Saipan’s 80th Liberation Day festivities are set for Aug. 21–22, reviving the celebration that was cancelled over the July 4–5 weekend due to Typhoon Bavi.
Festival grounds will be open from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. The opening ceremony begins at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by cultural performances and live entertainment highlighting the heritage and resilience of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho said the community made clear the milestone should not pass without a gathering. “Are we gonna have liberation? Yes, we’re gonna have the liberation,” he said. “We need to do this celebration, especially the 80 years of liberation.”
Liberation Committee Chairwoman Frances Santos said more than 35 parade entries and over 50 vendors have confirmed. All vendor, parade, and spectator slot fees have been waived due to ongoing disaster recovery.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, following the same route as last year—from Quartermaster to the Civic Center grounds in Susupe. Float competitors will vie for $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 prizes. The theme remains “Together We Rise, Together We Stand.”
Originally scheduled for July 3–4, the 80th Liberation Day celebration commemorates the liberation of the Northern Mariana Islands and honors the historic reopening of Camp Chalan Kanoa on July 4, 1946, when Chamorro and Carolinian families were allowed to return home after World War II. This year’s festivities will feature cultural performances, local entertainment, amusement rides, games, and a wide selection of food and retail vendors.
Camacho said the two‑day event aims to give residents a chance to reconnect after weeks of hardship. “This is the time to embrace one another as one community,” he said.
