Hiking Backpack Zone

Kuching is sharing pretty much the same festivals as other region of Malaysia, though you may still find some local festivals that only Sarawakian get to celebrates. All festivals and events in Kuching are as follow:

1. New Year’s Day (1 January)

Public Holiday through out the entire Malaysia, and the world; and Kuching has no different too.

2. Chinese New Year (January/February)

Chinese New Year is fall on 1st day of every lunar calendar year, that may fall on any days during January or February.

Google it for exact date for the certain year you would like to know, eg. “Chinese New Year 2010″. Travel to Kuching two weeks ahead of the Chinese New Year is the best time for you to see the locals getting ready for the Chinese New Year festival. People in Kuching is often busy shopping for Chinese New Year goods and goodies during this time. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, locals will do their final shopping before noon, and after 2pm usually the Kuching is much like a dead town. Shops shut, businesses ended, everyone is at home getting ready for their reunion meal. For anyone who is still in Kuching on this day, the only place you can have your dinner is probably the fast food restaurant for instance KFC or McDonald.

In the midnight once the clock strikes 12am, the entire city is like entering into a war, you will be amazed by the fireworks on the sky, and even firecrackers are everywhere. The whole event will last for about half an hour to an hour before you can get a good sleep. It’s illegal though to play with fireworks or firecrackers; however it isn’t been fully enforced in Sarawak. You will not get this if you are in the capital of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur. Most businesses remain closed in Kuching from the first to the forth day of the festival, you still have to dine at the fast food restaurant during those days. However, cafe, pubs and bars are normally opened once the day turns dark.

3. Good Friday (March/April)

Nothing much special in Kuching during this day, it’s just a public holiday.

5. Labour Day (1 May)

Simply a public holiday. Business as normal for shopping malls and restaurants.

6. Wesak Day (May)

It may fall on any day during May be based upon which calendar year. For anyone who is at Kuching during this period, visit the Buddhist temples, in which the crowds are gathered on this special occasion.

7. Gawai Day (1 June)

This is the extremely important festival for the Dayak (indigenious people) in Sarawak, which celebrating the end of rice harvesting and welcomes the new planting season. Everyone in the longhouses in Sarawak will begin to celebrate the festival from the Eve of the Gawai day. On the Gawai day itself, that is 1 June, traditional rituals are held, dancing, plenty of local foods especially Bamboo rice and bamboo chicken. Should you be traveling in Kuching during this special event, you may take part in the Annah Rais Homestay program and experience the fun of the Gawai festival with the locals people. No walk-in traveler will be entertained during this day at most of the longhouses, except for pre-arranged tour from the tour company, and the invited guest by the local people.

For Annah Rais Longhouse, simply participate in the homestay program and you will get a chance to experience how the local people celebrate the festival at Annah Rais village.

8. Dragon Boat Festival (June)

As the name suggest, you will witness the dragon boats competition on this day through out most part of Malaysia. In Kuching, you may witness the dragon boat competition along the Sarawak River, at the Kuching Waterfront. Local Chinese will be making their own rice dumpling in this special occasion for their family. Most Chinese coffee shops in Kuching do selling them too, so you should try it!

9. Rainforest World Music Festival (July)

These are the infamous global event which will be held in Kuching every year. Rainforest World Music Festival brings together the planet renowned musicians around the globe and indigenous musicians from all parts of mythical land of Borneo to come to the same stage to perform for you.

Such event lasts for 3 days and will be held at Sarawak Cultural Village, next to Damai Puri Resort (formerly known as Damai Lagoon Resort), about 30 km from Kuching. For more information about Rainforest World Music Festival, kindly visit their official website at http://www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com.

Fairly often during this period of time, Kuching hotels occupancy rate are all time high and can be fully booked quite often, therefore you are advised to book early if you intend to attend to such global event.

Resort that within the walking distance to the Sarawak Cultural Village are Damai Puri Resort and Permai Rainforest Resort. Damai Holiday Inn Resort is also within a walking distance, nevertheless it takes you a longer walk, approximately ten to fifteen mins!

10. Mid Autumn Festival (August)

Also called Mooncake or Lantern Festival. Nothing much special accept eating mooncake (plenty of mooncakes, everywhere is selling it) and watching kids carrying lantern at each corner of the streets when the day turns dark. Novice photographer will really appreciate such occasion.

11. Malaysia’s National Day (31 August)

It’s a nation public holiday, and in Kuching, it’s celebrated each year, check out at Central Padang at Kuching.

12. Hungry Ghosts Month (August/September)

It is believed by the Chinese that within the 7th month of lunar calendar, ghosts are returned to the earth for feasting. In Kuching, take a look at this “hungry ghost event” that is held next to the old central post office. It’s always filled with crowd.

13. Christmas Day (25 Dec)

It is also another important event for the Christian in Kuching. However, special events’ arrangement mostly limited to each individual church only. Clubbers also gathered at certain pubs for counting down during eve of Christmas. Nothing much special in Kuching, better spend your time in Singapore’s Orchard Road I guess, should you happen to travel in this region!

That’s about all the festivals and events in Kuching. So plan your vacation wisely. Wish you have a wonderful trip soon.

For more information about tips and hints to travel to Kuching, visit Lester’s Kuching Travel Guide website. Also take a look at Annah Rais Longhouse Adventure website for more information about the homestay program offered by the local villager.