Every August, Davao City comes alive with Kadayawan Festival—a month-long celebration of gratitude for a bountiful harvest, cultural unity, and the vibrant life of Dabawenyos.

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Kadayawan Festival 2025: Your Complete Guide to Davao’s Grandest Celebration

Rooted in ancient thanksgiving rituals to Manama (the Supreme Being) and the spirits of nature, the festival gathers the city’s 11 ethnolinguistic tribes in a colorful showcase of Muslim tradition, artistry, and community spirit.

🌸 Major Activities & Events

1. Dula Kadayawan

What to Expect: Traditional tribal games like bamboo pole climbing, arm wrestling, and other indigenous sports.
Highlight: Friendly competitions between the city’s 11 tribes.

2. Hiyas sa Kadayawan

What to Expect: A cultural pageant where representatives of each tribe showcase their heritage through attire, dance, and storytelling.
Highlight: Coronation of the festival’s cultural ambassador.

3. Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (Street Dancing)

What to Expect: Colorful street dance performances inspired by tribal rituals and thanksgiving traditions.
Highlight: Costumed dancers moving in sync with vibrant drumbeats along Davao’s main streets.

4. Pamulak sa Kadayawan (Floral Float Parade)

What to Expect: Grand floats adorned with fresh flowers, fruits, and cultural motifs.
Highlight: Stunning designs that celebrate Davao’s agricultural abundance.

5. Kadayawan Village

What to Expect: A living exhibit of the 11 tribes’ traditional houses, crafts, and daily life.
Highlight: Meet tribe members, sample native delicacies, and try hands-on weaving or beading.

6. Agri-Trade Fair

What to Expect: Local produce, plants, and delicacies from farmers and small businesses.
Highlight: Fresh fruits like durian, mangosteen, pomelo, and marang at peak season.

7. Food & Night Market

What to Expect: Street food stalls, local cuisine restaurants, and live music performances.
Highlight: A chance to try Davao’s famous foods, tuna dishes, grilled chicken and other meats, and fruit-based desserts.

📅 Festival Schedule (Tentative for 2025)

Week 1–2: Opening ceremony, Kadayawan Village, Agri-Trade Fair, and Dula Kadayawan.
Week 3: Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, Hiyas sa Kadayawan coronation night.
Week 4: Pamulak sa Kadayawan floral float parade and closing festivities.

📝 Tips for Visitors

Book early — Hotels fill up fast during August.
Stay hydrated — Bring water; it can get hot during street events.
Wear comfortable shoes — You’ll be walking and standing for hours.
Try the fruits — August is durian, pomelo, and mangosteen season.
Respect the culture — Always ask before taking close-up photos of performers or tribal members.

Kadayawan Festival 2025 is not just a tourist attraction—it’s an open invitation to experience Davao’s gratitude, beauty, and unity. Whether you’re joining the street dances, tasting the city’s harvest, or simply taking in the colorful sights, Kadayawan is an unforgettable way to see Davao at its most alive.

Kadayawan Festival 2025