Panagbenga Festival Schedule of Activities photo by Ranieljosecastaneda via Wikimedia cc
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Baguio Flower Festival 2023: Panagbenga Festival Schedule of Activities

Your Complete Guide To Panagbenga 2023

Panagbenga Festival 2023 Schedule of Activities

It’s Panagbenga Festival season once again, and this year, the festival theme is “A Renaissance of Wonder and Beauty.” The Panagbenga Festival 2023 will be grander and bigger than the past two years.

Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City photo via DepositPhotos

Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City photo via DepositPhotos

Some of the most anticipated components of the festival will be back. Yes! The Grand Street Dancing Parade and the Grand Float Parade are finally back. This year Baguio Flower Festival will also have an opening parade and a Grand Fireworks display in the closing ceremony.

Why Is Panagbenga Celebrated?

Originally, the Baguio Flower Festival was created to tribute to the city’s flowers and to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.

Panagbenga 2023 Official Calendar of Activities
Panagbenga 2023 Official Calendar of Activities

Panagbenga 2023 Schedule of Activities Updated as of January 20, 2023

Panagbenga Festival 2023: Flower Festival of Baguio Schedule of Activities

Have you ever thought of when would be the best time to visit Baguio City? If you ask me, One of the best times to visit will be during the yearly flower festival. Panagbenga Festival 2023 is happening this February, and that will make it worth your while.

PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL 2023
PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL 2023

Why Is Panagbenga Celebrated?

“Panagbenga” is a word from the local Kankanaey language, which means “blooming.” The first Baguio Flower Festival was held in 1996 and was used to recover after Baguio’s devastation from the earthquake of 1990. After that, more people started to come over to see one of the most colorful festivals in the country. In terms of media coverage, this event has the largest coverage every time and is also one of the most attended festivals in the country.

Panagbenga Festival 2020 Schedule of Activities

2023 Baguio Panagbenga Festival photo by Randy Bautista via Flickr CC
2023 Baguio Panagbenga Festival photo by Randy Bautista via Flickr CC

Things to do in Baguio during the Panagbenga Festival 2023

Baguio is not only famous for the Panagbenga Festival. There are a lot of activities that you can enjoy during your visit. Baguio is one of the places where culture is rich, and you won’t run out of things to do and places to visit.

Colorful Houses near Baguio City
Colorful Houses near Baguio City

If you want to explore the city after Panagbenga, you can try the following:

Also Read: Best Things to do in Baguio City

Where can you stay in Baguio City?

Panagbenga Festival is a hugely popular attraction, so it is ideal to call in advance instead of finding a place last minute. Transient houses and lodging houses are there if you are on a budget.

Bedroom at Holiday Inn Baguio
Bedroom at Holiday Inn Baguio

Check out these links for recommended hotels in Baguio City:

Recommended Places to Eat in Baguio City

Baguio is one of my favorite Foodie destinations in the Philippines. From Turo-Turo (hawkers), Buffet to fine dining, Baguio has a lot of restaurants offering local and international cuisine.

Best Restaurants in Baguio City photo by Vaishnav Chogale via Unsplash
Best Restaurants in Baguio City photo by Vaishnav Chogale via Unsplash

To enjoy food tripping in Baguio during the flower festival season, here are some of our recommended restaurants:

Baguio Public Market Pasalubong Shopping
Baguio Public Market Pasalubong Shopping

Panagbenga Travel Tips

  • Manila is almost 250 km from Baguio City. If you are not up to bringing your own vehicle, some buses travel from key terminals in Manila to Baguio with different departure times. It is recommended that you travel at night, as traffic can be less, which can significantly shorten travel time.
  • Make sure to reserve your place to stay ahead of time, as the time of Panagbenga will be the busiest and has the most number of tourists.
  • When in Baguio, make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring different clothes for the place. Baguio is known to be one of the coldest places in the country, but the weather can change almost immediately.
  • The Panagbenga Festival 2020 is one of the most anticipated festivals for the coming year, with many activities.
  • There is no specific date on when and how long the festival will be, so once all the scheduled activities are available, we will update you as soon as possible.

How to Get to Baguio City

Joy Bus lets you experience first-class transportation to Baguio City. [Image Credit: Queen Samantela / Facebook]
Joy Bus lets you experience first-class transportation to Baguio City. [Image Credit: Queen Samantela / Facebook]

By Bus from Metro Manila

Air-conditioned bus trips to Baguio leave Avenida in Manila, Pasay, PITX in Paranaque, and Cubao in Quezon City terminals daily on an hourly basis. Famous bus lines offering the Baguio route are Victory Liner, Partas, Joy Bus, Philippine Rabbit, Pine Tree Transit, Solid North, and Genesis. A one-way bus ticket would cost you P450, and the travel time will be approximately 6-7 hours (or longer) during Panagbenga Season.

Via private vehicle:

While it takes an average of 4-6 hr to get to Baguio City by car, it takes much longer during holidays, long weekends, Holy Week, Panagbenga Season, etc.

  • Drive through NLEX.
  • Take Exit 85 right into SCTEX.
  • Transfer to the right lane and drive to Baguio via Tarlac.
  • Take the Tarlac exit and follow the road signs that will take you to MacArthur Highway.
  • Once you’re on MacArthur Highway, drive straight to Tarlac and Pangasinan until you reach Rosario, La Union.
  • You can turn right into the famous Kennon Road from the Rosario junction. This is the most popular and scenic route up Baguio City.
  • If you prefer the broader lanes of Marcos Highway, drive into Rosario and turn right towards the new entrance.

[Note: TPLEX is now open; you can take it from SCTEX to avoid much of McArthur Highway]

Here’s a complete guide on how to get to Baguio – > Travel Guide: How to Get to Baguio from Metro Manila

Searching for the best hotels in Baguio City? Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.

Want more updates about the 2023 Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, TwitterInstagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.

Written by Melo Villareal

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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