Hiking Backpack Zone

Kuching is sharing virtually a similar festivals as other part of Malaysia, nonetheless 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 whole Malaysia, and the world; and Kuching has no exception too.

2. Chinese New Year (January/February)

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

Google it for exact date of the certain year you wish to know, eg. “Chinese New Year 2010″. Travel to Kuching two weeks before the Chinese New Year is the greatest time for you to see the locals preparing 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 closed, businesses stopped, folks are in the home getting ready for their reunion dinner. If you are still in Kuching on this day, the only place you can have your dinner is probably the fast food restaurant for example KFC or McDonald.

In the midnight once the clock strikes 12am, the whole city is much like entering into a war, you may be dazzled by the fireworks on the sky, and also firecrackers are everywhere. The whole of the celebration can last for around 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 is not been fully enforced in Sarawak. You can’t get this if you’re in the capital of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur. Most businesses remain closed in Kuching from the first to the forth day of the festival, you’ve still got 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 usual for shopping malls and restaurants.

6. Wesak Day (May)

It will fall on any day during May depend on which calendar year. If you’re at Kuching during this period, pay a visit to the Buddhist temples, the place that the crowds are gathered on this special day.

7. Gawai Day (1 June)

This is the extremely important festival for the Dayak (indigenious people) in Sarawak, which celebrating the finish 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, which is 1 June, traditional rituals are held, dancing, plenty of local foods especially Bamboo rice and bamboo chicken. In case you are traveling in Kuching during this special occasion, you possibly can participate in the Annah Rais Homestay program and experience the fun of the Gawai festival together 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, or the invited guest from the local people.

For Annah Rais Longhouse, simply participate in the homestay program and that 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 can 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 houses in Kuching do selling them too, so you should try it!

9. Rainforest World Music Festival (July)

These are the popular worldwide event that’ll be held in Kuching every year. Rainforest World Music Festival brings together the planet famous 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 can last 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. To learn more about Rainforest World Music Festival, kindly visit their official website at http://www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com.

Usually during this period of time, Kuching hotels occupancy rate are all time high and may be fully booked quite often, therefore you are advised to book early if you’re going 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, nonetheless it takes you a longer walk, approximately 10 to 15 mins!

10. Mid Autumn Festival (August)

Also called Mooncake or Lantern Festival. Nothing much special accept eating mooncake (lots of mooncakes, everywhere is selling it) and watching kids carrying lantern at every corner of the streets when the day turns dark. Amateur 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, check out 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’s also another significant 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 suppose, should you happen to travel in this region!

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

Visit Lester Sim’s Kuching Travel Guide for much more insights advice about traveling in Kuching. Also stop by his friend’s longhouse homestay website - Annah Rais Longhouse Adventure, if you prefer to experience the local Bidayuh tribe’s traditional way of living.