Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Ilagan
Ilagan City in Isabela once gave its top Christmas lantern prize to a costume made of corn. Since then the city has added a 10,000-seat arena that turned into a snow park in December 2024.
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The story of Christmas in Ilagan
A corn-costume winner at the Paskuhan village
Ilagan's Paskuhan village in Isabela has been the stage for a Christmas contest with a corn-costume winner. On a Saturday, December 10, designers and members of the City of Ilagan Gay Association paraded in costumes covered in lanterns and holiday decor. Dan "Samantha" Padilla won PHP 12,000 with a costume shaped around corn, a major local industry, with the church and the Christmas star worked in. Second place got PHP 8,000 and third PHP 6,000. The village also ran an electric Christmas float contest, a kiddie costume contest, a food plaza and a Santa meet and greet.
Snow play and a skating rink in the Capital Arena
The newest chapter began when the city opened the Capital Arena on November 24, 2024. Winter Magic followed there, with an eco ice skating rink, snow play zones, a bouncy castle, meet and greets with Santa and elves, snowball displays, carol performances, carnival rides and cosplay. The arena's calendar lists it from December 18 to 29, 2024. For the 2025 season, that same calendar shows mostly office and school parties: LGU Ilagan on December 17, DepEd on December 19 and ISELCO 2 on December 20. No public 2025 family program with dates is on record.
Scarecrows, 10,000 seats and a Santa count
Ilagan calls itself the Corn Capital of the Philippines, and its tourism page ties the Mammangi Festival to farmers. Its other big festival, Bambanti, is the Festival of Scarecrows and usually lands in January, so the corn theme reaches well past Christmas. The Capital Arena cost PHP 750 million, seats 10,000 and sits in Alibagu. Mayor Josemarie Diaz opened it, and its first scheduled event was a boxing title fight on December 15. Santa shows up twice in the story: at the Paskuhan village and at Winter Magic, alongside his elves.
Traditions today
- Paskuhan village: The city has staged a Christmas village with a food plaza, a music festival and a Santa meet and greet.
- Human lantern parade: Costumed contestants wear lanterns and holiday decor, and a corn-themed costume has won the top prize.
- Electric Christmas float contest: The Paskuhan village has included a competition for electric Christmas floats.
- Kiddie Christmas costume contest: Children have their own costume contest at the Paskuhan village.
- Winter Magic: The Capital Arena hosted snow play, an eco ice skating rink, a bouncy castle and Santa and elves in December 2024.
- Carols and cosplay: Winter Magic included Christmas carol performances and cosplay events.
A fact for kids
A grown-up in a corn costume covered in lanterns won the big prize at Ilagan's Paskuhan village.
Questions about Christmas in Ilagan
Which Christmas village in Ilagan City has a Santa meet and greet?
The Paskuhan village in Ilagan City, Isabela, listed a meet and greet with Santa Claus among its attractions, along with a food plaza, a music festival, retro Zumba and a film showing. Winter Magic at the Capital Arena also had Santa and elves in 2024. Dates for 2026 are in Rally Takes the Train's Ilagan Christmas events guide once a host confirms them.
What is the human lantern parade at Ilagan's Paskuhan village?
It is a contest in which participants wear costumes decorated with lanterns and holiday decor. The entrants were designers and members of the City of Ilagan Gay Association. The contest took place on a Saturday, December 10, at the Paskuhan village in Ilagan City, and the top prize was PHP 12,000.
Whose corn costume won the human lantern contest in Ilagan?
Dan "Samantha" Padilla won with a costume inspired by corn, a major local industry, with references to the church and the Christmas star. The prize was PHP 12,000. Second place received PHP 8,000, third PHP 6,000, and every other contestant got a PHP 3,000 consolation prize.
Can children join a costume contest at Ilagan's Paskuhan village?
The village program reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer included a kiddie Christmas costume contest, next to the electric Christmas float competition and the human lantern parade. Ages and entry rules are not given, so ask the city before planning around it. No 2026 date is confirmed yet.
What was Winter Magic at the Capital Arena in Ilagan?
Winter Magic was a snow-themed Christmas attraction at the Capital Arena. GMA Regional TV listed an eco ice skating rink, snow play zones, a bouncy castle, Santa and elf meet and greets, snowball displays, carol performances, carnival rides and cosplay events. This was reported on December 17, 2024.
When did Winter Magic run in Ilagan?
The Capital Arena's event archive lists Winter Magic from December 18 to 29, 2024. GMA Regional TV reported its opening on December 17, 2024. Neither lists ticket prices or daily hours. The arena's calendar showed no 2026 Winter Magic entry on November 5, 2026.
Is there ice skating in Ilagan at Christmas time?
In December 2024, Winter Magic at the Capital Arena offered an eco ice skating rink. No 2026 rink with confirmed dates has been announced, and the arena's upcoming calendar listed no Christmas entries for November 2026 as of November 5, 2026. Treat any rink as unconfirmed until the host posts it.
Where is the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela?
The Capital Arena is at the Civic Center in Barangay Alibagu, Ilagan City. The city government owns it, and it seats 10,000 people. It hosted Winter Magic in December 2024 and also stages sports such as Premier Volleyball League tour games. Look up the arena's own calendar before driving out.
When did the Capital Arena open and what did it cost?
The Paskuhan village gave children a kiddie costume contest and a Santa meet and greet, plus a food plaza, a film showing and a music festival for the family. Winter Magic added snow play and skating. Neither has a confirmed 2026 date, and Rally Takes the Train's Ilagan Christmas events guide will carry updates.
Where in Ilagan City can kids go at Christmas, the Paskuhan village or the arena?
The Paskuhan village gave children a kiddie costume contest and a Santa meet and greet, plus a food plaza, a film showing and a music festival for the family. Winter Magic added snow play and skating. Neither has a confirmed 2026 date, so see Rally Takes the Train's Ilagan Christmas events guide for updates.
Where can families go for Christmas with kids in Ilagan City?
Past seasons point to two places: the Paskuhan village, which had a Santa meet and greet and a kiddie costume contest, and the Capital Arena, which held Winter Magic in December 2024. No 2026 date is confirmed at either, so families should wait for the city or arena to announce one.
Where can we spend Christmas Day in Ilagan City?
No public Christmas Day program has been announced for 2026. For reference, Winter Magic ran from December 18 to 29, 2024, so it covered December 25 that year. The city's 2025 calendar listed office and school parties on December 17 to 20, not family outings. Check the arena's calendar closer to the date.
Is there a Christmas market in Ilagan?
The Capital Arena's upcoming events page showed an empty November 2026 and no Christmas or Winter Magic entry as of November 5, 2026. Nothing is confirmed yet. The city may announce a village or a snow attraction later, and Rally Takes the Train's Ilagan Christmas events guide will add it once a host confirms dates.
What Christmas dates are confirmed for Ilagan in 2026?
None yet. The Capital Arena's upcoming events page showed an empty November 2026 and no Christmas or Winter Magic entry as of November 5, 2026. The city may announce a village or a snow attraction later, and Rally Takes the Train's Ilagan Christmas events guide will add it once a host confirms dates.
Does Ilagan hold a Christmas tree lighting?
No tree lighting in Ilagan has been announced. What is described is a Paskuhan village with contests and a Santa meet and greet, and Winter Magic with snow play. If a lighting is planned for 2026, the city has not posted it, so no date can be given.
What is the electric Christmas float contest in Ilagan?
It is one of the competitions at the Paskuhan village in Ilagan City. The Inquirer lists it next to the human lantern parade and the kiddie costume contest, but gives no route, rules or time. Families wanting to watch should ask the city office for the schedule once 2026 plans are out.
What does corn have to do with Christmas in Ilagan?
Ilagan's tourism page ties the Mammangi Festival to farmers and the city's Corn Capital title. The Paskuhan lantern contest echoed that: the winning costume was inspired by corn, a major local industry, and also included the church and the Christmas star.
What other festivals does Ilagan celebrate during the year?
Ilagan's tourism page lists Bambanti, the Festival of Scarecrows, usually in January, and the Mammangi Festival, usually early May. It also lists Aggaw na Ilagan on May 4, the founding anniversary, and the Cityhood Anniversary on August 11. None of these is a Christmas event.
Are there Christmas villages near Ilagan in Cagayan Valley?
GMA News reported a Singapore-inspired Christmas village in Lasam, Cagayan, with super trees, a Hobbit House replica, a giant tree and a tunnel of lights, open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in December 2025. It also named a village in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. Lasam is outside Ilagan, so check distance and 2026 plans first.
Are there carnival rides and carols at Christmas in Ilagan?
Winter Magic at the Capital Arena in December 2024 listed carnival rides, Christmas carol performances and cosplay events, along with snow play and Santa meet and greets. Prices and hours are not given. No 2026 version has been confirmed, so keep an eye on the arena calendar.
Sources
- LGBTQ 'human lanterns' cap Ilagan City's Christmas village, Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Enchanted Christmas celebrations across Northern Luzon, GMA Regional TV
- Upcoming events, Capital Arena, City of Ilagan
- P750M Capital Arena in Ilagan City opens, The Manila Times
- Capital Arena, Wikipedia
- Annual Celebration, Ilagan City Tourism
- Christmas villages draw crowds across Cagayan Valley and Pampanga, GMA News