Events and Festivals
The community life in Alcantara is highlighted by its annual festival, a colorful celebration of its primary agricultural products and the town’s founding.
1. Saginyogan Festival
- Type: Agricultural, Cultural, and Founding Anniversary Celebration
- Date: Annually held every March 21st
- Description: The Saginyogan Festival is the municipality's premier cultural event. Its name is a portmanteau of the Filipino words "saging" (banana) and "niyog" (coconut)—the two most abundant and important agricultural products in Alcantara. The festival serves as a week-long thanksgiving for the abundant harvest and coincides with the town's founding anniversary.
- Activities:
- Grand Street Dancing and Dance Showdown: The main highlight, featuring contingents from various barangays performing in elaborate, colorful costumes made from local materials, dancing to the beat of drums and gongs.
- Miss Alcantara: The prestigious municipal beauty pageant.
- Gabi ng mga Kawani: A program and awards ceremony for local government employees.
- Trade Fairs: Showcasing products and by-products derived from bananas and coconuts, encouraging local economic development.
2. Giant Christmas Tree Lighting
- Type: Annual Holiday Celebration
- Date: Weeks before Christmas (usually early to mid-December)
- Description: An event that signals the official start of the festive season in Alcantara. The municipality builds a massive Christmas tree in the main public plaza, drawing crowds from neighboring towns to witness the lighting ceremony and the start of the holiday merriment.