By Zaldy Comanda Baguio City — Some fifteen traditional events/propgrams were initially lined up by the organizers of the 23rd Panagbenga or Baguio Flower from February 1 to March 4, 2018. This year’s festival will embrace the theme “Celebration of Culture and Creativity”,  after the city was named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the members of the elite club of Creative Cities. Elementary school drums and lyres groups in the city will be competing in the grand opening parade on February 1. The selected finalists will compete in the festival’s grand street dancing parade on February 24. The month-long Baguio Blooms Expositions or the Market Encounter, showcasing flower-inspired handicrafts will also be opened to the public right after the grand opening parade. The “Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom” art and painting competition; Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio program; Panagbenga Open kite flying competition and the Panagbenga cultural show will be simultaneously held on February 11 at the Melvin Jones grandstand. The grand float parade is set on Febraury 25, which will be followed by the week-long opening of the “Session Road in Bloom” from February 26 to March 2, wherein the whole stretch of Session road will be closed to vehicular traffic and will be converted into a virtual promenade area. The usual Pony Boys Day will be held on March 3, and the closing ceremonies and awarding of winners will be held on March 4 which will be capped by a grand fireworks display in five stations around the city.