By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, July 24: The city is abuzz with excitement once again as the 2024 Kuching Festival Food Fair is set to take place soon, promising a record-breaking turnout and a vibrant celebration of the city’s rich cultural heritage.
This annual festival, a staple in the Sarawak Tourism Calendar, has gained prominence as a major cultural event, drawing both locals and tourists to experience the unique charm of Kuching.
This year’s theme, ‘Bridging Generations: The Legacy of Our Kuching City’, highlights the festival’s dedication to preserving and showcasing the city’s diverse cultural traditions.
Running from July 26 to Aug 18, the festival will offer a variety of events and activities catering to all ages.
Key attractions include cultural performances, culinary delights, and interactive workshops that celebrate Kuching’s rich history and community spirit.
“We are excited to host delegates from eight friendship cities: Dongcheng, Quanzhou, Zhenjiang, Chongzhou, Kunming, Taian from China, Guro from Korea, and Toyota City from Japan.
“They will bring an array of cultural performances, including Kungfu Fan, The Uyghur Dance, Classical Dance ‘Xiang Yun Fei’, Universal Harmony, Japanese Drumming, KPOP, and more.
“It promises to be an exciting and culturally enriching experience for all attendees,” said Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng at the 2024 Kuching Festival Food Fair press conference held today at the MBKS building here.
The festival will be inaugurated by Sarawak Deputy Premier and Sarawak Minister for Public Health, Local Government, and Housing, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors: the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak, Magnum 4D, Sport Toto, Ibraco, KTS Group, Cash Sweep, Petros, 38 Yayasan Amal Cinta, Love Book Association, Echo Sound, and PPM,” Wee added.
The mayor continued: “The 2024 Kuching Festival Food Fair is not just a cultural event; it’s a community celebration that fosters a sense of pride and belonging among the residents of Kuching.
“The festival is also a significant contributor to the local economy, enhancing tourism and supporting local businesses.”
Special events include the Kuching Zumba Fiesta, with registration starting today via iPeople, and the Mayor’s Walk, with registration beginning on July 29 and offers limited-edition T-shirts on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We invite everyone to participate and make this festival a grand success. Let’s come together to celebrate ‘My City, Your City, Our City’,” Wee stated.
In the meantime, the 2023 Kuching Festival Food Fair lucky draw event has announced its list of winners, featuring a range of exciting prizes, including motorbikes, bicycles, laptops, and speakers.
The top prize, a brand-new motorbike, was awarded to Charles Bong Hin Joo. The second and third prizes, also motorbikes, were won by Nur Batrisyia Hamzah and Foo Teck Nyuk, respectively.
According to a press handout, the motorbikes can be claimed at Tay Motor, Lot 1475, Block 46, KCLD, 7th Mile Bazaar, Jalan Penrissen, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak.
Meanwhile, bicycles were given as the fourth and fifth prizes, claimed by Lily Chin and Ku May Fong.
The sixth and seventh prizes, consisting of laptops, went to Dylan Efron De Rozario and Chung Moi Ha.
The eighth prize, a speaker, was notably awarded to multiple winners, including Tan Kian Tiong, Law Siew Jien, Louis Tay Flynn, Asni Sabang, Paula Ivy Tnay, and Everett Chu Ee Seng.
Wee further thanked all participants and sponsors for making the event a success.
For further information or inquiries, winners can contact Chieng Lung Sin at 014-3948138.
Also present at the press conference were MBKS deputy mayor Dato Zaiedi Suhaili and chairman for Kuching Festival Main Committee, councillor Mok Chuang Ping. — DayakDaily
