IN PHOTOS: Baguio blossoms with 2014 Panagbenga Festival

BAGUIO CITY - The country's summer capital was a flower in full bloom on Saturday as tourists flocked here to witness one of the main events of this year's Panagbenga Festival.

Various schools and groups in the city joined today's Grand Street Parade as they danced and marched to the different music, costume and tradition of the Cordillera from morning to early afternoon.

The participants, which included dancing children, students, marching bands and other local performers, paraded from Panagbenga Park to Athletic Bowl clad in flower-inspired costumes.

The parade was also participated by local government officials and employees and even by residents of Baguio's sister cities in Thailand, China and South Korea, who donned their native outfits.

Baguio residents went out from their homes and establishments to watch one of the highlights of the festival, which has become a major boost to the city's tourism.

For this year, the annual flower festival has the theme "Inspiring the Community for a Greener Tomorrow."

On Sunday, the city will hold the festival's main attraction, the Grand Floral Float Parade.

Considered as the biggest and grandest of its kind in the country, the event will feature floats adorned with flowers and other organic materials that will be paraded during this day.

Celebrities including Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes are expected to join the floral festival.

"Panagbenga" is a term from the Kankana-ey dialect that means "a season for blossoming; a time for blooming."

Now on its 19th year, the festival reflects the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras.

Celebrated for the entire month of February, the festival also features a trade fair and bazaar and an exhibition and exposition of the artistry and resourcefulness of Baguio landscapers.

Here are some photos of the parade on Saturday, taken by philstar.com's Jonathan Asuncion: