Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Roxas City
In December 2023, Roxas City put up a Christmas tree made of thousands of living plants, possibly the first on Panay Island. Its Christmas season runs through Sinadya, a festival for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
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The story of Christmas in Roxas City
Sinadya, the December festival built on a feast day
Roxas City's Christmas season runs through Sinadya, once called Sinadya sa Halaran. It celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of Capiz, and falls in the first week of December. The 2024 program ran December 1 to 9 with a fluvial parade tradition, Christmas bazaar and street market openings, a drum and lyre contest, a tricycle lights competition and processions on December 8. Province-wide, Paskwa sang Maragtas ties Roxas City and 16 municipalities into one Christmas Village of Nativity dioramas that open December 1.
A living tree and a plaza of lights, 2019 to 2025
An interactive light display launched on the city plaza during Sinadya 2019 and drew large crowds from across the province. In 2020 the plaza kept simple decorations, with parols made from indigenous and recycled materials hanging at City Hall. In December 2023 the city presented a tree of thousands of living ornamental plants, possibly the first living tree on Panay Island. Sinadya 2025 opened on December 5 despite Tropical Depression Wilma, with a cathedral mass, a plaza flag-raising led by Mayor Ronnie Dadivas and the drum and lyre competition, and closed on Monday, December 8.
Lunsod Lunsad and other small surprises for kids
Sinadya 2024 launched the Lunsod Lunsad 2024 children's book set on December 9, the last day. Its December 7 schedule had a tricycle lights competition, and December 9 had celebrity Zumba. The festival is named Upod Kita sa Sinadya 2024, and the 2023 tree carried the tag UpodKita too. Capiz's nativity dioramas are called Paskwa ni JuOne, and local governments compete for the best one. A parol, the Filipino Christmas lantern, is the thing kids can look for hanging near City Hall.
Traditions today
- Sinadya Festival: Early-December city festival for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with a mass, flag-raising, parades, bazaar and processions.
- Paskwa sang Maragtas: The province-wide Capiz Christmas Festival with decorations, parol contests and a Christmas Village of Nativity dioramas.
- Paskwa ni JuOne dioramas: Nativity displays of the Holy Family that local governments build and compete over, opening to the public on December 1 in the provincial report.
- Plaza lights and City Hall parols: The plaza hosts the interactive light display launched in 2019, and parols made from recycled materials hang at City Hall.
- Living Christmas tree: In 2023 the city built a tree from thousands of living ornamental plants during Sinadya.
- Christmas bazaar: Local specialties, crafts, woodwork and souvenirs, with bazaar and street market openings on December 1 in 2024.
A fact for kids
In 2023, Roxas City built a Christmas tree out of thousands of living plants!
Questions about Christmas in Roxas City
When does the Sinadya Festival happen in Roxas City?
Sinadya is held in early December and celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The 2024 program ran December 1 to 9. The 2025 festival formally opened on the morning of December 5 and ended on Monday, December 8. Dates for later years come from the city government each autumn.
What was the Sinadya Festival 2025 opening like in Roxas City?
It opened on December 5, 2025, even though Tropical Depression Wilma was passing. Some outdoor items moved indoors. The day began with a mass at Mary Immaculate Conception Cathedral, then a program and flag-raising at the city plaza led by Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, and the Sinadya sa Kalye Drum and Lyre Competition.
What is Sinadya sa Halaran, and is it the same as Sinadya?
Yes. Sinadya sa Halaran is the older name of Roxas City's biggest festival. A provincial December calendar says it was formerly called Sinadya sa Halaran and features a fluvial parade, street dancing and cultural shows. A travel guide adds that it falls in the first week of December.
Does Roxas City have a living Christmas tree?
In December 2023, during Sinadya, the city government presented a tree built from thousands of living ornamental plants. It called the tree possibly the first and only living tree on Panay Island, a symbol of life, love and light. The city's post does not say how long it stood or if it returned.
What is Paskwa sang Maragtas?
Paskwa sang Maragtas is the Capiz Christmas Festival, a province-wide celebration with decorations, parol-making contests and holiday programs. A provincial report described it as a month-long festival joining Roxas City and 16 municipalities as one province-wide Christmas Village, launched on September 29 at the Capiz Regional Tourism Expo.
What are the Paskwa ni JuOne displays in Capiz?
They are Nativity dioramas showing the Holy Family. In the provincial report, the displays open to the public on December 1, and the local governments compete for the best diorama under set criteria. The festival also has a Christmas bazaar with local specialties, crafts, woodwork and souvenirs.
Where do families in Roxas City go to see Christmas lights?
The city plaza is the center of the lighting. An interactive light display launched there during Sinadya 2019 and drew large crowds from across the province. In 2020 the plaza kept simple lights and decorations, with parols hanging in front of City Hall.
What kind of parols hang at Roxas City Hall?
In 2020 the lanterns in front of City Hall were made from indigenous and recycled materials, reflecting community effort. A parol-making competition was held during Sinadya Festival 2020. A parol is the Filipino Christmas lantern, usually shaped like a star.
Can families shop at a Christmas bazaar in Roxas City?
Yes. The Sinadya 2024 program listed Christmas bazaar and street market openings on December 1, plus the Maragtas street market. The province also runs a Christmas Bazaar with local specialties, crafts, woodwork and souvenirs. Check the city's Sinadya schedule for the current year's dates.
Besides the festival, what can kids see at Christmas in Roxas City?
Kids can see the Nativity dioramas in the province-wide Christmas Village, the lanterns and lights around the plaza and City Hall, and the Sinadya sa Kalye drum and lyre competition. Confirmed dates, once published, go into Rally Takes the Train's Roxas City Christmas events guide.
Which Sinadya sights make the best family outing in Roxas City?
Families can walk the plaza lights and parols, look at the Nativity dioramas, browse the Christmas bazaar and watch the Sinadya drum and lyre parade. The 2024 program also had a tricycle lights competition on December 7. Any 2026 dates that are confirmed will appear in the events guide from Rally Takes the Train.
Where do we start with kids at the Roxas City plaza during Sinadya?
Start at the city plaza, where Sinadya opens each year and where the light display and City Hall parols appear. Then visit the Christmas bazaar and the Nativity dioramas in the Christmas Village. Check the city government for current schedules.
Where can we spend Christmas Day in Roxas City?
One local account of Christmas 2020 describes attending Christmas Day mass at the Cathedral. Mary Immaculate Conception Cathedral is also where Sinadya opens with a mass. For Christmas Day plans, check the cathedral and the city government for the current schedule.
Who is the patroness of Capiz?
Mary Immaculate Conception is honored as the patroness of Capiz. The Sinadya Festival closes with a pontifical mass for her, and the 2024 program ended with a pontifical mass on December 9, a day after the Marian coronation and processions on December 8.
What happens on December 8 during Sinadya?
The 2024 program for December 8 listed a chess tournament, religious processions, river floats and the Marian coronation, plus an evening concert. December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which the festival celebrates. A fluvial parade is part of the festival in general.
What children's activities were part of Sinadya 2024?
The 2024 schedule had no section marked for kids. Items families might like included the Christmas bazaar, the drum and lyre competition, a tricycle lights competition on December 7, celebrity Zumba on December 9 and the launch of the Lunsod Lunsad 2024 children's book set.
Is there a Christmas tree lighting at Sinadya?
The 2024 schedule does not name a tree lighting, though it lists lighting ceremonies as part of the December 4 cultural show. In 2023 the city presented its living tree during Sinadya. Ask the city government or check its Sinadya schedule for the current year.
How far is Roxas City from Iloilo and Kalibo?
By bus, Ceres Liner runs from Iloilo in about 2 hours and from Kalibo in about 1.5 hours. UV Express vans also come from both cities. Roxas Airport is about 2 km north of the center, with daily flights from Manila on Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and AirAsia.
What is Roxas City known for besides Christmas?
The economy leans on seafood, and the city is known for its seafood markets. Many fishponds and fishpens raise milkfish. Its main festival is Sinadya sa Halaran, held in the first week of December, which doubles as the Immaculate Conception celebration.
Is the 2026 Roxas City Christmas season confirmed yet?
Not yet. As of early November 2026 no host or city page gives 2026 dates, so none are listed. Past patterns show Sinadya in early December and Paskwa ni JuOne displays opening December 1. We will add dates to our Roxas City page once the city confirms them.
Sources
- Sinadya 2024 Festival Schedule of Activities, December 1-9, 2024, Roxas City Government
- Sinadya Festival opens in Roxas City despite 'Wilma', Daily Guardian
- Capiz gears up for biggest Capiz Christmas fest, Philippine Information Agency
- December in Capiz, Capture Capiz
- Roxas City's Living Christmas Tree, Roxas City Government
- Christmas in Roxas City, circa 2020, Capisnon
- Roxas City, Wikivoyage