Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Cabanatuan
Cabanatuan's Christmas season starts in October, when its two malls unveil giant trees. In 2025 one stood 35 feet tall, ringed by gold safari animals, and in 2018 another looked like a cupcake.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
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The story of Christmas in Cabanatuan
A 35-foot cupcake tree and the Bears of Joy
Cabanatuan's best-documented Christmas tradition happens in its malls. In November 2018, SM City Cabanatuan launched a 35-foot tree inspired by cupcakes, and SM Megacenter Cabanatuan opened a Christmas Village themed on love, peace and joy. The launch also marked the annual Bears of Joy campaign: P200 bought two stuffed bears, one to keep and one to donate, and donated toys went to charities with notes from shoppers. Provincial tourism officers, the Department of Trade and Industry, police, the fire bureau and the city council joined the ceremony.
Golden safari animals and red ribbons in October 2025
The 2025 season opened early. On Friday, October 24, 2025, SM City Cabanatuan unveiled Winter Safari Wonderland in its event center: a 35-foot tree with a grand golden bow, ringed by gold safari animals and smaller trees. Three days later, on Monday, October 27, SM Megacenter Cabanatuan showed Dazzling Ribbon Ride, with crimson ribbons, arches of light, reindeer, presents and a tree topped with a golden star. Visitors could take photos and watch live performances. Mall manager Marvin Mauro Magtoto said the displays were about "shared experiences." A November 15 lighting in nearby San Jose City added a life-sized belen.
Saint Nicholas Cathedral, 343,672 people and early tree lightings
Cabanatuan is the biggest city in Nueva Ecija, with 343,672 people in the 2024 census. Its Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral sits beside Plaza Lucero and is the seat of the Diocese of Cabanatuan. The church is also on a list of Jubilee Churches for the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines. The city was founded in 1750 as a barrio of Gapan. In December 2021, Nueva Ecija politicians lit Christmas trees in towns across the province, which one newspaper said began early because of Omicron worries and the coming election.
Traditions today
- Giant mall centerpiece trees: SM City Cabanatuan and SM Megacenter Cabanatuan unveil large trees each season. The 2025 displays opened on October 24 and October 27.
- Bears of Joy toy drive: An annual campaign where shoppers buy two bears, keep one and donate one to charity, with a note.
- Live performances and photo spots: In 2025, guests could take photos and watch live shows at the mall displays.
- Belen and tree lighting in San Jose City: A life-sized belen and a giant tree were lit on November 15, 2025, with fireworks, free children's shows and a night market.
- Cathedral worship: Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral on Del Pilar Street is the seat of the Diocese of Cabanatuan.
A fact for kids
In 2018, a Cabanatuan mall put up a 35-foot Christmas tree inspired by cupcakes. In 2025 the tree was the same height, with gold safari animals around it.
Questions about Christmas in Cabanatuan
What is Cabanatuan known for at Christmas?
Cabanatuan's Christmas look is built around its two SM malls, which unveil giant centerpiece trees every October or November. In 2025 those were a 35-foot tree with safari animals and a ribbon ride with arches of light. Nearby San Jose City also lights a life-sized belen each November.
What was the Winter Safari Wonderland in Cabanatuan?
Winter Safari Wonderland was the 2025 Christmas centerpiece at SM City Cabanatuan, unveiled on Friday, October 24, 2025, in the mall's event center. It was a 35-foot tree with a large golden bow, surrounded by gold safari animals and smaller trees. The mall said the ribbon stands for unity among families.
What is the Dazzling Ribbon Ride at SM Megacenter Cabanatuan?
Dazzling Ribbon Ride was the 2025 display at SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, introduced on Monday, October 27, 2025. It had sweeping crimson ribbons, archways of light, reindeer figures, gift boxes and a tree topped with a golden star. Visitors walked beneath the arches while carols played.
When do the Cabanatuan malls put up Christmas trees?
In 2025 the malls unveiled their trees in late October, on October 24 and October 27. In 2018 the launch was in mid-November. So the trees usually go up between late October and mid-November, well before December.
How tall was the cupcake Christmas tree in Cabanatuan?
The cupcake-inspired tree at SM City Cabanatuan stood 35 feet tall. It was launched on a Sunday night in November 2018. The same mall's 2025 tree was also 35 feet, so the height has stayed the same across both seasons.
What are the Bears of Joy in Cabanatuan?
Bears of Joy is an annual SM campaign. In 2018, P200 got shoppers two stuffed toy bears, one to keep and one to donate. Donated toys, along with personal notes from shoppers, went to charitable institutions. Kids can pick out the bear they will give away.
Did SM Megacenter Cabanatuan have a Christmas Village in 2018?
Yes, in 2018 SM Megacenter Cabanatuan opened a colorful Christmas Village themed around love, peace and joy. It was unveiled on a Friday that November. Whether a village returns each year is not known, so check Rally Takes the Train's Cabanatuan Christmas events guide for current dates.
Where can kids see the 35-foot tree in Cabanatuan?
The two SM malls in the city are the documented places. SM City Cabanatuan had a 35-foot tree in 2025, and SM Megacenter Cabanatuan had a tree topped with a golden star. Both displays opened in late October 2025, so families can plan a mall visit well before December.
Besides the mall trees, what else can kids do at Christmas in Cabanatuan?
Beyond the trees, there were photo spots, live performances and carols at the SM malls in 2025, and the Bears of Joy toy drive in 2018. Nearby San Jose City had free children's shows and a night market. Rally Takes the Train's Cabanatuan Christmas events guide lists confirmed dates.
Which Cabanatuan malls have photo spots for families at Christmas?
Both SM City Cabanatuan and SM Megacenter Cabanatuan build large photo-friendly displays each year. In 2025, visitors could take photos and watch live performances at the gold safari animals and the crimson ribbon arches. In nearby San Jose City, a life-sized belen and giant tree were lit on November 15, 2025.
Where can I spend Christmas Day in Cabanatuan?
No specific Christmas Day program has been announced. Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral on Del Pilar Street is the seat of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, so check the cathedral directly for Mass schedules. The malls hold their displays through the season.
Where is Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral?
Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral is on Del Pilar Street in Cabanatuan City, beside Plaza Lucero. It is the seat of the Diocese of Cabanatuan. The cathedral is also listed among the Jubilee Churches for the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines. A new round cathedral, called Crypta, has been under construction in Lakewood since 1999.
Is there a night market near Cabanatuan at Christmas?
No Cabanatuan Christmas market with confirmed dates has been announced. In nearby San Jose City, the November 15, 2025 lighting came with a night market of food stalls and free children's shows. That is the closest documented market, and no 2026 dates have been posted for it yet.
What happened in San Jose City on November 15, 2025?
A life-sized belen and a giant Christmas tree were lit on the evening of Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Nueva Ecija 2nd Congressional District Office grounds in San Jose City. Residents counted down, fireworks followed, and there were free shows for children and a night market. Rep. Mario Salvador led it.
How big is Cabanatuan?
Cabanatuan had 343,672 people in the 2024 census, making it the most populous city in Nueva Ecija. It is in Central Luzon and is nicknamed the Gateway to the North and the Tricycle Capital of the Philippines. It became a chartered city in 1950, after starting as a barrio of Gapan in 1750.
When was Cabanatuan founded?
Cabanatuan was founded in 1750 as a barrio of Gapan. It became a municipality and provincial capital in 1780, and a chartered city under Republic Act No. 526 in 1950. The charter date is given as both June 15 and June 16, so the exact day is unclear.
Why did Nueva Ecija light Christmas trees early in 2021?
The Manila Times reported in December 2021 that politicians in Nueva Ecija held early Christmas celebrations, including tree lightings in towns and cities across the province.No specific dates were given.
What is the Banatu Festival in Cabanatuan?
Banatu Festival celebrates Cabanatuan's anniversary as a chartered city and began in 2015. It includes the Longganisa Festival near the public market along Paco Roman Street, with cooking contests using local sausages. No exact date is given, and it is not linked to Christmas.
How can I explain a belen to a young child?
A belen is a Nativity scene showing the birth of Jesus, with Mary, Joseph, the manger and animals. In San Jose City near Cabanatuan, a life-sized belen was lit in November 2025. Kids can walk up to the figures and look for each one, which makes the story easy to follow.
Is there a 2026 Christmas events guide for Cabanatuan?
Yes. Rally Takes the Train keeps a Cabanatuan Christmas events guide for families. No 2026 family event with a confirmed date has been added yet, so it works as a coming-soon page for now. Check back once the malls and local hosts post their 2026 dates.
Sources
- Daily Tribune: SM Cabanatuan unveils Winter Safari Wonderland, Dazzling Ribbon Ride, Daily Tribune
- SM malls in Cabanatuan illuminate the season with Tied with Love Christmas displays, SunStar Pampanga
- SM City Cabanatuan sweetens yuletide vibe with cupcake Christmas tree, Manila Bulletin
- Cabanatuan, Wikipedia
- Giant belen and Christmas tree light up San Jose City, GMA Regional TV
- Spreading Christmas cheer ahead of 2022 polls, The Manila Times
- Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, GCatholic.org