Every 3rd week of January , Kalibo, the capital of Aklan, celebrates the famous Ati-Atihan. Locals don on colorful costumes and parade on the streets. They paint their bodies black to recognize the Atis, the province’s original inhabitants. However, nowadays, the locals already vary their body paintings from plain black to those with intricate designs. The parade would start late in the afternoon. At night they would hold a program at the plaza. If you’re lucky, you might see famous celebrities, from movie stars to politicians.

This merrymaking is a celebration in the honor of the Sto. Niño, a feast originated from a popular custom of the Atis. It was a pagan event that turned Christian in nature when the Spaniards introduced Catholicism to the land.

After joining the Ati-Atihan Festival, you may visit the following places of interest:

1. Museo Aklan
2. Busuang Beach
3. 19 Martyrs of Aklan Freedom Shrine
4. Manduyog Hill (Banga)
5. Jawili Falls (Tangalan)
6. Ibajay Town (where a different and more authentic Ati-Atihan is celebrated)
7. Kalantiaw National Shrine (Batan – believed to be the site where Datu Kalantiaw issued his code)