CALLE REAL NIGHT MARKET: A Showcase of Gastronomy, Music, Arts, and Cultural Heritage
Rooted in elevating food nostalgia and bringing nightlife to downtown streets, Iloilo City is set to open its night market in line with the Charter Month celebration this August.
Iloilo City Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) Center announced the Calle Real Street Night Market, a spectacular exhibition of delectable cuisine and artistic flair, at a press conference on August 13.
According to MICE Center Director Lea Lara, the food festival will feature a variety of Ilonggo cuisines from local food, market, and city-agri vendors, with food lovers having the option to choose from various kiosks curated.
Homegrown artists, drag performers, and buskers will provide entertainment to the audience and set the mood for the celebration.
Dinagyang tribe performances and Ilonggo folk dances will also be showcased throughout a night of cultural performances and fun.
Centered on the theme “Celebrating the 87th Charter Day Through an Ilonggo Feast,” the food fest promises a cultural and gastronomic experience, giving locals and foreign visitors a full taste of why Iloilo City is designated as a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.
Leny Ledesma, Executive Assistant and Technical Lead for Marketing.
Leny Ledesma, Executive Assistant for Special Projects and Technical Lead for Marketing.
Executive Assistant for Special Projects Leny Ledesma pointed out that this event will not only highlight everything Iloilo City has to offer, but will also underscore the idea of reviving the city streets at night, which will strengthen tourism promotions in Iloilo City and reflect the unique spirit of the Ilonggo community.
“We wanted to have a celebration that promotes our market, our street vendors. It is a celebration of our gastronomy, and the arts,” Ledesma said.
The Night Market is set on two weekends, Aug. 16–18 and 23–25, from 5:00 pm to 12:00 mn at Sunburst Park and along JM Basa to Guanco Streets. (Angelo Miranda/Iloilo City PIO)