As the vibrant City of Bacolod anticipates the arrival of the 2024 edition of the Bacolaodiat Festival, slated for February 9 to 11, to celebrate the Year of the Wood Dragon, Bacolaodiat Inc. released a series of pre-festival events to kick off the annual Lunar New Year celebration, a press release from the organizers said..
The festival, which symbolizes the convergence of Bacolod’s Tsinoy community with local Filipino culture, will kick off with its grand launch at the SM City Bacolod North Atrium on February 4 at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Bacolaodiat 2024 Table Tennis Tournament at Ayala Malls Capitol Central will see enthusiasts compete in thrilling two-day action from February 6 to 7.
A new inclusion in this year’s Bacolaodiat Festival lineup is the introduction of the Dragon Lantern Making Contest.
Designed to spotlight Negrosanons’ creativity, participants are challenged to depict the formidable zodiac animal through lantern artistry.
The competition’s opening and judging are set on February 8 at The Upper East of Megaworld.
The pre-festival activities are hoped to drum up local interest as Bacolaodiat Inc. aspires to stage its grandest festival to date.
“Our goal is to engage as many people as possible with the pre-activities we’ve lined up. We hope to encourage them to patronize the festival and generate interest leading up to the highlights,” said festival chairman John Stephen Sy.
The Bacolaodiat Festival was conceived in 2006 during the administration of then Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and has since become part of the Chinese New Year celebrations of the city.
Bacolaodiat Inc. is also gearing up its preparations for its grand comeback to Lacson Street, bringing usual attractions such as the Chopsticks Alley, Imperial Village, the Lunar Music Festival, and the Lantern Dance competition closer to Bacolodnons.*