Dragon, lion dances roar as Baguio Spring Festival opens

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (Feb. 9, 2026) — The 2026 Spring Festival officially opened Monday at the Baguio City Hall grounds, ushering in the Lunar New Year with a vibrant lion and dragon dance performance symbolizing good fortune, prosperity and luck.

Members of the Bell Church Baguio Dragon, Lion, and Martial Arts team led the ceremonial performance before city officials, community leaders and residents gathered for the annual celebration, one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events.

The Spring Festival highlights Baguio’s deep-rooted ties with its Filipino-Chinese community and underscores the city’s commitment to cultural diversity and tourism-driven economic activity.

Organizers said this year’s festivities are expected to draw thousands of residents and visitors over several days of events.

Among the major highlights is the Grand Colorful Parade, set to transform the city’s main thoroughfares into a spectacle of traditional costumes, music and dance.

The opening of the Spring Festival Little Chinatown will also serve as a focal point for food stalls, cultural exhibits and local businesses offering festive goods and delicacies.

Other scheduled activities include barangay gift-sharing initiatives, a Chinese New Year evening Mass, a run-for-luck event and a dinner and awards night recognizing key contributors to the celebration.

City officials said the festival promotes unity and shared prosperity while boosting tourism and small enterprises, particularly those participating in the Little Chinatown marketplace.

The Spring Festival, observed annually in Baguio, aligns with Lunar New Year traditions celebrated across Asia, blending cultural heritage with community engagement in the mountain city known as the country’s summer capital.