This year’s MassKara Festival is set to open with a historic first—two venues will simultaneously host the grand kickoff on Oct. 1, at 5 p.m., the organizer, Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI), said Sept. 24.
The celebration will simultaneously unfold at both the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) and the public plaza, marking a bold step in expanding the festival’s reach and experience.
The BGFI described this year’s dual staging as a way to bring the celebration closer to more people.
The BGC remains as the festival’s modern centerpiece, while the public plaza will once again shine with its classic charm, adding cultural depth to the festivities.
“With this setup, we want to maximize the vibrancy of our public spaces,” festival director Rodney Mitz Ascalon said in a statement, adding the plaza is not only a heritage landmark but also a stage where Bacolodnons and visitors alike can feel the pulse of MassKara.
This year’s plaza programming promises a strong lineup of performances and activities, giving added value to the downtown area, and ensuring “that the heart of the city beats in sync with the festival’s biggest moments”.
Ascalon stressed that the simultaneous opening symbolizes the theme “One Smile, One City”, uniting Bacolod through both tradition and modernity.
The organizer is also awaiting approval from the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod of the proposed road closures in festival sites.
These include the public plaza, where kiosks will be set up, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 20; the BGC grounds, also from Sept. 28 to Oct. 20; and along Lacson Tourism Strip, from Oct. 13-21.
Full road closure, from Burgos Street to St. Francis Avenue, is also being proposed from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 17, for the electric MassKara competition.
For the school and barangay arena and street dance competitions on Oct. 18 and 19, respectively, full road closure is likewise eyed from 1-8 p.m., and streets to be affected are those along the Paglaum Sports Complex to the plaza route, the foundation said.
Final rerouting advisories and guidelines will be issued once the SP approves the request, it added.
“We understand that these closures will affect daily routines, but they are necessary to ensure the safety and order of our festival,” Ascalon said as he appealed for patience and cooperation from the public.
“We ask for the public’s understanding and support so that everyone may enjoy a secure, vibrant, and world-class MassKara celebration,” he added. ||
