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2019 Official Panagbenga Festival Schedule of Activities
Baguio City, Philippines — Are you planning to experience the 2019 Baguio City Panagbenga Festival? The official Panagbenga Festival 2019 Calendar of Activities was already released by the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation for those who are planning to witness the festivities. Now on its 24th year, this years theme is “Blooming Forward”. The Flower Festival will start on February 1 and end on March 10, 2019.
“Panagbenga”, a Kankanaey word meaning “blooming”, was first staged in 1996 as a recovery measure after the 1990 earthquake in North Luzon, since then, it continued to attract local and foreign tourists every year to experience the colorful festival.
Panagbenga Festival is considered as one of the most attended festivals in the Philippines and one with the largest media coverage. The highlights of the yearly flower festival are the Street Dance Parade, and Grand Float Parade that showcases multicolored floats covered entirely from flowers of every kind.
In this Panagbenga 2019 Blog, we listed some tips on how you can do your own DIY trip to Baguio City. We also included Baguio City Guide + Itinerary, Things to do and see, where to stay and more.
THE PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL 2019 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
| Date and Time | Panagbenga Schedule of Activities | Venue |
| February 1, 2019 8:00 AM | Panagbenga Opening Day Ceremonies and Parade Drum and Lyre Competition Elimination Round (Elementary Division) | Panagbenga Park > Session Road > Magsaysay Avenue > Harrison Road > Baguio Athletic Bowl |
| February 1 – March 10, 2019 | Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition | Juan Luna and Lake Drive |
| February 5, 2019 | Chinese New Year Celebration | City-wide |
| February 13, 2019 | School-based competition Floral Arrangements (Elementary/High School) | Dep-ed Division Office |
| February 14-16, 2019 | School-based competition Landscaping Competition (Judging) | Elementary and High Schools |
| February 15-16, 2019 | Flower Tee Open Golf Tournament | Baguio Country Club |
| February 15-17, 2019 | PMA Alumni Homecoming Weekend | Philippine Military Academy in Loakan Road |
| February 17, 2019 | Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio
| Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football Grounds |
| February 17, 2019 | Fireworks Display | Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football Grounds |
| February 23, 2019 | Pets on Parade | Melvin Jones Grandstand |
| February 23, 2019 | Panagbenga Open Cultural Dance Competition | To Be Announced |
| February 23, 2019 | Concert at the Park | Melvin Jones Grandstand |
| March 2-3, 2019 | Sponsor’s Day | Ganza Parking Area Baguio Athletic Bowl |
| March 2, 2019 | Panagbeanga Festival Grand Street Parade 2019
| Panagbenga Park > Session Road > Magsaysay > Maharlika > Harrison Road > Baguio Athletic Bowl |
| March 3, 2019 | Panagbenga 2019 Grand Float Parade
| DILG > Session Road > Maharlika > Harrison Road > Melvin Jones Football Grounds |
| March 4 – 10, 2019 | Session Road in Bloom | Session Road |
| March 9, 2019 | Pony Boy’s Day | Wright Park |
| March 10, 2019 | Closing and Awarding Ceremonies | Baguio Athletic Bowl |
| March 10, 2019 | Grand Fireworks Display | City-wide (5 stations) |
Things to do in Baguio City during Panagbenga Festival
Apart from the festivities listed on the official Panagbenga Schedule of Activities, there are so many things to do and see in the Philippines Summer Capital. Tourists can visit religious sites, heritage sites, military camps, Spooky Places, Do Ukay-Ukay Shopping all day and even midnight, go on a food trip, visit cultural spots and museums, do pasalubong shopping and so much more.
Here are some of the recommended things to do and see in the City of Pines:
- Visit Camp John Hay
- Walk along Session Road
- Visit the Philippine Military Academy
- Explore the Burnham Park
- Visit La Trinidad Strawberry Fields
- Baguio Teachers Camp
- Explore Tam-awan Village
- Bell Church of Baguio City
- Japanese Tunnel Walk at Baguio’s Botanical Garden
- Laperal Ancestral Home
Also Read: Best Things to do in Baguio City
Places to Stay in Baguio City during Panagbenga Festival
To avoid the hassle, make sure to book your accommodation in advance. If you prefer budget accommodations, transient houses and lodging houses are also available city-wide. Check out these links for recommended hotels in Baguio City:
- Casa Vallejo
- Hotel Review: Azalea Hotels and Residences Baguio City
- Top 10 Affordable Places to Stay in Baguio City
- Top 10 Places to Stay In Baguio City
- A list of Baguio transient houses
- Top 10 Best Hotels in Baguio City
- Manor Hotel in Camp John Hay
Recommended Places to Eat in Baguio City
Baguio is one of my favorite Foodie Destination in the Philippines. From Turo-Turo (hawkers), Buffet to fine dining, Baguio has a lot of restaurants offering local and international cuisine.
To enjoy food tripping in Baguio during the flower festival season, here are some of our recommended restaurants:
- Forest House Bistro & Cafe, Great food, great music, great service. Located at 16 Loakan Road, near Nevada Square. Must-Try: Bagnet.
- Café by the Ruins, 23 Chuntug St., Baguio City, +63 74 4424010. Quaint ambiance, hearty salads, pasta and juices and good coffee or tea to top it off.
- Keeping the History Alive at Café By the Ruins, Baguio City
- Choco-Late de Batirol in Baguio City: A Sweet Memory that Satisfies the Soul
- List of Coffee Shops with free WiFi in Baguio City
- Top 10 Affordable Places to Eat in Baguio City
- Foodgasmic Baguio: 10 Restaurants You Should Not Miss While in The Summer Capital
- 5 Best Buffet Restaurants in Baguio City
Panagbenga Travel Tips
- Book your Bus Tickets ahead
- Try to book a Joy Bus Premiere seat if you want a comfortable ride to Baguio City
- Try to make the trip at night as there will be fewer cars and pedestrians on the street that may cause traffic
- Book your Hotels in Advance
- Bring comfortable walking shoes
- Always bring an umbrella and a raincoat/hoodie jacket.
- Secure your important belongings when in crowded places
- Arrive early in Session Road to secure your spot if you are planning to watch the Grand Street Parade (March 2) and Grand Float Parade (March 3)
- Bring a wide array of clothes as the temperature varies from extremely hot (noon-time) to extremely cold (night-time).
- It is advised to walk when visiting tourist destinations in the town center because they are actually close to each other and it will save you time and money.
![Joy Bus lets you experience first-class transportation to Baguio City. [Image Credit: Queen Samantela / Facebook]](https://outoftownblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Joy-Bus-600x800.jpg)
How to Get to Baguio City
By Bus from Manila
Air-conditioned bus trips to Baguio leave Manila, Pasay and Quezon City terminals daily on an hourly basis. Popular bus lines offering Baguio route are Victory Liner, Partas, and Genesis among others. One way bus ticket would cost you P450, and travel time will be approximately 6-7 hours (or longer) during Panagbenga Season.
Via private vehicle:
While it takes an average 4-6 hr to get to Baguio City by car, it takes much longer during holidays, long weekends, Holy Week, and 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.
- From the Rosario junction, you can turn right into famous Kennon Road. This is the most popular and scenic route up Baguio City.
- If you prefer the wider lanes of Marcos Highway, drive further 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]
Book your Bus Tickets to Baguio City
Heres a complete guide on how to get to Baguio – > Travel Guide: How to Get to Baguio from Metro Manila
Important Telephone Numbers for Tourists:
Tourist Information and Assistance Center
Baguio City Tourism Office
Address: Baguio Convention Center, Governor Center Road, Baguio City, 2600 Benguet
Phone:(074) 442 1006
Baguio Tourism Council
Address: Country Club Rd, Camp John Hay, Baguio City
(63-74) 443-3434
Hospitals:
Baguio General Hospital
(63-74) 661-7910
SLU Sacred Heart Hospital
(63-74) 442-5700
Baguio Police Department Tactical Operations Center
(63-74) 442-1211 / 304-6997 / 442-4119 or hotline 166
Highway Patrol Group
(63-74) 445-0434
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