Pasayaw festival  is a combined word of “Pasalamat pinaagi sa sayaw” (thanksgiving through a dance). Pasayaw festival expresses joy and jubilation in praise and thanksgiving to the almighty God through the intercession of St. Joseph. Street dancing and showdown competition is done in honor of the Patron St. Joseph the worker.

            The presentation is highly influenced by the Masskara festival of Bacolod City Negros Occidental where a common recorded music usually a Latin or a Samba beat used by all contingents. Past Pasayaw festivals used vegetables and other crops by way of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvests that made Canlaon City the vegetable basket and highland garden of Negros Oriental.

            It started at late 1980’s at every 19th day of March which is participated by 12 contingents from the different barangays of Canlaon City, namely: Brgy. Mabigo, Brgy Masulog, Brgy Bayog, Brgy Panubigan, Brgy Brgy. Linothangan, Brgy Pula, Brgy Aquino, Brgy Malaiba, Brgy Binalbagan, Brgy Budlasan, Brgy Bucalan and  Brgy Lumapao. The showdown competition is held at the city sports and cultural center right after the street dancing.