CEBU Sinulog Festival 2014 Schedule of Activities, How To Get There, Things To Do and Where To Stay

Sinulog Festival 2014 is one of the country's biggest and most attended festivals in honor of the Senyor Santo Niño . It is an annual event held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City where a grand display of colorful and festive dancing with various contingents from all over Cebu and other provinces in extravagant costumes dancing to the beat of the Sinulog. As a religious celebration, it is the time of the year where millions of local and foreign tourists and devotees flock to the Queen City of the South to pay homage to the Santo Niño and to witness and join the Sinulog 2014 festivities.

For 2014, the highlight of the festival will be on January 19, 2014 with the street dancing competition happening along the major streets of Cebu City. Although no official schedule has been released, the celebration has always been held on fixed dates, which is the 3rd weekend of January. Mark your calendar and save the dates!

Sinulog 2014 (Tentative)Schedule of Activities and Highlights of Events

January 9, 2014 (Thursday)
– Opening Salvo
- Walk with Jesus

January 10, 2014 (Friday)
– Sinulog Festival 2014 Kick-Off

January 11, 2014 (Saturday)
– Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan 2014

January 12, 2014 (Sunday)
– Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan 2014

January 15, 2014 (Wednesday)
– Miss Cebu 2014 Coronation Night

January 16, 2014 (Thursday)
– Sinulog Festival 2014 Queen Photo Shoot

January 17, 2014 (Friday)
– Walk With Mary
- Translacion
- Cebu Pop Festival
- Sinulog Festival Queen Competition 2014

January 18, 2014 (Saturday)
– Fluvial Procession
- Solemn Foot Procession
- Sinulog 2014 Pyrofest at SM City Cebu

January 19, 2014 (Sunday)
- Sinulog Festival 2014 34th Grand Parade
- Symphony of Fire at Ayala Center Cebu

January 20, 2014 (Monday)
– Sinulog 2014 Awarding Ceremonies

January 24, 2014 (Friday)
– Hubo Ritual Mass at Basilica del Sto. Niño

This post shall be updated as soon the official schedule of activities has been released.

UPDATED SINULOG 2014 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

December 1, 2013 – January 31, 2014 — Sinulog Street Fair, Osmena Blvd.
7 a.m. — Elimination of Sinulog Dance Crew and Musicfest, CCSC

December 30, 2013 — Sinulog Fun Run

January 9, 2014 (Thursday) — Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus
4 a.m. — Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmena
4:30 a.m. — Start of Walk from Fuente Osmena Blvd. to Basilica del Sto. Nino
5:30 a.m. — Installation of Hermano and Hermana Mayores 2014

January 10, 2014 (Friday) — Sinulog 2014 Kickoff
2 p.m. — Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Nino)
3 p.m. — Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Nino to CCSC)
7 p.m. — Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmena
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmena Circle)
9 p.m. — Street Party Bands

January 11, 2014 (Saturday) — Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan
1 p.m. — Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
2 p.m. — Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
6:30 p.m. — Cultural Show (Fuente Osmena)
7 p.m. — Ms Cebu 2014 Presentation at Ayala Activity Center
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmena Circle)
9 p.m. — Concert at the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 12, 2014 (Sunday) — Sinulog sa Kabataan – Dakbayan
4 a.m. — Cebu City 2014 Marathon — www.cebumarathon.com
1 p.m. — Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to CCSC
2 p.m. — Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, CCSC
6 p.m. — Grand Finals of Sinulog Choral Competition
6:30 p.m. — Cultural Show (Fuente Osmena)
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmena Circle)
9 p.m. — Concert at the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 13, 2014 (Monday)
6:30 p.m. — Cultural Show (Fuente Osmena)
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmena)
9 p.m. — Concert at the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 14, 2014 (Tuesday)
6:30 p.m. — Cultural Show (Fuente Osmena)
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmena)
9 p.m. — Concert at the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 15, 2014 (Wednesday)
9 a.m. — Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
6:30 p.m. — Cultural Show (Fuente Osmena)
7 p.m. — Ms Cebu 2014 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmena)
9 p.m. — Concert at the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 16, 2014 (Thursday)
9 a.m. — Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
6 p.m. — Balik Cebu, Welcome Party at Ayala Center Cebu
6:30 p.m. — Cultural Show (Fuente Osmena)
Sinulog Festival Queen Runway Competition and Photoshoot
8 p.m. — Sinulog Idol Grand Finals (Fuente Osmena)
Handumanan at Ayala Terraces
9 p.m. — Concert at the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 17, 2014 (Friday) — Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls)
4 a.m. — Walk with Mary from Fuente Osmena to Sto. Nino
9 a.m. — Solidarity Meeting (All competing contingent/Floats/Higante/Puppeteers) at CCSC gym
6 p.m. — Sinulog Dance Crew and Musicfest Grand Finals, CCSC
7:30 p.m. — Sinulog Festival Queen 2014, CCSC
8 p.m. — Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum

January 18, 2014 (Saturday)
6 a.m. — Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Nino
9 a.m. — Reenactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon — Basilica del Sto. Nino
2 p.m. — Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Nino
7 p.m. — Street Party at Fuente Osmena and Plaza Independencia
8 p.m. — Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras at Ayala Center Cebu
9 p.m. — Musicfest Grand Finals

anuary 19, 2014 (Sunday) — Sinulog Grand Parade
4 a.m. — Mananita Mass at Basilica del Sto. Nino
6 a.m. — Pontifical Mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9 a.m. — Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kickoff
7 p.m. — Grand Finale and Grand Fireworks, CCSC
7:30 p.m. — Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmena

January 20, 2014 (Monday)
1 p.m. — Awarding Ceremonies, CCSC

January 24, 2014 (Friday) — Hubo
4 a.m. — Hubo Mass Ritual at Basilica del Sto. Nino

January 25, 2014 (Saturday)
1 p.m. — Screening of Finalists for Short Film/Video Documentary Contest
Sinulog 2013 Photo Contest Winners Exhibits
6 p.m. — Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contect at SM City Cebu

February 3 – February 10, 2014 — Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog 2014″ at SM City Cebu

10 Things to do in (and near) Cebu City

1. Say a prayer at Basilica del Sto. Niño
2. Visit Magellan's Cross
3. Check out the smallest fort in the country, Fort San Pedro
4. Visit Mactan Shrine
5. Shop for Pasalubong and Souvenirs at Tabo-an Market
6. Get an adrenaline rush at Sky Experience Adventure
7. Visit the stunning Cebu Provincial Capitol Building
8. Relieve history by visiting the Heritage of Cebu Monument
9. Unwind at Mango Square
10. Go on a Food Trip

For more info on these destinations, click HERE.

12 Things to do in South Cebu

1. Visit Carcar Church
2. Take a look at the old houses in Carcar
3. Eat Carcar's Lechon and Chicharon
4. Stop by the Carcar Rotunda
5. Take a dip at Mantayupan Falls in Barili
6. Swim at Moalboal Beach
7. Trek and take a dip at Kawasan Falls
8. Visit Simala Shrine in the town of Sibonga
9. Climb Osmeña Peak in Dalaguete
10. Have a taste of Torta de Argao
11. Visit Boljoon's Church, Escuela Catolica and El Gran Baluarte
12. Visit Oslob's Church and Cuartel

For more info on these destinations, click HERE.

How to Get to Cebu City

By Air
The fastest way to reach Cebu is by plane. Cebu City, being one of the most urbanized cities in the Visayas, it can be reached on affordable flights from Manila and other key cities in the country such as Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Clark, Siargao, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Camiguin, General Santos, and Tacloban, among many others. Most local airlines have several flights daily to Cebu making it one of the most accessible city in the country.

By Sea
Cebu City can also be reached by sea through ferries coming from Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bohol, Leyte, Iligan, Negros, Butuan and Ozamis among many others.

Where to Stay in Cebu City

Due to the festive season it is necessary that you plan your Sinulog Festival 2014 trip in advance. Cebu City has a wide array of affordable and high quality hotels, guest/pension houses, hostel and inns for you to stay in! Here are 3 of my recommended accommodations in Cebu City:

• Gran Prix Hotel - Corner F. Ramos St. & General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City (Near Fuente Osmeña)
• The Center Suites - Brgy. Camputhaw, Gonzales Compd., Escario Street,
  Cebu City
• The Henry Hotel - No. 1 Paseo Saturnino, Ma. Luisa Road Banilad Cebu City

Pit Senyor! Viva Senyor Santo Niño! Enjoy the celebrations, the food and the warm people of Cebu City! Happy Sinulog 2014!

Photos were used with permission from Rob Pinzon of www.robinspinzon.com and www.palibut.com.