LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government has lined up some twenty seven activities for the month-long celebration of its 36th Strawberry festival from February 20 to March 31, 2017.
Mayor Romeo Salda said this year’s theme for the festivities is “Sustaining the Fruits of La Trinidad’s Agro-eco Tourism” that will highlight the presentation of a replica of the giant strawberry cake capable of feeding some 10,000 individuals at one slice per person.
The festivities will start with the opening of the agro-industrial fair with the barangays displaying their best products that will kick off on February 20 and will end on March 31 at the Kim. 5 parking area.
On February 23-24 individuals are encouraged to join the mural competition at the municipal park which will be followed by the Search for Strawberry festival hymn on February 24 at the same venue.
Residents in the 16 barangays are encouraged to actively join in the municipalwide clean-up campaign on February 24-25 while photo enthusiasts will be featuring the town during the Art and Photo Contest at the Art and Photo Lane located within the municipal park on the same dates.
Further, coffee enthusiasts will have a chance to witness the town’s best coffee during the scheduled Coffee Summit at the municipal gym on February 24-26, 2017 while the opening program of the festival will be held on March 6, 2017 at the municipal gym.
Job seekers will have the chance to look for employment opportunities during the scheduled Job fair on March 10, 2017 while separate concerts at the park will be scheduled in the municipal park on March 6 and 31, 2017.
Running enthusiasts will have their day during the scheduled municipal fun run followed by the famous “Duting tan Dukto” on March 11, 2017 at the municipal park.
The search for the Biggest and Sweetest Strawberries will also be held on March 11, 2017 at the municipal park aside from the Dog Show that will be conducted in the same venue.
In the evening of March 17, the pre-pageant for the Search for Mr. and Miss La Trinidad will be held at the municipal gym that will be preceded by the flower arrangement contest at the municipal park.
On March 18, the civic parade from Km. 6 to the municipal grounds will be conducted followed by the Owik tan Tayaw and multi-cultural cultural celebration at the municipal gym.
On March 19, the streetdance, drum and lyre and float parade will be held from Km. 6 to the municipal gym which will be followed by the serving of the replica of the giant Strawberry Cake at the Lednicky Hall.
The feast of St. Joseph will be celebrated by the municipality on March 20 at the San Jose Parish Church followed by the Strawberry Cake competition at the municipal gym on March 21.
The municipal government will also be sponsoring a mass wedding on March 24 at the municipal gym followed by the Cordillera film fest from March 24-26 at the Wangal Sports Complex.
The pageant night for the Search for the Mr. and Miss La Trinidad will be held at the BSU closed gym on March 25 while the Dumba ni Kavadjo will be held at the Wangal Sports Complex on March 25-26.
Returning residents from abroad will have the chance to be highlighted during the Balikbayan Day in the afternoon of March 30 followed by the Barangay Night at the municipal gym an in the evening of the said date.
Winners of the various competitions will be awarded during the scheduled Closing and Awarding Ceremony which will be held at the municipal gym on March 31.