The Festival of Lights is a mesmerizing light show that mall goers can enjoy at night.
Many of Cebu’s tourist spots never fail to show off their stunning displays and decorations when celebrating the Christmas season. Their setups can vary from giant Christmas trees to North Pole-inspired mazes you can walk around in.
Light shows are another special event to usher in the holidays, using mesmerizing color shifts as eye candy for a holiday setup. You will definitely feel the festive cheer when you witness the annual Festival of Lights at the Ayala Center Cebu.
Also called the Symphony of Lights, this mesmerizing light show is held at the Ayala Terraces, and it has long been a fixture among the many Christmas destinations in Cebu since 2014.
The show starts every half hour between 6 PM to 9 PM and runs from November until the end of the Christmas season.
A SPECTACLE AT THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
The Terraces is already a fun place to hang out, with its open space and vibrant atmosphere, and the mesmerizing light show definitely adds another layer to its overall ambiance.
The entire outdoor area is covered in Christmas lights, either hanging from the trees or on the railings, lighting up in different shades and hues. As the show starts, the lights will change to the tune of a Christmas jingle playing in the background.
The lights display used to play along to the Sinulog dance theme, hyping people up for the Sinulog Festival in January.
The tree in the middle of the park stands out, with dozens of interchangeable lights wrapped around the trunk and its branches.
The bushes around the park also have tube lights that serve as a guide for when you’re walking around the park at night.
The Festival of Lights goes on an interval every 30 minutes from 6 PM to 9 PM. While the light show playing along to the music only lasts for a few minutes, they will still continue to flicker and change color while waiting for the next show to start.
The lighting ceremony is a highly anticipated event for mall goers, as they count down to the start of the festival. They even invited iconic Filipino singer-composer Jose Mari Chan to serenade viewers with his famous Christmas hymns back in 2019.
THE TERRACES
The Terraces has been a famous hangout spot and dining area in Ayala since its introduction in 2008.
It used to be a lagoon until the management expanded the mall and turned it into a full-blown recreational area with all kinds of establishments lined up on all floors.
Today, you can find several restaurants, cafes, and diners there. Long-term tenants that have been around for years include Starbucks, Cafe Laguna, TGI Fridays, and Casa Verde.
The Terraces also has novelty shops like Fully Booked and Watsons if you’re looking to shop for books or essentials. Lastly, there is a small playground for children in the outdoor area on the ground floor.
Aside from the Festival of Lights, The Terraces continues to serve as a venue for special events, like concerts, conventions, and other recreational activities.
You can already appreciate the many Ayala Center Cebu stores for their posh and high-end products and services, so why not drop by this spectacular light show while you’re out Christmas shopping? You won’t be paying a single dime to see it, and there are several variations of symphonies that will be playing throughout the show.
The Festival of Lights is as photogenic and wonderful as it can possibly get. Get on down to The Terraces and marvel at the mesmerizing lights with its dazzling colors and cheerful music – perfect to celebrate the yuletide season!
HOW TO GET THERE
Exact Location:
The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park
Hours:
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (every 30 minutes)
- JEEPNEY
Ayala is one of the most easily accessible areas in Cebu, with many public transportation options and jeepney routes passing by the area. Find a jeep that goes to Ayala, such as 14D or 12L, and you can get off at the passenger terminal and walk to the mall entrance.
