KUCHING: The annual Kuching City Christmas Parade is set to take place this Saturday (Dec 2), with an expected 5,000 participants.
Organised by the Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) and Sarawak Evangelical Christian Association (SECA), this year’s procession will feature various churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) Church, The Salvation Army, Sarawak Baptist Church, Sarawak Blessed Church, and Grace Central Church. The Methodist Church SCAC will act as the host for the parade.
ACS secretary-general Ambrose Linang said the primary goal of the Christmas parade is to spread the true meaning of Christmas, fostering blessings, harmony, and goodwill among the people of Kuching.
“I call upon all residents of Kuching to come together and celebrate Christmas in a spirit of peace and harmony. Let the spirit of goodwill take centre stage among people of various races, beliefs, and cultures.
“Most importantly, let us not allow racial polarisation and religious extremism to undermine the fabric of our society,” he said at a press conference held at the ACS building here on Wednesday (Nov 29).
Ambrose further urged the parade to serve as a melting pot of different faiths, cultures, languages, ethnicities, and diversity, showcasing the strength of Sarawak where people coexist in peace and harmony.
With the theme “A Heartwarming Christmas”, parade members are expected to assemble at Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Jubilee Ground (adjacent to Chung Hua Primary School No. 3) at 6pm.
The participants will sing Christmas songs and showcase colourful costumes representing Bible characters such as Joseph, Mary, angels, shepherds, and wise men from the East, symbolising the ancient people visiting the newborn Jesus Christ during the first Christmas.
All parade members are encouraged to prepare Christmas gifts, which will be distributed to the public at 8.15pm during the parade. Additionally, the parade will feature 15 colourful Christmas floats.
Due to the Christmas parade, traffic along the parade route will be affected from 7pm to 9pm, with road access to the MBKS Jubilee Ground restricted starting from 5pm on the same day.
