Calaca Batangas Festival

Calaca Batangas Festival is one of the most vibrant festivals in Batangas. The sheer number of attendees is a testament to this festival’s energy.

Also known as the Calacatchara Festival, this event has continually wowed visitors and cemented the locals’ beliefs in their age-old traditions. The name of the festival is actually a portmanteau of two words: Calaca (the host town) and atchara (a trademark delicacy native to Calaca). Atchara is a popular appetizer that consists of pickled raw pawpaw, definitely a must-sample when in Calaca.

Calaca Batangas Festival Details

The Calaca Batangas Festival lasts for a week, with events culminating in a celebration on the 24th day of October every year. The epicenter of activity during this festival has got to be the street dancing contest that attracts participants from all over the world.

Look out for the vibrantly colored costumes adorned by the dancers, as well as the exquisite props that serve to complement the energetic performances. For those who would like to put their vocal cords to the test, the singing competition is the place to be.

Other attractions at the Calaca Batangas Festival include the children’s fun activities, the food fest, the annual industrial fair as well as the job fair. It is impossible to attend this festival and miss out on the grandiose display of fireworks that illuminate the sky in an array of hues, making for a memorable event. If you would like to get a glimpse into Calacas’ affairs, be sure to attend the concert held in honor of the city’s Mayor.

Calaca Batangas Festival History

The origin of the word Calaca is actually from Mexico or from Mexicans. It means a skeleton. However, the word itself has different meanings in different countries like in Guatemala, it is a word known to describe death or things relative to it.

That’s why Calaca in Batangas, Philippines, has a different meaning even though it came from the same root. In Batangas, it is a festival or a local festival that was made to attract tourists in different areas of the country as well as foreign and international people.

The complete festival name is CalacAtchara or CALACAtchara. The capitalization of some letters means that it was made or derived from two words which are “Calaca” and “Atchara”. For those who don’t know what is Atchara, it is actually a great side dish made from pickled raw papaya with added ingredients such as bell pepper or carrot to make it more vibrant and tasty.

This is one of Philippine’s late festivals. It was established around the year 2004. That’s just about 15 years old compared to other festivities in the country which is more than 50.

It was suggested by the former Mayor, Sofronia “Nas” Ona Jr. to create the festival to showcase and promote the City’s pride recipe which is the “Atcharang Calaca”. The creation was based on the idea that the famous City’s recipe is becoming unpopular and outdated which was probably the result of different stakeholders in town, failing to promote their very own product.

The Mayor’s suggestion and instantiation of the festival made a new light and has earned its rightful and prideful place in the market. Today, the side dish or appetizer is known all over the world. In fact, people who come over to the place not just during the festival but just any normal visit, buy “Atcharang Calaca” as a gift or “pasalubong” for friends and families when they get home.

The Calaca Batangas festival is more or less a 10 day festival with so many activities and events. The end date which is October 24 also celebrates the annual town fiesta honoring St. Rafael.

During this 10 day period, you’d see activities like pageants, concerts, dance, singing and other competitions the town has decided.

The main event would be the dance competition where it involves students on the elementary and secondary level gathered from different schools, both private and public, to showcase their talents with dance representing or depicting the Native Culture of Batangas as well as other forms of dance and props that symbolize the Calacan Culture.

Another festival held annually in the province of Batangas is the Coffee Festival. Additionally, you can intend a short trip to the famous Fantasy World of the province.