Ati-Atihan Festival

The Ati-Atihan festival is a Philippine festival held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Holy Child or Infant Jesus) in several towns of the province of Aklan, Panay Island. The main event takes place in Kalibo, the province's capital, on the third Sunday of January. "To emulate the Ati people," the word Ati-Atihan signifies.

The Ati-Atihan Festival features religious processions and public parades with themed floats, colorfully costumed dancing groups, marching bands, and people donning face and body paints. The street parade is known as Sadsad, which is also how the locals refer to their style of dance, which involves dragging one's foot across the ground in time with the marching bands' beat.

It is recognized as the "Mother of All Philippine Festivals" because it influenced other Filipino festivals such as Iloilo's Dinagyang and Cebu's Sinulog. Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan is considered to be one of the most famous festivals in the Philippines. This religious festivity is also one of the oldest Philippine celebrations.

Date: Third Sunday of January