HARIANEXPRESS – Jl Merdeka, in front of Blitar City Hall, was temporarily closed for the Blitar Ethnic National (BEN) Carnival 2026 dress rehearsal, Friday (21/8/2026).
Participants of the 5th BEN Carnival conducted their dress rehearsal at the main stage on Jl Merdeka, also known as the area in front of Blitar City Square. The temporary closure impacted the road segment from Taman Pecut up to the Blitar City Hall.
Vehicles typically passing through the area were redirected via Jl Merapi, which runs in front of the Class IIB Blitar Correctional Facility. The rehearsal activity began at 08:00 WIB and was expected to continue until night.
“For now, we are diverting vehicles through Jl Merapi or in front of Blitar Prison,” stated Ipda Supriyadi, the Blitar City Police Patrol Unit Chief. “We ask drivers to avoid passing through Jl Merdeka during the dress rehearsal.”
Police officers placed barriers before Taman Pecut in Blitar City to direct motorists right onto Jl Merapi. All 40 participating groups of the BEN Carnival, representing OPDs, schools, and vertical agencies, took part in the rehearsal.
The 5th Blitar Ethnic National (BEN) Carnival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Blitar City, East Java. This year, the event will be held at night, spanning along Jl Merdeka to Jl A Yani.
For security measures during the main event, the Blitar City Government deployed approximately 300 joint personnel. These personnel include staff from various Regional Government Organizations (OPD), the TNI, the Polri, and Orari.
