The Escolta Block Party has been growing since 2016. Last year’s edition saw the biggest Block Party ever, with over 3000 attendees, occupying two blocks along Escolta and the intersecting street. As more people take interest in Escolta, the organizing committee felt it natural to transition to a festival format that will spread out the different interests of the festival goers — from cultural work and heritage conservation, to urban planning. Thus, the transition from a one-day Block Party to a month-long Escolta Block Festival.

The Escolta Block Festival brings a celebration of arts, culture, crafts, and design for the entire month of November, taking place in Escolta and its surrounding districts. It will be a platform to celebrate Manila’s rich and vibrant history and creative communities while providing visitors the opportunity to discover, discuss, and develop a deeper understanding for arts, design, and community-building.

The festival is only a part of a larger movement that aims to revitalize Escolta. One of Manila’s oldest streets, the historic calle was a commercial and nancial district. Thanks to the Galleon trade during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the street ourished and became a bustling district that became home to some of the tallest buildings in Manila. These included several gleaming examples of art deco architecture in the city, such as the First United Building, and neo-classical architecture such as the El Hogar and Regina buildings.

Over the last few years, Escolta has been home to some of the best creatives and artists in Manila. The Escolta Block Festival is an initiative to draw attention to the re-emergence of the district and showcase how Escolta can set up the stage for everyone’s creativity to flourish.

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Your whole November is set with the first-ever Escolta Block Festival! We’ve got a packed lineup of art exhibits, performances, workshops, and more right at the heart of Binondo.⠀
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Come celebrate and revisit our vibrant history as we look to a better future. See ya!

The Escolta Block Festival is brought to you by The Manila Creative Exchange (TMCX) in partnership with Globe Telecom. Our official drink sponsor is San Miguel Beer.

Download the full schedule here! http://bit.ly/EBFSched
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