AFTER the colorful weekend parade in Baguio City, neighboring town La Trinidad also kicked off its month long 2019 Strawberry Festival with the opening of Strawberry Lane to the public.

Mayor Romeo Salda, Vice Mayor Joey Marrero, municipal councilors and officials of La Trinidad’s sister town from Guam, U.S.A. led by Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares and Executive Director of Mayor’s Council Angel Sablan led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the municipal grounds on March 4.

Salda, who also chairs the Strawberry Festival executive committee, acknowledged strawberry growers and producers, barangays, and the business sector for their participation of this year’s celebration.

With the theme: “My Home, My Pride”, the strawberry fest showcases activities featuring the one town, one product of the town. Several strawberry by-products are also featured at the Strawberry Lane like wines, cakes, and pastries.

Following the Panagbenga celebration over the weekend, hundreds of visitors flocked to the strawberry fields and other destinations in La Trinidad town, according to tourism officer Valred Olsim.

This year, the municipality will serve 16,000 slices of strawberry cakes from its giant strawberry cake on March 23.

La Trinidad holds the Guinness World record for baking the biggest strawberry short cake in 2004 weighing 9,622.23 kilograms.

The strawberry farm in the capital town remains the top tourist destination in the province.

“La Trinidad is a smaller town, with narrower roads and limited parking spaces. Strawberry picking is limited due to the heavy arrival of visitors in the past weeks,” said a notice to tourists entering the town.

The strawberry farm is gearing towards garbage free zone where visitors are advised to carry their own waste back to their hotel or inns.