After a long week of deadlines, traffic, and nonstop screen time, the weekend is finally rolling in like a much-needed exhale.
Whether you’re in the mood for good food, live music, retail therapy, or a quiet afternoon with books, this weekend’s lineup offers plenty of ways to recharge. From bustling fairs to cozy pop-ups, there’s something for every kind of hangout.
Here are some ideas to make your weekend feel a little more memorable.
April 8 to 12: DTI Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair
If your weekend plans involve indulging your taste buds, the National Food Fair is the place to be.
The Department of Trade and Industry is set to hold the Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair from April 8 to 12 at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, featuring over 320 micro, small, and medium enterprises from across the country.
As the country’s premier platform for Filipino food products, the NFF will showcase a wide range of regional flavors and culinary innovations from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Among the highlights are food concepts developed by former Overseas Filipino Workers who have decided to take up entrepreneurship.
The fair is open to the public for free, with visitors having access to product sampling, live demonstrations, and interactive activities.
April 10 to 12: Matcha & Treat Street
Is your sweet tooth tingling? Then head over to Matcha & Treat Street, a new pop-up event that brings together the best of matcha-flavored drinks and local artisanal delights.
Apart from coffee, pastries, and other desserts, you can also immerse yourself in thrift clothes, bags and fashion, accessories, crochet and stuffies, flowers, charm bar, and more.
The free event will take take place from April 10 to 12 at the Assembly Grounds at The Rise, Makati.
April 11: Neon Music Fest
Get ready to experience music in full glow this summer at the Neon Music Fest 2026, which will be held at SM City Fairview on April 11.
The event will have a star-studded lineup of OPM artists serenading the crowd, including Al James, Dionela, Zack Tabudlo, and Silent Sanctuary. Also joining the stage are rising OPM performers including Magiliw Street, Prince Lui, Rhodessa, Dana Paulene, Rangel, and DJ Jennifer Lee.
Fans can score access to the music festival by presenting receipts from any store at SM City Fairview. For general admission, you will need a minimum of P3,000 worth of receipts, and for the vibrant pass, it’s a minimum of P5,000 worth of receipts.
April 11 to 12: Uniqlo’s National Pet Day event
Furparents looking for a wholesome weekend activity may want to stop by Uniqlo’s flagship store at Glorietta 5 as they will be celebrating National Pet Day through a special in-store event.
Shoppers who purchase a UT shirt can have a free custom Pajama Portrait of their pet printed on the spot, turning a simple tee into a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
The event will take place on April 11 to 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 7 to May 8: Lathalaya, an International Open Library
Book lovers and curious minds may want to add Lathalaya: An International Open Library to their weekend plans this month.
Mounted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in collaboration with SM Book Nook and other international institutions, the exhibit transforms the SM Book Nook on the third floor of SM North EDSA Annex into a shared literary space filled with stories from around the world.
The event will run up until May 8, allowing bookworms to take their time discovering new titles that could soon become their next favorite read. Best of all, the event is open to everyone for free.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source philstarlife.com ’
