Christmas in Baguio City is something that people look forward to every year. Both local and foreign visitors come to the city during this season. They come for the Christmas Village, the unveiling of the very controversial Christmas Tree, concerts or fireworks. Whatever the reason may be, it becomes an unforgettable event. Both for the good and sometimes bad reasons.
Baguio City is known for its cold weather which is perfect for Christmas Day. People get to wear thick jackets, bonnets, scarves, mittens, ear puffs and everything you have for a typical Christmas outfit seen in movies and fairy tales. Just minus the snow. Of course the city tries to mimic snow almost every year. Well, if you’re from Baguio City you’d hate it a bit just because it’s too artificial. But hey, who doesn’t love ‘snow.’ The city is also well known for how streets come alive during the season. Christmas lights everywhere, music in almost all the places you go to. And don’t forget the smell of trees and fresh air.
Tourists are getting ready for a Baguio Christmas celebration. Baguio dwellers on the other hand are bracing themselves for traffic and the struggle of walking the busy streets of Baguio City day and night. In both cases, it’s the season to be jolly! Here are some events you shouldn’t miss, tourist or not.
Baguio City Christmas Events 2016
November 11 – Grand Opening of the Christmas Village, Baguio Country Club
November 30- Christmas Carols, New Malcolm Square
December 1 – Unveiling of the Christmas Tree at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park
December 1, 8:00 a.m. – Children-Parents Mardigras
December 1, 9 a.m. – Grand Opening Program, Melvin Jones Grand Stand
December 1, 6:30 p.m. – SLU World-famous Lantern Parade, Melvin Jones Grand Stand
December 1 – “Christmas in Baguio” Fireworks display, after SLU Lantern Parade
December 3, 9:00 a.m. – “Share A Joy” Program of the John Hay Management Corporation, Camp John Hay Bell Amphitheater
December 4, 10:a.m.- PMA Cadet’s Day at Burnham Park, 2:30 p.m. BAnd Concert, Malcolm Square
Christmas Village Baguio City 2016
The Christmas Village is one of the green projects of the Baguio Country Club (BCC). Eighty percent of the decorations are made out of recyclable materials. Employees all share in the process of creating the decorations and even participate as characters. Each year, BCC sets up a theme that makes every year special. This year’s theme is a Pokemon-themed celebration. Christmas village is now on its sixth year.
The Christmas Village had a soft opening on October 29. Grand opening is on Friday, November 11. It is open to the public until January 8 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and pushes through 11 p.m. on weekends. Entrance fee is P 100 for adults and p50 for children 12 years old and below.
So whether you’re from Baguio City or not and you want to enjoy Christmas Village, our advice is to visit a week after the Grand Opening so you won’t compete with a lot of people. Visitors from all over would be swamping in by second week of December.
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