Ia Gri village, in Bien Ho commune, will host the opening ceremony and several major events during the festival, which runs from October 30 to November 8 around Chư Đang Ya volcano.
Preparations are taking place during the coffee harvest, one of the busiest times of year for local residents.
Village elders and senior artisans have completed a ceremonial pole, known as a cây nêu, for a celebration of the new communal house on October 31. The pole features woven sun and moon motifs and black, red and white patterns associated with Jrai folk art.
Village elder Mluih said the pole was sacred to the community and represented a connection between people and the deities. The communal house ceremony, he said, is held to inform the gods and pray for peace in the village.
Each evening, villagers also gather in the communal house yard to rehearse gong music and xoang dances. Ia Gri village head Pyưi, who is a member of the gong team, said rehearsals had taken place every night for the past two weeks.
Despite their harvest work, participants meet at 7 p.m. to practise pieces welcoming visitors and celebrating the communal house. Pyưi said the performances were meaningful to the Jrai community and offered visitors a chance to experience its cultural identity.
Residents and businesses around Chư Đang Ya have also been preparing for an increase in visitors.
Cao Thi Hong Phi’s family planted sunflowers, buckwheat and cosmos about three months ago, and their garden has already attracted groups taking photographs.
Phi said the sunflowers and buckwheat were in full bloom, although the cosmos had yet to flower fully because this year’s festival was being held earlier than usual. Her family has also added photo spots and a camping area for visitors during and after the festival.
Other flower gardens have opened along roads leading to the volcano. The Chư Đang Ya Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative has added inflatable and grass slides to its existing activities, which include horseback riding, flower garden visits and the rental of traditional costumes and accessories.
Local authorities say road improvements and traffic arrangements are also in place.
Đặng Khánh Toàn, Vice Chairman of the Bien Ho Commune People’s Committee, said Đào Duy Từ road leading to the volcano had been widened using a provincial budget of 9.7 billion Vietnamese dong.
The commune has asked police to draw up plans for traffic control, parking and public safety to reduce congestion and avoid a repeat of the gridlock reported at last year’s festival.
