The Panagbenga Festival 2021 will push through, but events will be limited to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Grand Float Parade and Grand Street Parade will not be held this year, but activities like the landscaping competition are still set. Please visit the social media page of the Baguio Public Information Office for more updates.
Panagbenga performers
Image: lolay via Flickr
In Baguio, the Panagbenga Festival is a big deal. Also known as Baguio Flower Festival, it is the city’s biggest and most-awaited annual event. The event will be subdued this 2021 due to the pandemic, but as a tribute to the festival, take a look back at the things that have made the festival a big attraction throughout the years.
Parades!
In the past, students from all over participated in the parade.
Image: susancorpuz90 via Wikimedia
Definitely, one of the best things about the Panagbenga Festival was the parades. Tourists were usually encouraged to memorize the route so they can get the best views. In addition to the opening parade, the Panagbenga also consisted of the Grand Street Dancing Parade and the Grand Float Parade.
Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition
This event is for people who’d love to spend a day with plants!
The Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition is another established activity that defined the festival. It is a professional landscaping competition and exhibition where tourists could check out stunning displays of flower arrangements, garden designs, and landscapes created by different participating schools from the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Session Road in Bloom
Session Road in Bloom before the pandemic
Image: Albien Sison
Another one of the most anticipated events in the festival is the “Session Road in Bloom.” In the past, Baguio’s iconic Session Road was closed to give way to around 30 to 40 stalls selling souvenirs, clothes, books, food, handicrafts, artworks, and of course, the strawberry taho, among many other local products. A mini-concert on the side also graces the affair.
Variety Shows and Activities
The festival ends with a bang.
Over the years, the festival has also come to hold various family-friendly shows and activities, like the Panagbenga Open Kite Flying Competition, the open painting event called “Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom,” the whole-day family affair “Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya,” and grand fireworks displays.
Although the festival is toned down this year, the spirit of community and culture still remains!
Stay safe as you travel! Make sure to follow social distancing protocols and observe health precautions wherever you go. Have a great trip!
This article is based on an article first published at Shoppersguide.com.ph on February 07, 2016.
