Here’s How You Can Prepare for the Grand Comeback of Cebu’s Sinulog Festival 2023

As early as November, social media platforms managing Cebu’s Sinulog Festival 2023 have already announced the schedule of activities for the festival or the Fiesta Señor 2023, and the actions that you should take note of are as follows:

● January 5 – Opening Salvo/Walk with Jesus

● January 5 to 14 – Novena Masses

● January 13 - Walk with Mary and Traslacion to Mandaue City

● January 14 –

Traslacion to Lapu-lapu City

Fluvial Procession

Reenactment

Solemn Foot Procession

● January 15 - Feast Day

● January 20 – Adlaw sa Hubo

The Sinulog Festival 2023 also has music festivals and parties scheduled to light up the celebrations as festivalgoers dance and groove to exciting music. You might also take note of these music festivals with their respective schedules:

● January 7, 2023 - Verve Sinulog Festival from 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM (location is not yet announced, but organizers said that the festival will be close to the city) [1]

● January 13 to 15 - SMF: Sinulog Music Festival, SRP Grounds Cebu City

● January 13 and 14 - Careless Music Festival or Wavy Baby Music Festival at Mandaue City’s North Reclamation Area

Expect a flock of people during the festival, especially since the country is still in the post-pandemic phase. Festival goers are encouraged and sincerely advised to bring alcohol, a face towel or labakara, a cap or hat, shades, a mini fan, mint candies, haplas, or essential oils, and most importantly, you should still secure your face mask. Bring an extra one, too, in case you or your friend need some. [2]

Tight security will be implemented during the Sinulog Festival 2023, starting with the gun ban recommended by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to the Police Regional Office (PRO) of Central Visayas. The PRO ensures the safety, peace, order, and public’s enjoyment of the festivities. The gun ban is currently imposed in all areas of Cebu Province and Metro Cebu, which is a week before the celebrations of the Sinulog Festival.

As for the tourists, you can navigate your way to Cebu by familiarizing yourself with the famous landmarks at the SRP World Tent City so you and your friends wouldn’t lose your way during the festival celebrations. You can also tour and visit these landmarks to remember to relish the fun of the festival in Cebu while you are still exploring Queen City. These spots include the NUSTAR Resort and Casino, the CCLEX Bridge, where you can easily pass through going to the SRP grounds, San Pedro Calungsod Church, SM Seaside Cebu, IL Corso Lifemalls, and Cebu Ocean Park. [3]

There are a lot of fun and cultural activities to relish during this grand Sinulog Festival in Cebu, just like the dances you can witness during the Grand Street Parade—and yes, they are back physically to liven up the streets! The term ‘Sinulog’ is derived from ‘sulog’, meaning ‘like water current movement’. These forward-backward movements are then showcased in the Sinulog dance. The Grand Street Parade is usually held on the third Sunday of January, and you can watch out for this event which generally starts around 8:00 AM and to 9:00 AM during the festival’s highlights. During Sunday night, the highlight of the Sinulog Festival 2023, you can enjoy watching pyro-musical shows plus beautiful fireworks displays that you will surely enjoy.

Before the activities during the highlights, you can also join street parties, have a food trip in the festival’s food bazaars, explore the city, and join the solemn procession during the fluvial parade.

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