The D’Las tourist area in Serang Village, Karangreja Subdistrict, officially became the center of public attention with the opening of the 9th Mount Slamet Festival (FGS) on Friday (3/7/2026). The grand event, scheduled to run until July 5, once again establishes itself as the main stage for promoting the rich destinations and local wisdom scattered throughout the Purbalingga region.
The first day of the festival was lively with a Cultural Arts Showcase from various representatives of tourism villages, including Serang, Karangcengis, and Tanalum. The presence of these local artists not only provided entertainment for visitors but also served as an educational medium about the cultural identity of their respective villages, each boasting unique and authentic appeal.
In addition to cultural performances, a total of 13 tourism village booths participated by presenting a variety of featured products, ranging from handicrafts and signature culinary delights to quality local coffee. One of the main highlights came from Panusupan Tourism Village, which showcased nature-based products such as forest honey, palm sugar, and virgin coconut oil (VCO), while also offering forest trekking and river rafting experiences for travelers.
Efforts to strengthen the tourism ecosystem were also carried out through a series of Tourism Symposiums. This agenda brought together representatives from 32 tourism villages with experts to dissect strategies for developing more competitive and sustainable destinations in the future.
Vice Regent of Purbalingga, Dimas Prasetyahani, expressed his pride in the organization of the festival, which has been included in the Karisma Event Nusantara calendar. He emphasized that the 9th FGS is an important momentum for local economic revival, especially for disaster-affected areas, while ensuring the government's full support for collaboration among MSME players, artists, and tourism drivers to increase tourist visits to Purbalingga.
