Visitors to KL Chinatown Festival can enjoy musical performances similar to the activities at Rexfest last year.
THE inaugural KL Chinatown Festival taking place from Nov 29 to Dec 1 in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, aims to showcase the vibrant heritage and cultural significance of Chinatown.
Co-organised by community leaders and local partners, including the management behind RexKL and Lorong Panggung (also known as Kwai Chai Hong), the festival stretching across the entire Chinatown involves not only cultural and architectural landmarks but also participation from stakeholders.
The festival builds on the success of RexKL’s fifth anniversary celebrations and mini-festival, Rexfest, last year and has expanded in both scale and ambition.
KL Chinatown Festival co-founder and director Lim Kok Kean said that after the conclusion of Rexfest, stakeholders in the area felt there was a need for a larger scale creative art and community festival.
“Business owners were talking about an annual festival to celebrate Malaysian culture in Chinatown and how all of these old establishments can coexist with new business.
Lim says the festival will be a showcase of vibrant heritage and cultural significance of Chinatown.
“We decided to organise the KL Chinatown Festival to enhance our cultural landscape and support the local economy.
“We aim to attract 10,000 people over the three-day festival, celebrating Malaysians from all walks of life while showcasing the unique cultural fusion that defines Chinatown,” he said.
This festival combines old-world charm with modern creativity, featuring diverse music and cultural performances, art installations, and cultural experiences.
With the theme “Together Gather”, the festival brings together local communities and creatives to celebrate Chinatown.
The festival’s highlight is the KariPop Market at Lorong Panggung on Nov 30 and Dec 1.
Lined up are a Chinese opera show, stilt walkers, Drum Circle and Acah Acah String Quartet performances.
Visitors can participate in Chinese calligraphy written on rice paper.
Business establishments will also hold participatory workshops, story-telling through video projection, charity programmes and cocktail masterclasses besides food vendor pop-ups.
KL Chinatown Festival co-founder Shin Chang said the festival was aimed at bringing together a diverse mix of stakeholders united by a shared vision for Chinatown’s future.
“This festival is just the first step in our commitment to keeping Chinatown alive and vibrant, not just during the festival but through year-long activities that engage the community,” he said.
“By working hand-in-hand with local partners, we want to foster a sense of belonging and creativity that ensures a lasting positive impact within Chinatown.”
The KL Chinatown Festival is part of a broader mission to transform notable sites such as RexKL, Jalan Sultan and Lorong Panggung into vibrant cultural destinations, setting the stage for future editions.
Kuala Lumpur Advisory Board member Andre Lai said the festival was also part of Kreatif KL Festival 2024.
For details, check out @klchinatownfest on social media platforms.
