by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 15: As Gawai draws near, the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is set to bring the festive spirit with its inaugural Ooo Haa! Gawai Pop-Up Markets, taking place in Sibu and Miri over the next two weekends.
From May 16 to 18 at Sibu’s Visitor Information Centre Garden, and again from May 23 to 25 at the Miri Visitor Information Centre Garden, this family-friendly, open-air market features a line-up of festivities, celebrating the traditions of the Iban, Bidayuh, and other Dayak communities through food, dance, music, and ritual. Entry is free, with festivities running daily from 4pm to 10pm.
“This event is more than just a festive gathering, it’s a chance to honour and share Sarawak’s Indigenous heritage with everyone,” said STB chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor.
Each evening, the festival showcases the rich culture of the Iban, Bidayuh, and other Dayak communities through sacred rituals like the Miring and Ngalu Temuai, along with soul-stirring sape, and nightly cultural performances.
The Randau Gawai, a community storytelling session, offers a rare window into ancestral knowledge and deeper meaning behind Gawai traditions.
Visitors can also take part in traditional games like the blowpipe challenge, arm wrestling, and Batak Lampung, activities that invite friendly competition and hands-on fun across generations.
A curated selection of local vendors — 15 in Sibu and 30 in Miri — will offer handcrafted goods and the best of local Food and heritage delicacies.
At the heart of it all is the Birami Gawia, a festival that embodies communal celebration where guests come together over shared meals, laughter, and cultural exchange, a joyful expression of the unity and gratitude that define the Gawai season.
“Through storytelling, music, food, and games, we invite all Malaysians and travellers to experience the warmth, beauty, and living culture of Gawai,” Sharzede said.
Organised by STB in collaboration with local partners, the Ooo Haa! Gawai Pop-Up Market is part of an ongoing seasonal event series designed to reimagine the Visitor Information Centres (VICs) as inclusive community spaces for cultural exchange and celebration.
Previous markets have included the Twinkling Christmas Market, Spring in the City (Lunar New Year), and Ramadhan Mubarak Market, each offering a unique lens into Sarawak’s multicultural identity. – DayakDaily
