
With its theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries,” the 29th Baguio Flower Festival promises a celebration of creativity, culture, and community that stretches beyond tradition.
This year’s Panagbenga, with the theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries”, will formally start on February 1 with the grand opening parade and street dancing.
Activities that are slated to open on Feb. 1 include the Panagbengascapes: Landscaping Competition and Exhibition and the Baguio Bloom, and Market Encounter in Burnham Park.
The most awaited highlights of the festival are the Grand Street Dancing and Grand Floral Float parades scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23, respectively.
The City of Pines in the Philippines, Baguio City celebrates the beauty, abundance, and importance of flowers annually, every February. The festivity is dubbed as the Panagbenga Festival.
A Kankanaey term for “a season for blooming,” Panagbenga festival is the Baguio’s grandest Flower Festival – the home of beautiful flowers – which contributed popularity to the place. Together with this is a celebration of the city’s re – establishment from the 1990 earthquake. The celebrations usually last for a month and peak periods are the weekends. It showcases various floral floats and native dances along with the fragrant smells of the flowers teasing everyone’s senses all over the city.
History of Panagbenga: The Story Behind Baguio’s Grand Festival
The Baguio Flower Festival was first celebrated in 1995, introduced as a way to uplift Baguio City after the devastation caused by the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The festival was envisioned to revitalize the city’s tourism industry and highlight the unique beauty of Baguio’s flora. Over the years, Panagbenga has evolved into a world-class event, attracting thousands of visitors from different parts of the country and beyond.
One of the most iconic parts of Panagbenga is the Grand Float Parade, where artistically designed floral floats take over the streets, displaying the incredible craftsmanship of local florists. Another crowd favorite is the Grand Street Dance Parade, where performers in colorful costumes showcase the culture of the Cordilleras through synchronized movements and tribal-inspired dances.
Key dates to remember:
February 1: Grand Opening Day Parade
February 22-23: Grand Street Dance Parade and Grand Floral Float Parade
February 24-March 2: Session Road in Bloom
March 2: Grand Aerial Fireworks Display and Closing Ceremony
For more details on schedules and activities, contact the Panagbenga Secretariat at 074-442-4315 or visit their website.