Kuching Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia)

The ethnic and religious diversity of the people of Sarawak means there is always a festival going on somewhere in the Kuching region, whether it is a religious celebration, a cultural fiesta or a secular event celebrating an aspect of Sarawak life.

Some of the most enjoyable festivals with the most going on are part of the Chinese community's calendar, and traditional events and festivities held by the ethnic minorities are the most fascinating for their glimpse into centuries-old lifestyles. Especially notable things to do in Kuching include the Rajang River Regatta in March, the Hong Sam Si Temple Parade each April, the Perayaan Hari Gawai Dayak in June, the Borneo Cultural Festival every July, and the Kuching Festival in August, when colourful street processions are the order of the day.

Kuching Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day - January 1st, a national holiday in Malaysia
• Nangyang Wushu Festival - takes place in Kuching in January, and honours the practitioners of the Nangyang Wushu Martial Art form

February

• Chinese New Year - held every February, with dates varying according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Expect spectacular parades, lion dances, fireworks displays and revels, focused in Chinatown and including temple worship
• Prophet Mohammed's Birthday - February / early March, an excuse for festivities

March

• Rajang River Regatta - takes place for three days in mid-March with lots of watery contests and events
• Muslim New Year - mid March, a religious holiday

April

• Hong Sam Si Temple Parade - staged during the first week of April, this is a grand show for the Hokkienese Chinese community in the city
• Mukah Kaul Festival - a thanksgiving celebration for the seagoing Melanau people, held in Mukah

May

• Labour Day - May 1st, a national holiday in Malaysia
• Miri May Fest and City Day - runs for the whole of May in Miri, with the City Day festivities on May 20th, with fireworks, street celebrations and performances
• Miri International Jazz Festival - brings international and local jazz performers together in May for two days of making music

June

• Padawan Fair - kicks off in late June and runs until mid-July, with a food fair, a mini-Jurassic Park, a fun fair, street entertainment, musical events and stage performances
• Perayaan Hari Gawai Dayak - early June, the Dayak Festival is a celebration of the harvest and region's crops, and involves the drinking of palm wine and formal ceremonies

July

• Borneo Cultural Festival - takes place early July in Sibu, this is a week-long celebration of the diverse cultures of the region. Expect an abundance of cultural performances, parades, eating and drinking
• Rainforest World Music Festival - mid-July, at the nearby Sarawak Cultural Village, brings together international performers and traditional musicians from Borneo's interior for a three-day annual event

August

• Ramadan - early August, when Muslims stop eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset, partying and feasting by night
• Kuching Regatta - held for three days at the end of August each year, harking back to the 19th-century White Rajah days, with traditional games, contests, and both dragon boat and long boat races
• Kuching Festival - staged throughout August to celebrate the city, with a massive parade and many other events
• Malaysia National Day (Hari Merdeka / Hari Kebangsaan / Independence Day) - August 31st, a national holiday in Malaysia

September

• Hari Raya Puasa - an annual Muslim holiday lasting two or three days, held to conclude the Ramadan month of fasting from dawn to sunset
• Inter-cultural Moon Cake Festival - on Carpenter Street, takes place annually in September and involves both the Chinese and Malay communities, with lion dances, martial arts, ethnic performances and cultural happenings. Lanterns are hung in streets and homes, and delicious moon cakes are served to revellers
• Hari Malaysia (Malaysia Day) - September 16th, honouring the day on which the Malaysian federation was established in 1963

October

• Borneo International Yachting Challenge - held in October, with yachts from all over the world competing in the waters near Kuching

November

• Hari Raya Idhul Adha - celebrates the end of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
• Awal Muharram (Islamic New Year) - late November / early December, a national holiday in Malaysia

December

• Borneo Cup International Motorcross Championship - staged in December each year on the Krokong Dirt Track, with racers competing for the title amidst dust and dirt. Thrills and spills make the day