Musical acts set to appear during the festival include Malay singer Adibah Noor, the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra, acclaimed Thai opera singer Manasanun Aksornteang and Gus Teja World Music from Bali. A multi-talented cast from six ASEAN nations will launch the festival on Friday.
Music is not the only draw of the George Town Festival as there is a design show, visual arts performances and the chance of sampling the eclectic dishes which make up Penang and Malaysia’s culinary repertoire. Local media sources say there will be 20 different versions of the peerless Laksa spicy noodle soup to select from.
The début George Town Festival was staged eight years to celebrate the town’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 12GO ASIA notes that the event is very popular and buses and flights to Penang plus trains to Butterworth are booked out days in advance. Book early to avoid having to reschedule travel itineraries.
Annual George Town Festival to open on Penang Island
News in Asia
Organisers of the annual George Town Festival on Penang Island are busy putting the finishing touches to preparations. The festive celebration of the Malay town’s culture and heritage kicks off on Friday and will run through until 3 September.