Pesta Pulau Pinang Offers Exciting Attractions, Targets 500,000 Visitors
GEORGE TOWN, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- The ongoing Pesta Pulau Pinang, the state’s signature annual festival, is offering an exciting array of attractions for visitors.
Since its inception in 1966, the festival has steadily gained popularity, attracting enthusiastic crowds not just from the local community, but also from both domestic and international tourists, all of whom eagerly anticipate it as a must-attend event every year.
Marking its 58th edition, this may be the final time the festival is held at the Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong, as part of the area is reportedly earmarked for development, under the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line project. However, this has yet to be confirmed.
The event’s senior manager Refnaldy Azuardi disclosed that this year’s event runs for an extended period of 44 days, from Dec 21 to Feb 2, aligning with the school holidays to cater to families.
“This allows families to enjoy a variety of attractions, including Euro Fun Park rides, entertainment shows, food stalls, informational booths by participating agencies, and shopping opportunities for various products,” he said.
“This year, we have introduced something unique, by focusing on landscapes adorned with vibrant, colourful lights. These Instagram-worthy corners, perfect for ‘OOTD’ (Outfit Of The Day) photos, were creatively designed by the committee with support from the Public Works Department (JKR).
“In addition, we have launched ‘Pasar Saloma,’ a classic-themed market featuring over 60 vendors offering a wide variety of food. It’s a new highlight which adds a distinct charm to the festival,” he told Bernama, during an interview at the festival, last night.
He also disclosed that the festival is targeting 500,000 visitors this year and, as of Jan 2, it has already drawn an impressive crowd of 130,000 attendees.
Entertainment remains a central attraction of the festival. Refnaldy noted that daily concerts feature an exciting lineup of renowned artists, including Datuk Ramli Sarip, Datuk Hattan, Zamani, Black Hanifah, Tomok, Haqiem Rusli, Floor 88, Kugiran Masdo, XPDC, and the Senario comedy group.
He added that the festival also hosts a variety of engaging activities, such as the Battle of the Bands, cat exhibitions, silat, e-sports tournaments, uniformed body exhibitions, and a mini zoo, showcasing nearly 70 species of animals, including exotic ones.
Meanwhile, a visitor, Nor Awanis Yartar, 35, from Bandar Baharu, Kedah, shared that she has been attending the festival since she was in Year Six, and now visits with her husband and three children, reliving fond childhood memories.
“The atmosphere is more organised now, and there’s so much more information available, besides entertainment and games. The food prices, however, are noticeably different from before," she said.
For traders, the Pesta Pulau Pinang not only provides a venue to generate income but also a platform to showcase their products, attracting visitors from within and beyond Penang.
Aznida Daud Merican, owner of the clothing brand, Renda Closet, said that this was her company’s first time participating in the festival, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Alhamdulillah, sales have been encouraging, and we are also holding a clearance sale, with discounts of up to 80 per cent. Next week, we’ll be bringing in our 2025 Raya clothing collection,” she said.
With an entry fee of RM5 for visitors aged 12 and above, and free admission for children, the festival opens from 6 pm to 11 pm on weekdays, and from 5.30 pm to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.
Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak will officially launch the festival on Jan 7.
-- BERNAMA
