Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Lipa City
Lipa City sits inland from Taal Volcano, in a town that moved after the 1754 eruption and built a cathedral that took until 1790 to finish. Its Christmas season now starts as early as October.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
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The story of Christmas in Lipa City
A church moved inland after Taal erupted
Lipa's Christmas story starts with its church. After Taal Volcano erupted in 1754, the town was rebuilt farther inland in 1756, and construction of the church that became Lipa Cathedral began in 1779. Padre Miguel Galiana finished it in 1790. The cathedral is named for Saint Sebastian, and the diocese of Lipa was created on April 10, 1910. It became an archdiocese on June 20, 1972. Lipa became a chartered city on June 20, 1947, the first in Batangas province. The cathedral was rebuilt and completed again on December 14, 1957.
Mayor Africa and a tree lit on October 24
The 2025 season in Lipa opened early. On October 24, 2025, Fiesta Adventure Park held its Magical Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Lipa City Mayor Eric Africa, former City Councilor Gwen Wong and other officials lit the tree with park guests, while the Canossa Glee Club and the RBC Dance Crew performed. The park added new rides, decorations and a Food Hub, and stayed open until midnight through the holidays. Weekdays ran from noon and weekends from 9 a.m. A Trick or Treat Parade followed on October 31. For 2026, no Lipa Christmas dates have been confirmed yet.
The town that once sold the world its coffee
Lipa has a coffee record that surprises most kids. Around 1886 to 1888, for about six months, Lipa was the only supplier of coffee beans in the world. Liberica seeds came from Mexico with an Augustinian missionary. On October 21, 1887, Queen Regent Maria Cristina raised Lipa to a villa, and José Rizal wrote Hymno al Trabajo for the town fiesta before February 3, 1888. A 1924 folktale also says a church was built where a woman named Maria saw the Virgin Mary while gathering firewood. It is a folktale, not recorded history.
Traditions today
- Early tree lightings: Fiesta Adventure Park lit its tree on October 24, 2025, with local officials and school performers.
- Subdivision light shows: Developments such as Arcoe Residences have lit trees and ended with fireworks and choirs.
- Mall Christmas seasons: The Outlets at Lipa has opened its season with a tree lighting and family fun at the Lima Technology Center.
- Cathedral visits: Lipa Cathedral, finished in 1790 and completed again in 1957, is the town's best-known landmark.
- Holiday hours until midnight: In 2025 the park stayed open until midnight through the whole holiday season.
A fact for kids
Lipa was once the only place in the world selling coffee beans, for about six months around 1887. Its cathedral bell tower grew from five floors to seven.
Questions about Christmas in Lipa City
When did Lipa become a chartered city?
Lipa became a chartered city on June 20, 1947, and it was the first chartered city in Batangas province. Before that it had been a regular municipality since 1702 and a villa since October 21, 1887, when Queen Regent Maria Cristina raised its status.
Why did the old town of Lipa move inland?
Taal Volcano erupted violently in 1754 and the old pueblo in present-day Balete was abandoned. By 1756 residents had rebuilt the town farther inland, at the present poblacion, away from the volcano, reportedly led by Gobernadorcillo Tomas Hernandez.
When was Lipa Cathedral built?
Padre Ignacio Pallares began the church in 1779 and it was finished in 1790. The transept was added in 1865 and Benito Baras completed the church in 1894. It was rebuilt with two side aisles and completed on December 14, 1957.
Who is the patron saint of Lipa Cathedral?
The patron is Saint Sebastian. His image sits atop the high altar, and the Augustinians first accepted Lipa in 1605 under the name Convento de San Sebastian de Comintang. The church is formally the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian, the seat of the archbishop of Lipa.
Why is Lipa the seat of an archdiocese?
The diocese of Lipa was created on April 10, 1910, and the town's church became its cathedral. Lipa was chosen partly for its cold climate. The diocese became the Archdiocese of Lipa on June 20, 1972, and covers about 3,165 square kilometers.
Is there a folktale about why Lipa's church was built?
Yes. Amparo Reyes wrote down a tale in 1924 about a hardworking woman named Maria who saw the Virgin Mary while gathering firewood. The townspeople then built a church on that spot. It is folklore, separate from the documented 1779 to 1790 construction, so parents can tell it as a story.
Was Lipa really the world's coffee supplier?
For about six months, around 1886 to 1888, Lipa was reportedly the world's only supplier of coffee beans. The Liberica coffee seeds were brought from Mexico by an Augustinian missionary. It makes a fun fact to share with kids over a hot chocolate.
What did José Rizal write for Lipa?
José Rizal wrote Hymno al Trabajo, a hymn to work, for the town's fiesta. A local history sketch dates it to before February 3, 1888, ahead of his second trip to Europe. Lipa had been made a villa the year before, on October 21, 1887.
What opened the 2025 Christmas season at Fiesta Adventure Park in Lipa?
The park held its Magical Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on October 24, 2025. Mayor Eric Africa, former City Councilor Gwen Wong and other officials lit the tree with guests, with performances by the Canossa Glee Club and the RBC Dance Crew. New rides and a Food Hub were also unveiled.
What were Fiesta Adventure Park's holiday hours in 2025?
In the 2025 season the park stayed open until midnight. Weekday hours were noon to midnight and weekend hours were 9 a.m. to midnight. These hours were announced for 2025, so check the park before visiting in 2026 because no 2026 schedule had been confirmed.
What happened at Fiesta Adventure Park around Halloween 2025?
From October 27 to November 2, 2025, the park ran a week of activities including Best in Costume and Biggest Group of the Day contests. A Trick or Treat Parade and a Horror Tunnel were set for October 31. Parents of little ones may want to skip the Horror Tunnel.
Has The Outlets at Lipa held a Christmas tree lighting?
Yes. In 2017 the Lima Technology Center mall opened its Christmas season with a tree lighting on December 1, running family programming through January 6, 2018. That is the only dated record, and no 2026 plans are confirmed, so families should check with the mall before going.
Do Lipa subdivisions put on their own Christmas light shows?
Some do. In 2023 Arcoe Residences lit big Christmas trees and ended with fireworks set to carols, with the San Sebastian Drum and Lyres and the Lipa Choral Ensemble performing. Solaya Lipa in Barangay Tangway also held its first tree lighting. Many are developer events and may not be open to the public.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Lipa City?
The most recent confirmed tree lighting in Lipa was at Fiesta Adventure Park on October 24, 2025. The Outlets at Lipa has also lit a mall tree, in 2017. For 2026, Rally Takes the Train's Lipa City Christmas events guide will add a tree once the host confirms a date.
Is there a Christmas market in Lipa City?
No 2026 market was confirmed at the time of writing. In 2017 The Outlets at Lipa ran a holiday fair with a food market featuring Batangas brands, and a Clearance Madness Sale from December 13 to 17. Any 2026 market would show up in Rally Takes the Train's Lipa City guide once announced.
Besides the Fiesta Adventure Park tree lighting, what else can Lipa kids see at Christmas?
Kids can look at the lit trees and decorations that malls and subdivisions put up, and families can visit the 1790 cathedral and its seven-floor octagonal bell tower. Dated programs for 2026 had not been confirmed, so check with each host before planning a visit.
Where can we spend Christmas Day in Lipa City with kids?
No Christmas Day program in Lipa was confirmed for 2026. Families commonly start with the landmark Lipa Cathedral, named for Saint Sebastian and finished in 1790, then visit a park or mall that is open. Check hours first, since only 2025 holiday hours have been published.
When are the Christmas events in Lipa City in 2026?
No Lipa City Christmas event had a confirmed 2026 date as of November 5, 2026. Last year's park tree lighting was on October 24, 2025. We add events to the Lipa City Christmas events guide only after the host publishes the date.
What does the Lipa Cathedral bell tower look like?
The bell tower is octagonal and stands beside the main facade. It originally had five floors and was raised to seven during its rebuilding. The cathedral itself is Neo-Renaissance, laid out in a Latin cross with a large dome and a series of arches around the main hall.
Who leads the Archdiocese of Lipa today?
Gilbert Garcera is the sixth archbishop of Lipa and has served since April 2017. His seat is the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian in Lipa, Batangas. The archdiocese was created as a diocese on April 10, 1910, and raised to an archdiocese on June 20, 1972.
Sources
- Christmas Comes Early at Fiesta Adventure Park Lipa, WOWBatangas
- Lipa Cathedral, Wikipedia
- Lipa history and a folkloric tale of Marian apparition, Batangas History
- Lipa historical sketch: early beginnings, Wise Friar
- Archdiocese of Lipa, Wikipedia
- Christmas lights up in Lipa, Daily Tribune
- Get in the Holiday Wonderfair at AboitizLand's The Outlets at Lipa, Aboitiz