Masskara Festival started and founded in 1980 when the province of Negros was suffering a period of crisis on its sugar production. It was also the time of mourning when the inter-island vessel Don Juan collided with the tanker of Tacloban City. The passenger ship carrying many Negrense, including those from the prominent families and personalities from Bacolod City, an estimated 700 lives lost on the tragic accident that left a scar on the heart of Bacolodnons.

Being dubbed as the “City of Smiles” by many, the city government, local artists and civic organizations decided to create a festival of smiles to pull the people from depressing atmosphere of their lives.  The birth of Masskara Festival was then about to witness.

The term “Masskara” is derived from two words: Mass which means crowd, and Cara which means face, which also doubles as a term for mask. The festival’s symbol, a smiling mask, symbolizes a happy spirit despite sadness.  It is celebrated from the month of October specifically from October 1-19, which is also marked as the city charter anniversary as their festival highlights. Different activities like street dancing, beauty pageant, food festivals, street concerts and live bands, parades of float, trade fairs, merry making and lot of fun gigs can be found and witnessed in the city.

Many foreign and local tourists arrived in the city during the Masskara Festival season that’s why the Bacolod City hotels usually recorded a much greater number of clients compare to regular business days and the local government considered Masskara Festival as the major boost of Tourism in Bacolod City.

Today, Masskara Festival is one of best, colorful and much awaited Festivals in the Philippines it shows strong Bacolodnons and also shows the talents and creativity of the people.

So what are you waiting for? Come, enjoy and let us celebrate the festivals of smiles…Experience the beats that could make you dance on the street of Bacolod City…Join us the serenity and beauty of Masskara Festival.