The Five Mountains Community has once again hosted its major annual cultural event, the 25th Five Mountains Festival (FLG), which officially began on Friday (10/7/2026). The art event is centered on the slopes of Mount Merbabu, specifically in Warangan Village, Pakis District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, carrying the reflective theme titled "Makin Goblok Bareng" (Getting Stupid Together).
Unlike typical celebrations of its kind, this year's festival opening dispensed with the traditional festive gunungan. Instead, a 500-meter cultural parade featured a symbolic action by artists carrying five tree seedlings to be planted directly in the festival area. This step serves as a firm statement by the community addressing the increasingly urgent issue of environmental degradation.
Head of the Five Mountains Community, Sujono, expressed that the tree-planting initiative represents a tangible effort toward community-based conservation. Through an artistic approach, the artists aim to instill a collective awareness regarding the importance of preserving the mountain ecosystem for future generations.
Following the conservation ritual, the event continued with the opening of a local fine arts exhibition, marking the start of a marathon of performances. Sujono added that at least 30 artistic performances were scheduled throughout the day, involving hundreds of artists from across hamlets who blended traditional and contemporary elements.
The 25th Five Mountains Festival in Warangan Village is expected to serve not merely as a stage for artists, but also as a catalyst for public awareness. Through the integration of artistic expression and environmental action, the event strives to ignite social responsibility in preserving nature along the mountain slopes that sustain the lives of local residents.
