Baguio city’s major streets will bloom this weekend right in time for the blossoming of the flowers with the conduct of the twin highlights of the Panagbenga, popularly known as the Baguio flower festival, particularly the grand streetdancing parade on Saturday and the grand float parade on Sunday.
Thousands of residents and tourists will gather along the 4-kilometer parade route from the Panagbenga Park along South Drive up to the Melvin Jones football field in the next two days to witness the sterling performances from the participating streetdancing contingents and the beautifully decorated floats.
Cheers from the crowd await the superb performances that will be showcased by the five elementary drum and lyre contingents and seven local and visiting festival dance groups accompanied by the famous Philippine military Academy (PMA) marching band, the Saint Louis University (SLU) marching band and the returning Citizens Brigade Band of Dasmarinas, Cavite Saturday morning.
The field demonstration of the participating contingents will cap the conduct of the grand streetdancing parade where each contingent will try to win the hearts of the judges for this year’s top honors on the 29th edition of the festival.
Last February 1, the five elementary drum and lyre contingents initially showcased their performances during the grand opening parade and field demonstration where 30 percent of their accumulated score will come from the initial judging that was conducted then while the remaining 70 percent will be based on their performances during the grand streetdancing parae and field demonstration right at the same place.
On Sunday, some 42 beautifully decorated floats will surely heighten the festive mood in the city as they will parade from Upper Session road up to the Melvin Jones football field where they will be displayed for public viewing and picture taking.
Some 35 competing floats and seven non-competing floats will spice up the festival as they will display various creative designs mostly made up of flowers to catch the attention of the huge crowd that will gather along the parade route as early as 4 am.