Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Dagupan
Dagupan lights up its bridges with milkfish, stars and waves over the Pantal River. In 2025 the city lit a 45-foot tree in front of its museum to open a month-long fiesta.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
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The story of Christmas in Dagupan
Milkfish lights on the Pantal River bridges
Dagupan's Christmas look is built around its bridges. An Inquirer report from a season when Brian Lim was mayor describes lights shaped like milkfish, waves, stars and Christmas balls on the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges over the Pantal River, switched on from November 12. The milkfish fits a city known for bangus. People gathered on the bridges around 6 p.m. for photos, so City Hall started a mobile phone photo contest. A light arch on Quintos Bridge and a light tunnel at the city plaza became popular spots for family pictures.
Forty-five feet of tree and a Silew-Silew in 2025
On the evening of December 9, 2025, Dagupan lit a 45-foot Christmas tree in front of the Dagupan City Museum at the City Plaza. The theme was "Pamilya ang Puso ng Pasko" (family is the heart of Christmas). Mayor Belen Fernandez and Vice Mayor Dean Bryan Kua led the lighting, and thousands of Dagupenos came. The same night lit the Silew-Silew lights at the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges and a tree at Rotonda Square. The ceremony opened a month-long fiesta with dance competitions and year-end thanksgiving events. Earlier, on November 14, Nepo Mall held its own Liwawa Ya Pasko lighting.
A nativity built from local materials
In December 2023, GMA News reported that Dagupan lit Quintos Bridge, a big tree at its plaza and a belen on the De Venecia Highway. The belen was made from indigenous materials, and viewers praised the local creativity. Visitors came early to take photos, and the city said it hoped the lights would bring in tourists. The city's Bangus Festival street party was held on April 30, 2026, with a grilling event called Kalutan ed Dalan, so milkfish turns up in Dagupan's celebrations outside Christmas too.
Traditions today
- City tree lighting: The city lights a 45-foot tree in front of the Dagupan City Museum at the City Plaza; in 2025 this happened on December 9.
- Silew-Silew bridge lights: Lights on the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges, with milkfish and star shapes in past seasons.
- Rotonda Square tree: A second tree stands at Rotonda Square and was lit with the main tree in 2025.
- Fiesta: The tree lighting opened a month-long fiesta with dance competitions and year-end thanksgiving events in 2025.
- Mall lighting: Nepo Mall held its Liwawa Ya Pasko lighting on November 14, 2025.
- Belen of indigenous materials: A belen on De Venecia Highway drew praise in 2023 for its local materials.
A fact for kids
Dagupan hung Christmas lights shaped like milkfish on its bridges, because the city is famous for bangus.
Questions about Christmas in Dagupan
When is the Christmas tree lighting in Dagupan?
In 2025 the city lit its 45-foot tree on the evening of December 9 at the City Plaza. No 2026 date has been announced by the city government yet. Check the Dagupan city government site and Rally Takes the Train's Dagupan Christmas events guide closer to December.
How tall is the Dagupan City Plaza Christmas tree?
The tree lit on December 9, 2025 stood 45 feet tall. It was set in front of the Dagupan City Museum at the City Plaza. Thousands of residents came to the lighting, and the city also lit the Silew-Silew bridge lights and a tree at Rotonda Square the same night.
What was the 2025 Dagupan Christmas theme?
The 2025 lighting ceremony used the theme "Pamilya ang Puso ng Pasko," which means family is the heart of Christmas. Mayor Belen Fernandez spoke about the lights as a promise for the coming year, and Councilor Michael Fernandez dedicated the night to families.
What is the Silew-Silew in Dagupan?
The Silew-Silew is the name used for the Christmas light display on the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges. It was lit with the city tree on December 9, 2025. The bridges cross the Pantal River in the downtown area, and past seasons showed milkfish, star and wave shapes in the lights.
Which bridges in Dagupan have Christmas lights?
The Quintos and Magsaysay bridges over the Pantal River carry the city's best-known Christmas lights. An Inquirer report described milkfish, wave, star and Christmas ball shapes. In 2025 they were lit as part of the Silew-Silew display on December 9.
Why are there milkfish-shaped Christmas lights in Dagupan?
Dagupan is known for bangus, or milkfish, and the city has used milkfish-shaped lights on its bridges. An Inquirer report listed milkfish, waves, stars and Christmas balls on the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges. The city also holds a Bangus Festival street party each April.
What is the biggest Christmas tree kids can see in Dagupan?
The biggest one in 2025 was the 45-foot tree in front of the Dagupan City Museum at the City Plaza. There was also a smaller tree at Rotonda Square. Both were lit on December 9, 2025. Rally Takes the Train's Dagupan Christmas events guide lists confirmed 2026 dates once the city announces them.
Where is the best place for Christmas lights in Dagupan?
The downtown bridges and City Plaza are the center of the display. In 2025 the tree, Silew-Silew bridge lights and Rotonda Square tree were all lit on December 9. A past report also mentioned a light arch on Quintos Bridge and a light tunnel at the plaza.
Besides the Silew-Silew bridge lights, what can families do at Christmas in Dagupan?
The most documented activity is walking the lit bridges, plaza and tree after sunset, which families did in 2023 and 2025. The 2025 fiesta also included dance competitions and year-end thanksgiving events. For current dates, see Rally Takes the Train's Dagupan Christmas events guide.
Which Dagupan stops work best for a Christmas evening with young children?
Start with the City Plaza, where the museum tree stands, then walk to the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges. In 2023 a belen made of indigenous materials also drew visitors along De Venecia Highway. Nepo Mall held a lighting ceremony in November 2025.
Where should we spend Christmas Day in Dagupan?
No Christmas Day program has been confirmed for Dagupan, so none can be named. What is documented is the lighting of the plaza, tree and bridges each season, which families visit in the evening. Check the city government for 2026 announcements.
What is Liwawa Ya Pasko in Dagupan?
Liwawa Ya Pasko is a Christmas lighting ceremony held at Nepo Mall in Dagupan, organized by JDN Realty. It took place on November 14 and marked the start of the Christmas season, with Vice Mayor Dean Bryan Kua speaking.
Does Dagupan have a belen display?
Yes. GMA News reported in December 2023 that a belen on De Venecia Highway was made from indigenous materials, and viewers praised the local creativity. No 2026 belen has been confirmed, so check city announcements before you go. The city said the 2023 lighting was meant to bring in tourists.
When does the Dagupan fiesta start?
The 2025 tree lighting on December 9 opened a month-long fiesta, but the city's article gave no exact start or end dates. No 2026 fiesta dates have been announced yet. Check the Dagupan city government site for the schedule. Families planning a trip should watch for the city's tree lighting announcement, because that ceremony opened the fiesta last year.
What happens during the Dagupan fiesta?
The 2025 fiesta, which opened with the December 9 tree lighting, included livelihood payouts, blessings of facilities, dance competitions and year-end thanksgiving celebrations. It lasted about a month. Families visiting during that month can also see the lit City Plaza, the museum tree and the lights on the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges, which were switched on the same night.
Who lights the Christmas tree in Dagupan?
City officials lead it. In 2025 Mayor Belen Fernandez, Vice Mayor Dean Bryan Kua and city councilors did the ceremonial lighting at the City Plaza. Councilor Michael Fernandez was that year's Fiesta Hermano Mayor. Thousands of residents attended. The lighting also opens the city's month-long fiesta, so it is a good evening to bring children if they can handle a crowd.
Why do people take photos on Dagupan's bridges at Christmas?
The lights make the bridges a photo spot. The Inquirer reported people gathering on the Quintos and Magsaysay bridges around 6 p.m. for pictures, and a light arch on Quintos Bridge became a favorite family backdrop. City Hall then launched a mobile phone photo contest. An early evening visit lets you take photos before the crowds build.
Is Dagupan a good place to bring young kids at Christmas?
The lights, plaza and bridges are outdoors and easy to see in an evening visit, and the 2025 ceremony was themed around family. Expect crowds: thousands attended the 2025 lighting. Bring water and keep little ones close on the bridges.
Are Dagupan's Christmas lights only for December?
No. The Inquirer reported bridge lights switched on from November 12 in one season, and the 2025 city lighting came on December 9, with a mall lighting on November 14. Dates change each year, so check for the 2026 schedule.
Does Dagupan celebrate anything with milkfish besides Christmas?
Yes. The Bangus Festival has a Bangusan Street Party, held on April 30, 2026, which included the Kalutan ed Dalan grilling event. The city reported a 10 percent increase in spectators compared with last year. It is a good reason to visit Dagupan outside the holiday season.
Sources
- Dagupan illuminates 45-foot Christmas tree, landmarks in official kickoff of 2025 fiesta, City Government of Dagupan
- Let there be light, PUNCH Dagupan
- Dagupan ushers in holidays with grand 'Liwawa Ya Pasko' lighting ceremony, PUNCH Dagupan
- Dagupan City lights up Quintos Bridge, colorful Christmas attractions, GMA News Online
- In Dagupan, streets aglow with Yuletide lights, decor, Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Featured news archive, City Government of Dagupan