Araw ng Davao also known as Araw ng Dabaw is an annual celebration held in the city of Davao in the Philippines to commemorate the founding of the city. The festival features a variety of cultural, sporting, and culinary events, as well as parades and live performances. It is a time for the people of Davao to come together and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of their city.
What is Araw ng Davao?
On June 29, 1848, the Spanish founded Davao in the Davao Gulf on the island of Mindanao. Davao began to grow and expand during the period of American control.
On March 16, 1936, cityhood was gained when congressman Romualdo Quimpo from Davao filed Bill 609 (passed as Commonwealth Act 51), creating the City of Davao from the town of Davao and the municipal district of Guianga.
Today, Davao City is the center of Metro Davao, the second most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines. It is also one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land area. The city serves as the main trade, commerce, and industry hub of Mindanao, and the regional center of the Davao Region. Davao is home to Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines. The city is also nicknamed the “Durian Capital of the Philippines”.
Araw ng Davao is marked by a series of events across the Metro Davao area when the citizens celebrate the birthday of this multi-cultural city. The festivities cover a jam-packed, 7-day schedule of trade fairs and cultural presentations. There is also a colorful civic-military parade and a citywide beauty pageant.
When is the Araw ng Davao 2023?
The Araw ng Davao is a regional special non-working day in Metro Davao on March 16th of each year. Known also as Charter Day and Araw ng Dabaw, this day marks the anniversary of the city’s incorporation and cityhood, which happened on March 16th of 1936.
The Malacañan Palace officially declared March 3, 2023 as a special non-working holiday in Davao City for the celebration of the 86th Araw ng Dabaw.
It was announced on Tuesday, February 14 through Proclamation No. 159, signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, February 13.
86th Araw Ng Davao 2023 Events
The major events during Araw ng Davao typically include:
- Parades – featuring colorful floats, street dancers, and various cultural groups.
- Sporting events – such as marathons, basketball tournaments, and other athletic competitions.
- Cultural shows – showcasing the traditional dances and music of the region.
- Food and trade fairs – featuring local delicacies and products, as well as live cooking demonstrations.
- Live concerts and performances – featuring local and national artists and musicians.
- Community gatherings – including church services, family picnics, and other social events.
- The exact events and activities during the celebration of the 86th Araw ng Davao can vary from year to year, but they always aim to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and diverse community of the city.
86th Araw Ng Davao 2023 Schedule of Activities
86th Araw Ng Davao 2023 Sports Festival
The Davao City Sports Development Office is conducting its Araw ng Davao 2023 Sports Festival on March 2023. Ending a long hiatus of 3 years, the Araw ng Dabaw Sports Festival is back. The schedules of the various sports this Araw ng Dabaw 2023 Sports Festival have been released.
Please check the calendar below for more information.
86th Araw ng Davao Sportsfest Schedule of Events
All hotels in Davao City have been fully booked for the first week of March when thousands of foreign and local tourists begin flocking to the city for its 85th Araw ng Davao celebration.
The head of the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) said with large events being held in Davao City in March this year, they are expecting 150,000 to 200,000 local and foreign tourist arrivals.
“Yes, we have a target… based on our banner year which is 2019, moabot na siya og [it had hit] around 100,000 by the month of March, so we are targeting to really hit at a minimum of 150,000 to 200,000,” Jennifer Romero, CTOO officer-in-charge, said on March 1, 2023.
In March, Davao City is hosting the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibits (Mice) Conference (MiceCon) 2023 on March 1 to 3 and the Alveo Iron Man 70.3 triathlon on March 26. These two major events are expected to draw a higher volume of tourists with the Iron Man triathlon bringing in foreign tourists and are just among the Mice activities that will be held during the month-long celebration of the 86th Araw ng Dabaw 2023.
Don’t miss out on experiencing the whole-day fun and entertainment activities and make sure to check out as many Davao City tourist spots and events as you can during your stay in the often hailed as the safest city in the Philippines. Davao, Life is Here!
Contact us to book a Davao Tour today!
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