Historical Significance
The Tilapia Festival in Laurel is an annual celebration held on June 21, timed with the town’s founding anniversary. It honors the municipality’s thriving aquaculture industry—especially the farming of tilapia in nearby waters. Over the years, the festival has become one of the key events for Laurel, symbolizing the town’s identity, livelihoods, and its link to fresh water fish farming.
Unique Traditions
During the festival, the streets of Laurel burst into colour and activity: there are street-dancing parades with motifs inspired by fish and water, a tilapia cooking contest where local chefs and residents showcase creative dishes using tilapia, and an agro-trade fair where fishermen, fish-pen operators and entrepreneurs present their produce, handicrafts and related aquaculture goods. Exhibits on sustainable fish farming practices are also featured, helping educate visitors about the town’s aquaculture roots.
Video from Kadang Pinas Tours
Cultural Impact
The Tilapia Festival strengthens the sense of community in Laurel by bringing together fish-farmers, traders, local businesses, and residents in one shared celebration. It provides a platform for economic opportunity—local producers of tilapia and allied sectors gain visibility, while the festival also attracts visitors and promotes Laurel as a destination for culture and fish-based celebration. In doing so, the event highlights how aquaculture is not only a source of income but also a source of pride and communal identity for the town.
