Semarang Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia)

As the capital of Central Java, the city of Semarang has plenty to offer in the way of annual festivals and seasonal things to do. Each year, Semarang plays host to many religious Muslim ceremonies and events, as well as various processions, national festivities and regular night markets (the Semawis Market).

The Muslim New Year is celebrated with particular fervour in Semarang and takes place each April, along with the Eid al-Adha (the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice). Both of these Muslim events draw large crowds to the mosques and public plazas, with group praying, dancing and music.

Semarang Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

Another very notable event in Semarang is the Ruwatan, which is a traditional Javanese sacrificial ceremony staged each May at the Taman Budaya Raden Saleh venue (on the Jalan Sriwijaya), being believed to help prevent disasters.

The Dunger (Dun Ger) Festival is always a crowd-puller in Semarang, being held each December or January, just before the beginning of the Ramadan celebrations. At the event you can expect to enjoy a long procession (Ngarak Warak), which crosses through the city centre and celebrates Semarang's mythical creature, the Warak, which is said to be a mixture of lion, giraffe, horse, bird and Chinese dragon.