Festivals and Event in Penang
George Town Festival 2016 (August 1 – 31)
Known as the most highly anticipated cultural event on Penang Island, George Town Festival celebrates art, dance, film and music for the entire month of August!
George Town Festival (Saturday to Monday, August 1st-31st) is an exciting month-long celebration of local art, music, theatre, dance, and film in Penang. The event started back in 2009 as a series of arts and cultural events to commemorate Georgetown’s listing as a UNESCO Heritage Site before becoming one of Malaysia’s most high-anticipated cultural events of the year.
Penang International Dragon Boat Race
Attracting participants from all over the world since its inception in 1979, this annual event was created as a way to venerate the celestial dragon of the Chinese culture. Originating from China, dragon boat festivals are now being held in various locations around the globe. Watch colourful boats fitted with decorative dragon heads race each other accompanied by the loud and rhythmic thumping of the drums.
Race dates vary every year
Penang has a whole host of exciting festivals and events lined up throughout the year. Just like any other state in Malaysia, Penangites celebrate all the major religious festivals, namely Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha (Muslims), Chinese New Year and Wesak Day (Buddhists), and Deepavali and Thaipusam (Hindus).
Penang, having such a large Chinese population, often plays host to many colourful Chinese events and festivals, which are not normally celebrated widely in other parts of the country.
On Wesak Day, thousands of Chinese take to the temples to celebrate the origin of the Buddhist religion. At night, there is even a procession of floats, flowers and flags starting from Burmah Road.
Certain festivals are unique to Penang, such as the International Dragon Boat Festival, where participants from across the world take part in an annual Chinese dragon boat race, and the Penang Festival, a yearly jamboree celebrating the island's colourful heritage.