‘𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗟𝗔 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗗’: 𝟮𝟬 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗪𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟

With only three days until the grand opening, the capital town of Benguet is in deep preparation for the 2026 Strawberry Festival.

Rooted in the theme, “Limitless La Trinidad: Heart, Harvest, Harmony,” this year’s festivities feature 20 LGU-managed events and over 60 community-initiated activities spanning March through April.

As the new administration’s first festival, Mayor Roderick Awingan emphasized that the heart of the event is its people, “We have made the extra effort to shift the focus to the residents who make La Trinidad the Strawberry Capital.”

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠

Kicking off on March 4 with an Ecumenical Service, the celebration continues with the Ribbon-Cutting of the Strawberry Lane, proceeding to the Kapihan sa La Trinidad, and the official sashing of the Mister and Miss La Trinidad candidates.

On March 6, students from across the valley will transform the Trading Post area with their mural paintings.

The much-awaited Strawberry Fun Run and “Duting tan Dukto” breakfast (strawberry and sweet potato) takes place in the morning of March 7, leading to the Acoustic Band Competition in the afternoon at the municipal park.

𝙁𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨

As an ode to the town’s agricultural roots, the Search for the Heaviest and the Sweetest Strawberries on March 13 provides an avenue for our local growers to showcase La Trinidad’s world-class produce.

The following day also consists of a Jobs Fair with participating local and international agencies, with the Battle of the Bands ready to rock the stage of the municipal gym, which will commence at 4PM.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

La Trinidad will also witness the civic parade and main program on March 18, in which the municipality has invited Senator Raffy Tulfo to grace the event as guest speaker, alongside international guests from sister towns Yona, Hagat, Dededo, and Barrigada of Guam, USA.

Afterward, the “Owik tan Tayao” and multi-cultural celebrations take the lead as La Trinidad continues to evolve as a melting pot in Benguet.

𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙨

A “Concert at the Park” on March 20 features local rising artists who are ready to serenade the crowd.

Crowd favorites: Drum and Lyre, Street Dancing, and Float Parade are set for March 21, and the Mister and Miss La Trinidad Pre-Pageant is set to start at 6PM at the municipal gym.

As another way to honor the 16 villages of the municipality, the Barangay Night will focus on group presentations that highlight each community’s character.

On March 28, a horse racing titled “Dongba ni Kavajo” will be held in barangay Puguis as a tribute to the community’s deep-rooted history of horse handling.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙚

The Strawberry Cake will be served on March 29 at the municipal gym.

A beauty and a dapper lad among the 11 pairs will win the crown during the Mister and Miss La Trinidad Coronation Night on March 31 at the Benguet Sports Complex Gym.

The LGU-spearheaded events will cap off the festivities on April 1 during the Closing Program.

Beginning as a patronal town fiesta, the “Strawberry Festival” was first coined in 1981 during the time of former Mayor Hilarion Pawid, in a move to strengthen its production, which has since grown into a limitless celebration.

Author: 𝘙𝘙. 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘢-𝘢𝘺

Original Post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HgAAgLNE8/