Iloilo City to launch first Calle Real Night Market

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo City will launch its first-ever Calle Real Night Market this August, celebrating the city’s 87th Charter Day and its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Lea Lara, director of the Iloilo City Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) Center, announced the event during a press conference on August 13.

“We will highlight gastronomy, arts, culture, and heritage for the night market. As you know, many visitors come here and they want to experience our food. We will pilot it this month and see if it works for us,” Lara said.

“It’s more for the celebration of Charter Day and our designation as a Creative City of Gastronomy,” she added.

The Calle Real Night Market, themed “Celebrating the 87th Charter Day Through an Ilonggo Feast,” will showcase a wide array of Ilonggo cuisines from local food vendors, market stalls, and city-agri participants.

Attendees can expect a vibrant display of food kiosks, each offering a taste of Iloilo’s rich culinary traditions.

In addition to the culinary offerings, the night market will feature performances by homegrown artists, drag performers, and buskers. Dinagyang tribe performances and Ilonggo folk dances will also be staged, celebrating the city’s cultural heritage.

Executive Assistant for Special Projects Leny Ledesma highlighted the event’s significance, noting that it will not only showcase Iloilo City’s offerings but also help revive its streets at night and boost local tourism.

The Calle Real Night Market will be held on two weekends, from August 16 to 18 and August 23 to 25, from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

The market will stretch from Sunburst Park to JM Basa and Guanco Streets, inviting locals and tourists alike to experience Iloilo’s unique culture and gastronomy.