Panagbenga Festival 2020: Flower Festival of Baguio Schedule of Activities
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Have you ever thought of when would be the best time to visit Baguio City? If you will ask me, One of the best times to visit will be during the yearly flower festival. Panagbenga Festival 2020 is happening this February and that will make it worth your while.
The word “Panagbenga” is a word from the local Kankanaey language, which means “blooming.” The first festival was held in 1996 and was used as a means of recovering after the devastation that Baguio got 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.
Why Is Panagbenga Celebrated?
Originally, the Baguio Flower Festival was created as a tribute to the city’s flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.
Panagbenga Festival 2020 Schedule of Activities
| Date and Time | Activities | Venue |
| February 1, 2020 | Panagbenga 2020 Opening Day | Panagbenga Park to DILG to Session Road to Magsaysay to Harrison Road to Baguio Athletic Bowl |
| February 1- March 8, 2020 | Baguio Blooms Exposition | Baguio Convention Center Parking Area |
| February 1- March 8, 2020 | Landscaping Exhibition and Competition | Designated areas in CBD/Parks |
| February 13-15, 2020 | School-based Landscaping Competition (Judging) | Participating Schools in Elementary and High School |
| February 14-16, 2020 | PMA Alumni Homecoming Weekend | PMA Loakan Road Baguio City |
| February 16, 2020 | Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio -Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom -Panagbenga Open Kite Flying Competition -Panagbenga Cultural Show -Fireworks Display | Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football Grounds |
| February 22, 2020 | Panagbenga Cultural Dance Competition | Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football Grounds |
| February 22, 2020 | Flower Tee Golf Tournament | Baguio Country Club |
| February 29, 2020 | Panagbenga Grand Street Dance Parade 2020 | Panagbenga Park>DILG>Session Road> Magsaysay Avenue> Harrison Road> Baguio Athletic Bowl |
| March 1, 2020 | Panagbenga 2020 Grand Float Parade | DILG>Session Road>Harrison Road>Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football Grounds |
| February 29-March 1, 2020 | Sponsor’s Day | Baguio Athletic Bowl (Feb. 29) Melvin Jones Football Grounds (March 1) |
| March 2-8, 2020 | Session Road in Bloom | Session Road |
| March 7, 2020 | Pony Boy’s Day | Wright Park |
| March 8, 2020 | Closing and Awards Ceremonies Grand Fireworks Display | Baguio Athletic Bowl -Fireworks 5 stations City-wide |
Things to do in Baguio during the Panagbenga Festival
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.
If you want to explore the city after Panagbenga, you can try the following:
- Visit Camp John Hay
- Visit the Philippine Military Academy
- Explore Burnham Park
- Stroll along Session Road
- For strawberries, you can go to 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
- Museo Kordilyera
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.
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
- Holiday Inn Baguio City Centre
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
- Spanish Cuisine At Craft 1945
Panagbenga Travel Tips
- Manila is almost 250 Km away from Baguio City, and if you are not up to bringing your own vehicle, there are buses that travel from key terminals in Manila to Baguio with different departure times. It is most recommended that you travel at night, as traffic can be lesser, which can shorten travel time significantly.
- Make sure to reserve your place to stay ahead of time, as the time of the Panagbenga will be the busiest, and has the most number of tourists.
- When in Baguio, make sure that you wear comfortable shoes and that you 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 lots of 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 we can.
How to Get to Baguio City
![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)
By Bus from Metro Manila
Air-conditioned bus trips to Baguio leave Avenida in Manila, Pasay, PITX in Paranaque, Cubao in Quezon City terminals daily on an hourly basis. Popular bus lines offering the Baguio route are Victory Liner, Partas, Joy Bus, Philippine Rabbit, Pine Tree Transit, Solid North and Genesis. 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 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 the 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]
Heres a complete guide on how to get to Baguio – > Travel Guide: How to Get to Baguio from Metro Manila
Searching for the best hotels and affordable flights? Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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