Camiguin gives a small fruit a week of its own, and this year the celebration comes with a drone show. The 47th Lanzones Festival runs from 18 to 25 October 2026 in Mambajao, with pre-festival events on 15 to 17 October, so the main week opens this Sunday.
Lanzones, called buahan on the island, grow in the volcanic soil of Camiguin's slopes, and the sweetness locals prize is credited to that soil. Around 2,000 hectares were planted with the tree by 2018, mostly on higher ground near the volcanoes, and the fruit overtook copra as the island's main crop. Since 2018, fruit shipped off the island has had to be boxed and marked "Camiguin Lanzones", a branding step meant to help it stand out in the market.
The festival is a harvest thanksgiving, and its street dancing shows it. Contingents from across the island perform routines inspired by local folklore about the fruit's abundance. If you came to Camiguin for white sand and waterfalls, this is the week when the island's own farming culture takes the stage.
What Is on During Festival Week
- 15 to 17 October (pre-festival): Government agency showcases, agricultural forums, the Daos Ki Festival Food Bazaar and the Rocktober Night concert series.
- 18 October (opening day): A Thanksgiving Mass at San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, the Lanzones Festival Extravaganza, an eat-all-you-can lanzones contest and the grand parade of floats and street dance entries.
- 18 to 25 October: The Ugmad agro-industrial trade fair, nightly concerts, the Mutya sa Buahanan pageant, a Lanzones King and Queen contest, an inter-agency dance contest and youth street competitions.
- During the week: A 300-drone light show, billed as the first of its kind in Camiguin.
Most events cluster around Mambajao and the Ugmad concert grounds. The detailed hour-by-hour programme tends to settle close to the date, so check the Provincial Tourism Office's official page for the day you plan to go, especially for the street dancing competition, which is usually the weekend highlight.
Can You Still Make It?
Yes, with a little planning. The quickest route from Cebu is the Cebu Pacific flight, about an hour. Seats this close to the date can be pricey, so check fares before you commit. The cheaper route through Bohol depends on the Super Shuttle ferry from Jagna, which sails to Balbagon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:00 PM.
That schedule actually suits the closing weekend. Take the Friday 23 October sailing, spend Saturday and Sunday in the final days of the festival, and catch the Monday 8:00 AM boat back to Jagna. Confirm the days with the operator first, as sailings can be cancelled in rough weather. Our Camiguin weekend guide covers both routes, costs and a two-day island plan.
Eating and Buying Lanzones
October is harvest time, so the fruit is at its freshest. Opening day includes a lanzones eat-all-you-can contest, which is as much spectacle as snack. Away from the contest, buy by the kilo from roadside stalls and the market, and ask the price before you pay, since it moves with the harvest and the crowds. The province also promotes a cross called camlong, bred from Camiguin lanzones and longkong, so you may see both names on stalls.
Plan Around Rooms, Rain and Paperwork
- Rooms: Rates rise during Lanzones week, so book early.
- Visitor QR code: Visitors entering Camiguin have to get a QR code. The rule falls under the province's Smart Tourism Ordinance and was reinstated in 2024. Ask the Provincial Tourism Office how to register, do it before you travel and save the code offline.
- Rain: October is warm and wet, with frequent afternoon showers, and typhoon risk runs through November. Pack rain gear and keep your tickets changeable.
- Crowds and safety: Expect heavy security and traffic around Mambajao. Arrive early along the parade route for a decent spot.
Worth Building a Trip Around?
If you like harvest festivals and do not mind crowds, yes. It is a local celebration of a crop the island genuinely depends on, with more going on than most visitors expect. If your priority is quiet beaches and empty waterfalls, pick a different week, because festival crowds and higher room rates will not suit that trip. For another festival with a very different feel, see our MassKara 2026 guide or, for a November street celebration, the Higantes Festival in Angono.