Kuching and the Malaysian island are home to millions of people with cultures rooted in Borneo as they are spread across the world. Its diversity is most visible in numerous festivals that celebrate and observe significant cultural events on the island. Kuching hosts a world music affair, one of the globe’s top music festivals, so-called for multiple years in a row. Visitors are spoilt for choice with a potpourri of events throughout the year.
Kuching Festival
Held yearly in July and August, the Kuching Festival revels in the culture and flavors of Borneo. A tourist favorite, the event lasts several weeks and includes concerts, art exhibitions, cultural performances and more. The festival’s main draw includes the Kuching Food Fair. Visitors can browse and savor the region’s most popular cuisines at food stalls representing Borneo’s ethnic groups. Complete with mesmerizing sights and sounds of islander life, the real Borneo awaits visitors.
Address: Dewan Masyarakat MBKS, Jalan Padungan, 93675, Kuching
Phone: +6082 – 354 200
Operating Hours:
– Daily: 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Admission Cost:
– Free of charge
Website
The Rainforest World Music Festival
An annual three-day event that earns global praise, the Rainforest World Music Festival celebrates world music and culture. Since its launch in 1998, it has earned a place among the top international festivals including a six-year run between 2010 and 2015. The festival is held at the Sarawak Cultural Village just to the north of Kuching. Weekend performances include up to 20 bands from around the world. In addition to live music, an array of workshops, seminars and other activities join the theme of world music and culture. This festival has put Kuching on the map and as a result, draws thousands of tourists each year.
Address: Sarawak Cultural Village, Pantai Damai, Santubong, Kampung Budaya Sarawak, 93752, Kuching
Phone: +6082 – 423 600
Operating Hours:
– Varies based on performance
Admission Cost:
– Children: RM95
– Adults: RM185
Website
Sarawak Harvest & Folklore Festival
This festival is part of the larger Gawai Dayak celebrations. Held at the Sarawak Cultural Village, the event includes activities with great cultural importance, including an ethnic beauty pageant, world concert, Ironman competition and more. The culmination of the festival is a thematic play that integrates the natural surroundings of the village to showcase one of various local stories or legends. Gawai Dayak is a holiday usually marked by the Dayak farmers, from Sarawak, at the end of rice harvesting season. The event at Sarawak Cultural Village allows the community to be a part of its celebrations.
Address: Sarawak Cultural Village, Pantai Damai, Santubong, Kampung Budaya Sarawak, 93752, Kuching
Phone: +6082 – 846 108
Operating Hours:
– Venue Hours: Daily, 9:30 am – 10:30 pm
Admission Cost:
– Children: RM60
– Adults: RM95
Website
