Louisville’s Filipino Independence Festival
Partnering with Crane House, Cultura Philippines, Louisville Downtown Partnerships, and Fourth Street Live, the festival’s planning committee uplifts the local Filipino community once a year to celebrate Philippine Independence from colonial rule. Most importantly, the festival uplifts the community’s culture, food, their exuberant joy, and their people.
“Events like the Philippines Independence Day Celebration reflect our city’s strength -rooted in diversity, powered by community, and guided by our commitment to celebrate cultures from around the world.”
2027 Philippine Independence Day
Would you like to perform, model, volunteer, or inquire about becoming a vendor at next year’s 2027 Independence Day Festival on JUNE 12, 2027 at Fourth Street Live?
Fill out a form of interest today!
2026
The second-annual Philippine Independence Festival brought sold-out food vendors, new talent, and a joyous and celebratory event on June 13, 2026 at Fourth Street Live!
Executive Director of Crane House Joel Buno accepts proclamation from Mayor Craig Greenberg. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Host and Festival Co-Producer Joy Lanceta Coronel holding the Philippine Independence Day proclamation. (2026)
Cultura Philippines' dancers preparing for "Singkil." Photo by McKenzie Gary
Joel Buno welcoming the crowd. Photo by McKenzie Gary
Joy Lanceta Coronel with First Lady Rachel Greenberg and Mayor Greenberg.
Louisville Filipino Chorale Ensemble performs a medley. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Mak-Mak's Barbecue booth. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Ala Eh Eats booth. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Gem's Permanent Jewelry booth. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
MixMix Cafe booth. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Joel Buno with committee member AJ Spurlock. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Chef Nokee Bucayu before the lumpia rolling contest. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Lumpia rolling contest. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Chef Nokee Bucayu holds the giant lumpia to winners of the contest. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Cultura Philippines dancers prepare for "Itik-Itik." (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Co-hosts Joy Lanceta Coronel and Jerome Pascua pose.
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Cultura Philippines dances "Bulaklakan" as audience members look on. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
"Bulaklakan" dancers. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Jemma Fetalver and Jim Young dances with one of the flower garlands in "Bulaklakan." (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Joel Buno. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Robby Gomez sings. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Robby Gomez. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Robbie Gomez. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Robbie Gomez. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Robbie Gomez and Joy Lanceta Coronel. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Robbie Gomez and Joy Lanceta Coronel. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Tomas Bacala, Jemma Fetalver, and Umi Naughty laugh with a festival attendee. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Saw Peep performs. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Cultura Philippines performs Kappa Malong. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
RT performs. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
RT. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
RT. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
RT and Joy Lanceta Coronel. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Guests stop by the Crane House booth with Education Director Anne Zhou. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Mayor Greenberg and First Lady Rachel Greenberg stop by the Filipino cultural booth. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Hui Kaululehua perform Hawaiian dance. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Samantha Visaya displays her modern Filipiniana dress with woven textiles during the fashion show. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Joshua Visaya model displays his modern pink Barong Tagalog. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Rudelyn Mabe proudly holds the Filipino flag and Filipino handmade clutch. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Model Lisette Gamboa and nephew Ronan McGue show off the Maria Clara and Barong Tagalog. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Creme Stewart model displays her champagne colored Filipiniana. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Doris Sims wears a bold fuschia Filipiniana dress with beaded embroidery. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Model Jean Gray wears holds a traditional Filipino fan and wears a modern Filipiniana dress custom made from the Philippines. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Joel Buno and Joy Lanceta Coronel. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Joel Buno, Joy Lanceta Coronel, Mayor Craig Greenberg. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Co-host Jerome Pascua. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Louisville Filipino Chorale Ensemble sings the Philippine National Anthem. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.
Singkil dancers show off their ornate costumes. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Singkil dancers. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026)
Young performers with Cultura Philippines dance the Tinikling blindfolded. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Jirah DiCapua sings "If I Can't Have You." (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Cultura Philippines dance the Tinikling. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Cultura Philippines dance the Tinikling. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Drag artist Umi Naughty graces the stage. (Cultura Philippines dance the Tinikling. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Crestview Company finishes their dance displaying the Filipino flag. (Photo by McKenzie Gary, 2026.)
Crestview Company
Philippine Independence Festival 2026. Via Fourth Street Live!
Philippine Independence Festival 2026. Via Crane House.
2025
What began as a group of Louisville Filipinos hoping to reignite the community became a now-annual celebration that brings people from all over the tri-state area.
Louisville’s inaugural Philippines Independence Day celebration on June 14, 2025 was a smashing success with 14 food and retail vendors, 11 entertainment groups, the biggest Filipino community gathering in Kentucky, and a proclamation from Mayor Craig Greenberg to commemorate the historic day for Filipinos across the diaspora. Louisville has a thriving Filipino community of over 11,000 and continues to grow.
2026 PIDF Planning Committee and Producers
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Joel Buno
Crane House
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Kelsey Hamm
Crane House
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Joy Lanceta Coronel
Actors Theatre of Louisville
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Dot King
Jefferson County Public Schools
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Gemma Fetalver
Cultura Philippines
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Jocelyn Fetalver
Cultura Philippines
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AJ Spurlock
Cultura Philippines
