinulog Festival.
January 17, Friday
1. Penitential Walk with Mary
This is the highlight of the festivities for the day. Assembly time is at 3 a.m. at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Fuente Osmeña, and the walk will officially start at 4 a.m. Here's the route of the walk from Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu:
2. Traslacion Motorcade
If you can't attend the penitential walk at 4 a.m., you can attend the 7 a.m. mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu and watch the Traslacion Motorcade afterward. If you plan to wait for the motorcade near where you are staying, here's the route of the Traslacion from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu in Cebu City, to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph the Worker in Mandaue City:
3. Sinulog 2020 Festival Queen Coronation Night
After attending the religious activities, you may want to add some time for entertainment in your itinerary. You can watch the Sinulog 2020 Festival Queen Coronation Night at the Cebu City Sports Center at 8 p.m.
4. Free concert
End your night by enjoying a free concert at the Plaza Independencia at 9 p.m.
January 18, Saturday
1. Fluvial Procession
This is one of the most anticipated events of the Sinulog Festival. The fluvial procession of the Señor Santo Niño begins at 6 a.m. and will pass along the Mactan Channel. If you want to see the image of the Señor Santo Niño for free, you can attend the Sinulog Fluvial Viewing at the Mandani Bay Show Gallery waterfront grounds. Gates open at 4:30 a.m.
2. Eat Bulaga show
Have fun with the EB Dabarkads as they hold a show at the Plaza Independencia at 10 a.m.
3. Kapuso show
See your favorite Kapuso stars in person in their Sinulog Festival show at the Cebu City Sports Center at 12 noon.
4. Solemn Foot Procession of the Venerable Image of Senor Sto. Niño de Cebu
This is another important religious event of the day and it will begin at 1 p.m.
Below is the route of the procession:
5. Pontifical Mass de Visperas
There is a Holy Mass that will be held on the day before the actual Sinulog Festival, at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño at 6 p.m.
6. Cultural show
The Wonju Dynamic Dancing Carnival from South Korea will be performing at the Fuente Osmeña area at 6 p.m.
7. Free concert
If you can't catch the free concert on Friday, they will have one again on Saturday night at the Plaza Independencia at 9 p.m.
January 19, Sunday
1. Misa Pontifical de la Fiesta Señor
The feast day mass will be presided by His Excellency Archbishop Jose S. Palma, DD. It will be held at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño at 6 a.m.
2. Holy Mass at the Cebu City Sports Center
If you can't make it to 6 a.m. Holy Mass, there will be another one held at the Cebu City Sports Center at 7:30 a.m.
3. Sinulog 2020 Grand Parade
This is the ultimate must-see and must-experience event out of all the activities in the month-long Sinulog Festival celebration. The parade will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Cebu City Sports Center and below is the route it will follow:
4. Grand Finale and Fireworks Display
The parade will conclude with a firework display at the Cebu City Sports Center at 7 p.m.
5. Cultural show
If you still want more entertainment on the actual feast day, The Wonju Dynamic Dancing Carnival from South Korea will be holding another cultural show, but this time at the Plaza Independencia at 8 p.m.
6. Pyrospectacular show
End the night with a bang by watching a pyro musical show at the SM City Cebu at 9 p.m.
We hope you'll enjoy both the religious activities and the festivities at the Sinulog Festival 2020.