Labuan Bajo’s Picnic Over the Hill Vol. 5 ties tourism revival to Flores quake aid

Natas Parapuar, Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, Flores — The "Picnic Over the Hill" Volume 5 event at Natas Parapuar in Labuan Bajo has added a solidarity component to its tourism programming, with singer Wizz Baker headlining a concert whose proceeds and artist fee are partly directed to communities recovering from the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Flores.

The open-air music event took place on 19 September 2026 at Parapuar, a hilltop tourism area overlooking Labuan Bajo, as part of efforts to bring visitors back to the destination after the quake while supporting local recovery according to organizers and local media reports. The show featured Wizz Baker as the main performer, with a set built around his song "Hilang" and other popular tracks.

According to the Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores (BPOLBF), which promotes and manages tourism development in the area, Picnic Over the Hill Volume 5 was framed explicitly as an act of solidarity for Flores earthquake survivors. The agency noted that the event invited visitors to contribute through special-edition merchandise, including limited T-shirts signed by Wizz Baker, with sales proceeds to be donated to quake-affected communities in Flores.

Local broadcaster RRI reported that the organizers also committed a significant share of Wizz Baker’s performance fee to support earthquake survivors. Event representative Andhy said 50 percent of the singer’s honorarium would be donated, with a symbolic handover planned on stage while Wizz Baker performed "Hilang". The funds are expected to be channeled via the Catholic Diocese (Keuskupan) of Labuan Bajo to residents in areas under its pastoral care who were affected by the quake.

The solidarity concert comes as authorities in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) are shifting from emergency response to recovery after the powerful quake that struck Flores in August 2026. The NTT provincial government and several district administrations, including Manggarai Barat, formally ended their emergency status on 12 September 2026 and entered a 30-day transition from emergency to recovery, according to a provincial cabinet statement and public broadcaster reports.

Search and rescue operations led by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) were also officially closed on 12 September, marking the end of the emergency phase and the start of longer-term reconstruction efforts across affected districts in NTT. Other districts such as Nagekeo, Manggarai and Manggarai Timur have extended their emergency status into late September in line with local conditions and damage assessments.

Within this context, Picnic Over the Hill Volume 5 is positioned by organizers and BPOLBF as part of tourism recovery in Labuan Bajo. The event aims to gradually restore visitor confidence in the Komodo gateway town while ensuring that a portion of tourism-related revenue flows directly to communities dealing with post-quake hardships. BPOLBF has previously highlighted that creative events at Parapuar can generate economic activity for local vendors and service providers, underscoring the role of tourism programming in regional recovery.

Organizers encouraged both residents and visiting tourists to attend the concert and to participate in the donation and merchandise schemes, stating that a return of carefully managed tourism can coexist with sustained support for those still rebuilding their homes and livelihoods in Flores.

Sources

• Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores (BPOLBF) – news release on solidarity action for Flores quake victims, POTHP Vol. 5 featuring Wizz Baker
• RRI Ende regional report on Picnic Over the Hill Vol. 5 encouraging tourists to return to Labuan Bajo after the quake
• Biro Administrasi Pimpinan Setda Provinsi NTT – provincial statement on Flores earthquake emergency status and transition to recovery
• IDN Times NTB report on Basarnas officially closing SAR operations for the Flores 7.7 quake
• Detik Bali/Nusra report on Nagekeo extending earthquake emergency status to 27 September 2026
• Pos-Kupang regional report on Picnik Over the Hill tourism event and donation for Flores quake victims