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Christmas with kids in Bacolod
In December 2021 about 95,000 lights covered the Bacolod Public Plaza, from a bandstand turned Lights Castle to a 40-foot Tunnel of Lights. Add mall trees, a Forbes Hill forest of 250 lit trees and Silay City's plaza village nearby, and you have Bacolod's Christmas story over the past few seasons.
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The story of Christmas in Bacolod
A plaza tower and 95,000 lights in 2021
Bacolod's main Christmas lights have centered on the Public Plaza. In December 2021 about 95,000 lights covered the bandstand, the 75th Anniversary Jubilee Tower and the trees around the plaza. The bandstand became a Lights Castle, the tower became the Tower of Lights, and a 40-foot Tunnel of Lights greeted visitors from Gatuslao Street. The tower was inaugurated on June 18, 2013 and marks the city's charter, signed on June 18, 1938. Megaworld lit the New Government Center a few weeks earlier, on November 29, 2021. The 2021 plaza decorations were to stay up until after Chinese New Year.
A 50-foot pastel tree and a Christmas parade in 2025
SM City Bacolod lit a 50-foot pastel tree on the night of October 26, 2025, with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and mall manager Julia Javellana pulling a golden ribbon. The theme was Unwrapping Sweet Surprises. Weekly programs followed: Santa Meet and Greet every Sunday from November 9 to December 21, Christmas Stories by the Tree on Sundays in December at 4 p.m., and a Christmas Parade on December 24 at 11 a.m. Ayala Malls Capitol Central lit a 31.4-foot tree on November 14, 2025, and dedicated it to hope and unity.
250 trees on Forbes Hill and a Silay plaza from 1840
In 2019 Megaworld lit about 250 trees at the Forbes Hill Christmas Forest, beside the Bacolod-Silay Airport access road, with lights nightly from 6 p.m. to midnight until January 5. Up the coast, Silay City turns its plaza into a Christmas village each December, with nativity scenes and welcome arches from its barangays. A former city tourism officer traces the custom to about 1840, when hacienda families decorated the plaza and carolers drew crowds before simbang gabi. In 2017 the village opened on December 3 and closed December 30.
Traditions today
- Public Plaza lights: The Bacolod Public Plaza has been the city's main light display, with 95,000 lights, a Lights Castle and a Tunnel of Lights in 2021.
- Mall tree lightings: SM City Bacolod lit a 50-foot tree on October 26, 2025, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central lit a 31.4-foot tree on November 14.
- Santa and storytime at SM City Bacolod: The 2025 program had Santa Meet and Greet on Sundays and Christmas Stories by the Tree at 4 p.m. on December Sundays.
- Christmas Desserts Decorating: In 2025 SM City Bacolod held a Saturday workshop at 4 p.m. from November 8 to December 20, led by the Pastel Dream Ladies.
- Forbes Hill Christmas Forest: Megaworld lit about 250 trees on Forbes Hill in 2019, along the Bacolod-Silay Airport access road.
- Silay Christmas Village: Silay City sets up a plaza village each December with barangay nativity scenes and welcome arches, and entry is free.
A fact for kids
In 2021 Bacolod's plaza bandstand was turned into a Lights Castle, and a 40-foot Tunnel of Lights led visitors in!
Questions about Christmas in Bacolod
How tall is the Christmas tree at SM City Bacolod?
SM City Bacolod lit a 50-foot pastel tree on October 26, 2025, for its Unwrapping Sweet Surprises season. In 2019 its tree was 45 feet tall and stood in the north wing atrium. Heights change by season, so check the mall for the 2026 tree.
When did SM City Bacolod light its tree in 2025?
The lighting was on the night of October 26, 2025. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and mall manager Julia Javellana pulled a golden ribbon to open a giant gift box and light the tree. The mall's season ran through January 4, 2026, with a Sweet Holiday Bazaar in the Main Atrium.
What is Christmas Stories by the Tree at SM City Bacolod?
It was a 2025 storytelling program held by the mall's tree every Sunday in December at 4 p.m., hosted by Lady Madeline and Lady Eclair. No price or age range was published. Programs are rebuilt each year, so 2026 times may differ from the 2025 schedule.
Does Santa visit SM City Bacolod?
In 2025 the mall held a Santa Meet and Greet every Sunday from November 9 to December 21. It also listed a roaming giant mascot on weekends in November and December and an SM Holi Squad meet and greet at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. No 2026 Santa dates are confirmed yet.
What was the Christmas Desserts Decorating workshop in Bacolod?
It was a creative workshop at SM City Bacolod run with the Pastel Dream Ladies every Saturday at 4 p.m., from November 8 to December 20, 2025. No price or age range was published. It is a past-season program, not a confirmed 2026 date.
When is the SM City Bacolod Christmas parade?
In 2025 the Christmas Parade was on December 24 at 11 a.m. The mall's report did not name the route or venue. No 2026 date has been confirmed on a host page yet, so treat the 2025 time as a guide only until the mall announces its schedule.
Where is the Ayala Malls Capitol Central Christmas tree?
It stands at the mall's activity center in Bacolod City. The 2025 tree was 31.4 feet tall, made of red and gold fabrics, metallic ribbons and large gift boxes, with warm white and gold LED lights. The official lighting was on November 14, 2025 at 5 p.m. and began a month-long celebration.
What did the Ayala Malls Capitol Central tree symbolize in 2025?
It was lit as a symbol of hope and unity for Bacolod and Negros Occidental. The theme was That Feeling When Christmas Magic Unwraps.
How many lights were on the Bacolod Public Plaza in 2021?
About 95,000 lights decorated the bandstand, the 75th Anniversary Jubilee Tower and the trees around the plaza in December 2021. The switch-on ceremony was set for 6 p.m., led by then-mayor Evelio Leonardia. Alliance Global Group head Andrew Tan gifted the lights.
What is the Tunnel of Lights at the Bacolod plaza?
It was a 40-foot (12.19 m) tunnel of multicolored neon and LED string lights that greeted visitors entering the Bacolod Public Plaza from the Gatuslao Street side in 2021. The plaza's bandstand was also turned into a Lights Castle that season. It is a past-season feature, so check for what returns in 2026.
What is the Jubilee Tower in Bacolod?
The 75th Anniversary Jubilee Tower faces Araneta Street at the Public Plaza. It was inaugurated on June 18, 2013 and marks Bacolod's city charter, which President Manuel L. Quezon signed on June 18, 1938. It became the Tower of Lights each Christmas, and its lights stay on year-round.
What was the Forbes Hill Christmas Forest in Bacolod?
It was a Megaworld display on Forbes Hill, along the Bacolod-Silay Airport access road next to the city's welcome marker. About 250 Christmas trees were lit at the 2019 opening. It was open 24 hours a day, with the lights on nightly from 6 p.m. to midnight until January 5, 2020.
What was at SM City Bacolod's Christmas season in 2019?
The 45-foot tree stood in the north wing atrium under the theme #SparklingSMallidays. The mall had a Storyland Magical Carousel and a Merry Train, plus Santa appearances with treats. Its Bears of Joy charity let shoppers buy two bears for P200, one to keep and one to donate. The play land stayed open until early January 2020.
What is the Silay City Christmas Village?
It is a free month-long display on Silay City's public plaza in Negros Occidental, with nativity scenes (belen) and welcome arches (arko) made by the barangays. In 2017 the switch-on was December 3 and the closing day was December 30. It also had a carol competition and a Nutcracker show by the Philippine Ballet Theater on December 16.
How old is the Christmas tradition in Silay City?
A former city tourism officer, Ver Pacete, traces it to as early as 1840, when families from Iloilo City came to Silay to start the hacienda system. Landowners and laborers decorated the plaza, and nightly carolers drew people until simbang gabi. The mayor called the village a Silaynon tradition in 2017.
What is Bailes de Luces in La Castellana?
It is a Festival of Lights at the town plaza and municipal hall grounds of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, with Disney characters and parols. The December 2018 report said it ran December 18 to January 5, with six school groups competing for prizes from P100,000 down to P20,000 consolation prizes.
Which Bacolod Christmas lights and trees can families see with kids?
Past seasons point to the Public Plaza lights, the mall trees at SM City Bacolod and Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and the Forbes Hill trees. SM City Bacolod added Santa meet and greets and a storytime in 2025. Silay City and La Castellana, in Negros Occidental, also set up plaza displays. Dates for 2026 are not yet confirmed.
Besides the Lights Castle, what can young kids do at Christmas in Bacolod?
From past seasons, the kid-friendly picks are Santa meet and greets and Christmas Stories by the Tree at SM City Bacolod, the Saturday dessert-decorating workshop, and the Public Plaza lights. In 2019 the mall also had a carousel and a Merry Train. These are 2019 and 2025 programs, so wait for 2026 confirmations.
Is any Christmas Day program for kids planned in Bacolod?
The reports opened for this page do not list any Christmas Day program. SM City Bacolod held its Christmas Parade on December 24 at 11 a.m. in 2025, and its season ran through January 4, 2026. In 2021 the Public Plaza decorations stayed up past Chinese New Year, so lights may be up on December 25.
Where can I check 2026 dates for Bacolod's mall tree lightings and parade?
Use Rally Takes the Train's Bacolod Christmas events guide, which lists family events once their 2026 dates are confirmed by the host. Bacolod's malls usually launch their seasons in late October or November, and the 2025 tree lightings were on October 26 and November 14.
Sources
- SM Bacolod lights up the season with 'Unwrapping Sweet Surprises', Negros Now Daily
- Guv leads SM Bacolod's Christmas tree lighting, Negros Now Daily
- Bacolod mall lights Christmas tree of hope, Manila Bulletin
- Ayala Malls Capitol Central set to unveil Christmas tree, Visayan Daily Star
- Bacolod Christmas lights switch-on today, Visayan Daily Star
- Largest Christmas Tree Park in PHL unveiled in Bacolod, Daily Guardian
- Giant Christmas tree ushers in sparkling holidays, SunStar Bacolod
- Christmas village: a Silaynon pride and tradition, SunStar
- Disney Christmas at Negros Occidental's Festival of Lights, SunStar Bacolod