By Neville Timothy Sanders & Annabell Naja Tommy
KUCHING: The Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival is back after a two-break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will be as it will be held from September 1 until September 10.
Organised by Kuching Old Market Community Association, the 19th annual festival from Sept 1-10 will be held at Carpenter Street here from 5pm-11pm.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, deputised by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Performing Arts of Sarawak Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, is expected to officiate at the opening day.
Organising chairman Kapitan Lim Chuan Chan said that the festival is a cultural event showcasing unity in diversity.
“The sustainability of this celebration signifies the unrelenting efforts of various organising committees in the past years, the keen participation of various local ethnic communities and the support from government agencies, particularly Kuching North City Council (DBKU),” he said.
Apart from promoting cultural exchange among the different ethnic groups in Sarawak, the festival will also be an ideal platform for entrepreneurs and traders to promote their unique products to the visitors.
“Ever since the festival began in 2002, it has been successful throughout the years, thanks to the efforts of its organising committees which are committed to making the inter-cultural mooncake festival a meaningful one,” Lim added.
Other races will be also be participating in the festival too.
“This year, more Dayak and Malay traders and entrepreneurs will be participating in the event.
“There will be 170 stores and we are expecting more visitors compared to the previous years,” he told a press conference on the upcoming event here on Monday (August 29).
The festival will include lion dances, baking of mooncakes, traditional Orang Ulu, Bidayuh and Iban dances, lantern walk, and musical performances.
“There will also be a SOSCO information booth where visitors can drop by and check their status whether they are active contributors, or any other information that they need,” he said.
