Kuching Local Events
The rich heritage and history of Kuching contributes to an exciting calendar of Kuching events that includes cultural and traditional celebrations such as the Kuching Festival, Rainforest World Music Festival and Sarawak Regatta. Our local events guide below tells you all the latest news on upcoming celebrations, festivals and events in Kuching.
Place: Kampung Sg Bedil, Kuching, Sarawak (25 May 2012 - 27 May 2012)This three days food and beverage festival will highlight Sarawak's authentic and unique food while showcasing the Malay culture and its rich heritage. Visitors get to sample the traditional delicacies and watch how the local villagers prepared some of the popular desserts such as Kuih Lupis, Tuni, Cendol and many more.
Place: Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching (26 May 2012 - 27 May 2012)
This festival is organised in conjuction with Gawai Dayak, an important event celebrated in Borneo on every 1st of June to mark the end of harvesting season. Various activities has been lined up such as ethnic beauty pageant, international cultural concert, ironman competition and open house visits to the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu longhouses.
Malaysia Climbathon Mount Santubong
Place: Mount Santubong, Kuching (26 May 2012 - 27 May 2012)Mount Santubong, one of Sarawak's national treasure first played host to this sports event in 2011. This successful event has attracted participation from all walks of life and continue to generate interest within the region. Throughout the two days climbing event, participant are invited to appreciate the beauty of Mount Santubong while preserving the cleanliness surrounding this nature heritage.
Place: Sarikei, Sarawak (28 May 2012)
Held since 2004, this fishing competition is aimed at promoting Tanjung Manis as an eco-tourism destination in Sarawak. This fishing safari is open to the public to create greater awareness for this increasingly popular sports. Fishing enthusiasts will truly enjoyed this one day event while being rewarded with the prize catch of the day.
Place: Pekan Lawas, Limbang, Sarawak (31 May 2012 - 2 Jun 2012)
This 3-days rice harvest festival is celebrated by Lun Bawang, one of the Orang Ulu ethnic groups in Limbang district. It will showcase their rich heritage and cultural events such as Ruran Ulung, the native beauty pageant and Nguip Suling, the local band that plays the bamboo musical instrument.
Place: Throughout Sarawak (1 Jun 2012 - 2 Jun 2012)
Gawai Dayak is a grand festival to mark the end of rice-harvesting season and to usher in another year of bountiful harvest. It was officially celebrated on 1st of June 1965 to symbolized unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. This merry festival is steeped in tradition with the customary observance of rituals which starts on 31st of May, the eve of the festival. A ceremony will be perform to cast away the bad spirits and to thank their God for the good harvesting season.
Place: Limbang, Sarawak (3 Jun 2012 - 5 Jun 2012)
This buffalo race festival is a significant event to the Bisaya community, one of the Orang Ulu ethnic groups in Limbang. The aim of this festival is to promote tourism in this small village by showcasing their culture and tradition. Local villagers gets the opportunity to display their skills in handling the wild beast while maintaining their balance and winning the race.
Gawai Cultural Performance, Ngajat & Sumpit Competiton
Place: Godown Amphitheatre Kuching Waterfront (9 Jun 2012 - 10 Jun 2012)Gawai Dayak is celebrated by various ethnic groups in Sarawak to mark the end of the rice-harvesting season. This two days event is fill with traditional ceremonies, cultural performances and blow-pipe competition locally known as sumpit.
Rainforest Waterfront Festival
Place: Godown Amphitheatre Kuching Waterfront (6 Jul 2012 - 7 Jul 2012)A prelude to Rainforest World Music Festival, this competition is in search of talented musicians whose able to incorporate the ethnic instruments into their live performances. Winners will get the chance to showcase their hidden talents at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2012 from 13th to 15th July.
Rainforest World Music Festival
Place: Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching (13 Jul 2012 - 15 Jul 2012)Voted as Top 25 International Music Festival, this annual spectacular music event has won various international awards in the past years. For three consecutive days, world renowned musicians and indigenous musicians from interior Borneo will share the stage to showcase their unique talent and performances.Enjoy the sounds of the world ranging from intricate indigenous rhythms to re-mixed pop chart toppers. Don't miss out on this amazing music festival set in the heart of Borneo tropical rainforest!
Place: Throughout Malaysia (20 Jul 2012 - 17 Aug 2012)
In conjunction with the Muslim fasting month, Bazaar Ramadhan is visible in every states of Malaysia and visited by all walks of life and races. This is the time to sample the wide variety of local food and beverages on sale throughout the month.
Place: Kuching City, Sarawak (1 Aug 2012 - 30 Aug 2012)
The Kuching Festival is celebrated annually in the month of August as a tribute to Kuching as a City. This grand festival involves participation from the entire city's population. The locals and tourists will be able to experience the art and culture of Sarawak with colourful performances, musical concerts, martial art demostration plus variety of exhibitions. The highlights of this cultural celebration is the Kuching Street Parade featuring Kuching city's mascot, The Cat followed by a spectacular fireworks display.
Place: Satok, Kuching (16 Aug 2012 - 25 Aug 2012)
This annual lighting fiesta among the Malay villages is organised by Satok Tourism Association as prelude to Hari Raya Aidilfitri on the 19th of August. The aim of this competition is to preserved and continue the bertuntung tradition that has been around since the colonial era.
Place: Throughout Malaysia (19 Aug 2012 - 21 Aug 2012)
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated by Muslims all around the world to mark the end of Ramadhan or the fasting month. All over the country, colourful little lights illuminate the night in every Malay houses and villages as part of preparation to usher in the Syawal. The highlight of this joyous occassion is the Open House where everyone is invited to a person's home regardless of race and religious background.
Place: Godown Amphitheatre Kuching Waterfront (25 Aug 2012)
In conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri on 19th of August, this singing competition is held to showcase the elegant Malay costume known as Kebaya. Participants are required to don this intricate traditional costume whlle serenading the judges with their vocal talents.
Place: Kuching Waterfront, Sarawak (14 Sep 2012 - 16 Sep 2012)
This longboat competition is held to display the sportsmanship and culture of the people in Sarawak. It is an annual event stretching across the Sarawak River and celebrated by people from all walks of life and from different parts of the world. Teams from various government agencies, private sectors and neighbouring countries compete against each other to win the coveted trophy and the prestigious title.
11th Sarawak Mooncake Festival
Place: Kuching, Sarawak (26 Sep 2012 - 30 Sep 2012)This unique festival is jointly organised by the Chinese and the Malay community to highlight the importance of racial unity in the country. The festival will showcase two different arts and culture such as the Chinese lion dance, martial arts, mooncakes, lanterns and the Malay hadrah and bermukun.
Place: Borneo Highland Resort, Sarawak (29 Sep 2012 - 30 Sep 2012)
The aim of this mini bird race is to promote the bird watching activity while creating awareness on the importance of bird preservation for ecology and environment. In this fun race, teams of two person compete against each other in searching, identifying and recording as many species of birds around Penrissen Range.
Place: Cat Museum, Kuching, Sarawak (20 Oct 2012 - 21 Oct 2012)
This cat show is a perfect venue for feline owners and cat lovers to get acquainted while showcasing their feline beauties. The exhibition will highlight the many aspects of this favourite house pets and the reason why Kuching City is named after this lovable and adorable furry animal.
Place: Padawan, Sarawak (29 Oct 2012 - 30 Oct 2012)
This bamboo rafting competition is to highlight the wild nature and beauty of Sarawak River amidst the amazing tropical rainforest. The locals will display their talent and skills manoeuvring the bamboo rafts down the river while tackling the natural obstacles during the three and a half hours race. Watch and be amazed by the rich tradition and culture of the locals in Sarawak.
Place: Batang Ai, Sarawak (23 Nov 2012 - 25 Nov 2012)
This three days festival is to promote Batang Ai and Lubok Antu as an important tourist destination in Sarawak by featuring Batang Ai lake as the water sports centre. This festival will also highlights the unique and rich heritage of Sarawak through its local products, arts and culture.
Place: Satok, Sarawak (6 Dec 2012 - 9 Dec 2012)
This three days festival will be held at New Satok Market from 10.00am to 10.00pm. Various exhibition featuring traditional products and local crafts will be display. Visitors will be entertain by an array of interesting activites such as quiz and karaoke contest, cooking demostration, handicraft competition, cultural performances and live band act.
Place: Kapit, Sarawak (16 Dec 2012 - 18 Dec 2012)
This three days colourful festival will showcase the rich heritage of Orang Ulu culture and tradition. Locals and foreign tourist will be mesmerized and in awe with the inter-village Kuman Bahe competition, Orang Ulu Aboriginal cultural performances, traditional sports competition, handicraft challenge and the traditional musical show.
Ba'Kelalan Homestay Culture & Heritage cum Apple Picking
Place: Buduk Nur Ba'Kelalan, Sarawak (6 Apr 2013 - 8 Apr 2013)Ba'Kelalan, a small quaint village blessed with sub-tropical weather, beautiful flora and fauna, amazing mountains and valleys is home to the only apple orchard in Borneo. For three consecutive days, these friendly villagers will play host to visitors from all around the country in this annual apple harvesting festival. Learn about their unique culture and tradition and experience a range of entertaining homestay activities.
Place: Sri Aman, Sarawak (6 Apr 2013 - 8 Apr 2013)
Locally known as Pesta Benak, this is an annual festival in Sarawak tourism calendar. The objectives of this festival is to promote and introduce the beauty of Sri Aman town to people in Malaysia and its neighbouring countries. It is also aim at fostering harmony and unity among the local community.
Place: Kapit, Sarawak (7 Apr 2013 - 8 Apr 2013)
First introduced in 1996, the Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari has gained popularity and boosted the tourism industry in Sarawak. This rafting competition has now became one of the most challenging and exciting sports events in the country. Participants were given the opportunity to manoeuvre the raft once used by the riverine communities. This year a new category, the Paddling Boat will be intoduced with a maximum of 8 paddlers at one time.
Place: Mukah, Sarawak (21 Apr 2013 - 29 Apr 2013)
This traditional festival is celebrated by the Melanau community living along the coast of central Sarawak. Once a ritual of purification and thanksgiving to the spirit of the sea, this annual festival has now become a social and cultural gathering for the local communities.
Place: Sarawak Club, Kuching (28 Apr 2013 - 30 Apr 2013)
This annnual event has been attracting bridge players from abroad and around the region. During this 3-days event, players are given the chance to display their best skills in the game. It is also a perfect venue for the up-rising players to pit their talent against the best and experienced players in the region.
