Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Legazpi
Legazpi City's Christmas story is told on the seashore, where a village of lights went up in 2019 with Mayon Volcano in the background. In 2025 a reopened park added a giant castle-style tree.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
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The story of Christmas in Legazpi
A snowman by the sea in 2019
Legazpi's best-known Christmas display began in December 2019 at Sawangan Park in Barangay Dap-Dap, between the Albay Gulf and Mayon Volcano. Mayor Noel Rosal led the lighting on a Thursday night, and at least 1,000 people came. Councilor Lilibeth Dimaculangan conceived it. Hotels, restaurants, malls and the Ako Bicol Party-list supplied the belen, giant star and snowman, so the city spent nothing on building it. Generators powered the lights because the grid was still down.
A reopened park and a castle tree in December 2025
The most recent season on record is 2025. On a Friday night in December, Albay Governor Noel Rosal lit a giant castle-inspired Christmas tree at Peñaranda Park and reopened the P96 million park. The park had been closed for about four months. Hundreds of people came despite intermittent rain, and Santa Claus greeted the children. Lawmakers Krisel Lagman and Carlos Loria attended.
Winter in the tropics and other small Legazpi facts
In 2023 the village returned as Paskuhan sa Legazpi with a winter theme, a gingerbread house, candy canes and a tunnel of lights. It opened December 1 and ran nightly through December 23, with a nativity reenactment and a night market on the esplanade. The same season, Peñaranda Park held Krismas sa Park, a carnival with rides and games. Nearby Tabaco City had pedicab Santa sleighs, and Camalig ran a monthlong trade fair selling pinangat.
Traditions today
- Christmas village at Sawangan Park: The village has run on the seashore in Barangay Dap-Dap, in 2019 and again in 2023, with Mayon Volcano behind it.
- Lighting ceremony: The 2023 village opened with a lighting ceremony on December 1 and kept nightly entertainment going until December 23.
- Business-made displays: In 2019 hotels, restaurants and malls built the decorations, and in 2023 civic clubs such as Rotary and Kiwanis took part.
- Nativity reenactment: The 2023 program included a nativity reenactment next to the opening parade and band concerts.
- Tree lighting at Peñaranda Park: The reopened park hosted a governor-led tree lighting in December 2025, with Santa Claus present for children.
- Carnival at the park: Krismas sa Park offered rides, game booths and carnival food at Peñaranda Park in the 2023 season.
A fact for kids
Legazpi's first Christmas village had a snowman and a tunnel of lights right beside a real volcano.
Questions about Christmas in Legazpi
When did Legazpi City first light a Christmas village at Sawangan Park?
The first Christmas village at Sawangan Park was lit on a Thursday night, December 12, 2019. Rappler reported that date. The city described it as a way to bring some comfort to families that holiday season.
Who started the Legazpi Christmas village and how was it paid for?
Councilor Lilibeth Dimaculangan conceived the 2019 village, and Mayor Noel Rosal led the lighting. Hotels, restaurants, malls and the Ako Bicol Party-list supplied the decorations. The city government reportedly spent nothing on building it because local businesses provided the displays.
What was in the first Legazpi Christmas village?
It had a belen (Nativity scene), a giant star, a snowman, giant trees and ornaments, and a tunnel of lights. Businesses built most of the pieces. The lights ran on a generator because the area still had no grid power.
How many people came to the 2019 lighting in Legazpi?
The Philippine News Agency reported at least 1,000 visitors at the lighting and opening ceremonies of the 2019 Christmas village. The village sits at Sawangan Park, on the seashore of Barangay Dap-Dap, with the Albay Gulf and Mayon Volcano around it.
What is Paskuhan sa Legazpi?
Paskuhan sa Legazpi is the city's Christmas village at Sawangan Waterfront Park. The 2023 edition was the second one, after the 2019 launch. It had a winter theme, a tree of white lights, a tunnel of lights, giant Christmas balls, candy canes, a gingerbread house and a snowman.
What happened at Paskuhan sa Legazpi in 2023?
The 2023 village opened with a lighting ceremony on December 1 and ran nightly entertainment through December 23. Mayor Geraldine Rosal's city also held an opening parade, a nativity reenactment and band concerts, with a night market on the nearby esplanade.
Is there a children's area near the Legazpi Christmas village?
Rappler's 2019 report said the Sawangan Waterfront Park next to the village includes a children's area. Its rides and hours are not given, so check with the city tourism office before you go if you are bringing young children.
What happened to Peñaranda Park in Legazpi in 2025?
Peñaranda Park reopened to the public in December 2025 after a P96 million renovation. On a Friday night, Governor Noel Rosal lit a giant castle-inspired Christmas tree there. Hundreds of people came despite intermittent rain, and Santa Claus was present for the children.
Why was Peñaranda Park closed before Christmas 2025?
The park was closed from August 30, 2025. It reopened about four months later with the tree lighting. The governor lit the castle-inspired tree that Friday night, and Santa Claus greeted the children who came.
What was Krismas sa Park in Legazpi?
Krismas sa Park was a Filipino-style carnival at Peñaranda Park in the 2023 season, with rides, game booths and classic carnival food. The Philippine News Agency described it in a December 13, 2023 roundup of Christmas attractions in Albay. It ran at Peñaranda Park, the same park that reopened in December 2025.
Besides the Legazpi Christmas village, where else in Albay can kids see lights?
In 2023 the Philippine News Agency listed Tabaco City's Alice in Wonderland holiday park, with a tall tree, giant mushrooms and teacups, and a Santa sleigh pulled by decorated sikad-sikad pedicabs. Daraga had a food park on Rizal Street with 29 kiosks under twinkling lights.
What is the Paskuhan Trade Fair in Camalig?
Camalig, Albay held a monthlong Paskuhan Trade Fair at the municipal hall in 2023. About 20 small businesses sold local food, crafts and abaca products, including the town's signature pinangat. It is a short drive from Legazpi for families who like shopping with kids.
Which Legazpi Christmas spots have families gone to in past seasons?
In past seasons, families went to the Sawangan Waterfront Park Christmas village, Peñaranda Park's 2023 carnival and the 2025 tree lighting with Santa. None of these has a confirmed 2026 date yet, so treat them as the usual places to check.
Where can kids go for Christmas in Legazpi if I only have one evening?
The best-documented spot is Sawangan Waterfront Park, where the Christmas village has run at night, with Mayon Volcano and the Albay Gulf nearby. Peñaranda Park is the other option, since it hosted the 2023 carnival and the 2025 tree lighting. Confirm opening nights first.
Where should we spend Christmas Day in Legazpi with kids?
Only December lighting nights are covered, not Christmas Day itself, so what is open on December 25 is not confirmed. Past village runs ended on December 23 in 2023. Families can walk the Sawangan Waterfront Park area and the esplanade, but check the day before.
Are there confirmed Christmas events in Legazpi for 2026?
Not yet. No 2026 date has been posted for the Sawangan Waterfront Park village or Peñaranda Park on an official city, provincial or host page. When one is confirmed, it will appear in Rally Takes the Train's Legazpi Christmas events guide.
Is Paskuhan sa Legazpi held every year?
It took place in 2019 and 2023, and the 2023 edition was called the second edition. Other years are not confirmed, so it is not certain that it runs annually. Watch the Legazpi city government announcements each November for the next opening.
What is the view from the Legazpi Christmas village?
The village sits between the Albay Gulf and Mayon Volcano at Sawangan Park in Barangay Dap-Dap. The Philippine News Agency said the volcano and the gulf frame the lit decorations, and the city hoped that setting would draw more tourists to Legazpi.
Who attended the 2025 Peñaranda Park tree lighting?
Governor Noel Rosal lit the tree. Representatives Krisel Lagman and Carlos Loria attended, along with Tabaco City Vice Mayor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao and officials from the Office of Civil Defense, the provincial tourism office and local governments, plus families and children.
How can I explain the Legazpi Christmas lights to young kids?
Tell them the lights went up in 2019 to cheer people up, and that local hotels, shops and clubs made the decorations. Kids can look for the snowman, the giant star and the tunnel of lights, and spot Mayon Volcano behind them.
Sources
- Albay Governor lights castle-inspired Christmas tree amid bad weather, Bicol Mail
- Christmas village seen to draw more tourists to Legazpi City, Philippine News Agency
- Legazpi City lights Christmas village (2019), Rappler
- Legazpi Christmas Village at Sawangan Park, Philippine News Agency
- Why Christmas is merrier in Albay, Philippine News Agency
- Albay boasts of merrier Christmas, Daily Tribune