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Events
An extraordinary
July in
Sibu
16 th - 25 th July 2010
Visit the annual Borneo Cultural Festival and
Trade Expo happening in central Sarawak
Each year, in July, foreign visitors
descend onto Sibu in huge numbers
for the Borneo Cultural Festival
(BCF), the one and only ethnic
cultural extravaganza in Sarawak.
The entire week is devoted to a
showcase of the diverse races of
people in Sarawak, highlighting their
costumes, dances, food and games,
all in one location, the Town Square.
Convenient and easily accessible,
the festival provides every visitor the
opportunity to get close up to the
performances on stage and sample
the exotic dishes and drinks as well
as engage with the performers. This
year’s highlights will also include
Kumpulan Akasha, a musical group
from KL, cultural groups from Ningde
City of China and also Taiwan.
In each of the three corners of the
Town Square will be found the
Dayaks, Malay/Melanau and Chinese
displays with distinct costumes and
sets while the main stage will be
used on the last three final nights of
the festival to showcase combined
performances, which reflect the rich
diversity and harmony of the people
in Sarawak. The Dayaks group is
made up of various sub-ethnic tribes
including Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu,
Penan and their different costumes,
dances are showcased to give
visitors a sample of these diverse
rich cultures.
Visitors with limited time will find
the festival an eye opener and also
enriching experience as they will
get a sample of the various ethnic
communities’ cultures in one single
location. In addition the festival brings
together many samples of local dishes
of these people and guests can
get first hand knowledge of their
preparations as well as gain invaluable
tips on medicinal plants. As always,
local fruits are always available in the
markets around Sibu, especially at the
Central Market.
A BCF Trade Expo comprising private
and public sectors teams and
organisations will also be held at the
Town Square as part of the activities
during the week. With the large
number of visitors expected during the
BCF, you can be sure that the number
of new products and services on show
will be extraordinary too! Just next
to the Town Square is the Lau King
Howe Hospital Memorial Museum, a
showpiece of the once busy hospital
for the town. The museum displays
unique instruments of days gone by
and a reminder of the sacrifices of the
early founders in bringing health care
to the people of Sibu. Start making
plans for these exciting events coming
up in July this year in Sibu and bring
the family for a memorable experience
in this busy riverine town that’s home
to the rich and diverse groups of people.
For further information, please contact:
Sibu Municipal Council • Level 19-24, Wisma Sanyan No. 1, Jalan Sanyan, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 084 333411 Fax: (6) 084 320240
Email: smc@smc.gov.my Website: www.sibu.gov.my Sarawak Tourism Board • Tel: (6) 082 423600 Fax: (6) 082 416700
Visitors’ Information Centre Sibu • Tel: (6) 084 340980 Fax: (6) 084 341280
18 | BorneoTalkApr-Jun2010