LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government recently lined up some twenty-four events for the conduct of the in-person Strawberry Festival that will run from March 6-31, 2023 to help in gradually and safely reviving the heavily-impacted local economy.
The theme of this year’s festivities is “A Festival for Recovery: Building a Brighter Future from Adversities.’
The activities will start with a press conference at the municipal park on February 22, 2023 where local officials and organizers will be announcing the final lineup of events for the month-long festivities followed by the opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the traditional strawberry lane and agro-fair starting March 6th until 31st.
Art enthusiasts will have a chance to showcase their skills and talents during the 2-day art and mural contest around the municipality on March 7-8, 2023.
The usual Duting tan Dukto and Strawberry Fun Run will be held in the morning of March 11, 2023 at the municipal park which will be followed by the Search for the Biggest and Sweetest Strawberry.
On March 23rd and 25th, concert enthusiasts will have a chance to witness various performances from local musicians during the Concerts at the Park.
Among the activities lined up on March 17th include the traditional civic parade from the Commission on Audit (COA) to the municipal gymnasium, mass at the municipal gym, main program, Kekkan, Owik tan Tayao and multi-cultural celebrations, as well as the acoustic band competition at the municipal park.
On March 18th, the public will have a chance to witness the popular drum and lyre show, street dancing and small floats parade from Km. 6 to the municipal grounds simultaneous with the conduct of the strawberry cake fest at the Lednicky Hall and the Battle of the Bands at the municipal gym.
The pre-pageant for the Search for Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad Strawberry festival will be held on March 19th at the municipal gym
Residents and local officials will be actively involved in the usual Balili River cleanup on March 24th followed by the traditional jobs fair at the municipal gym on March 25th.
Horseback riding enthusiasts will be resuming their Dongba ni Kabajo on March 25th – 26th the venue of which will be announced soonest, followed by the coronation night for the Search for Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad Strawberry festival at the Benguet State University (BSU) gym on March 26th.
The municipal government will pay tribute to the barangays with the conduct of the Barangay Night on March 29th at the municipal gym followed by the closing program of the annual festival on March 31st at the municipal gym.
From February 16 to March 31, 2023, the municipal government will be tapping the services of a trade fair organizer for the conduct of the commercial trade fair at the public market grounds as one of the major attractions of this year’s festivities.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda expressed hope that the lined-up activities is exclusive of the events that will be prepared by the private sector to help in providing residents and visitors alike with various attractions that will contribute in gradually and safely reviving the local economy.
The municipal government earmarked some P4.8 million from local funds and the income derived from income-generating activities of the festival will help defray the projected expenses in the conduct of the lined-up activities for the festival.
In 2004, La Trinidad landed in the Guinness Book of world Records after the local government and the private sector presented to the public the Largest Strawberry Shortcake that paved the way for the annual conduct of the Strawberry Festival.
Mayor Salda assured residents and visitors alike that the lined up activities are part of the efforts of the concerned stakeholders to join forces in reviving the local economy that had been heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that caused the global economy to be on standstill over the past 2 years, saying that at this point, what is needed is building is resilience towards recovery for people to be able to regain the normalcy of their economic and social activities.
