Kahimunan Festival takes place in January, centred on the feast of the Sto. Niño (Holy Child) but incorporating pre-colonial and Islamic elements in a way that is unique to Butuan and the CARAGA region. The street parades mix Christian, indigenous Manobo, and historically Islamic cultural elements — a reflection of Butuan's position as a crossroads city.
The festival includes traditional dances, costumes, and performances that draw on the full cultural mix of the region. It is one of the more genuinely syncretic festivals in the Philippines and worth timing a visit around if you are in the region in January. The Balanghai Festival in May celebrates the balangay boat culture with river parades and similar pageantry.