KOTA KINABALU: The state-level Christmas celebration in the city will be bigger and more exciting this year, said mayor Datuk Noorliza Awang Alip.
She said City Hall, together with the Sabah Churches Council, will be working with partners and sponsors to make this year’s event merrier.
“Themed Christmas: Seruan Kesejahteraan (The Call of Peace), this year’s programme runs from Dec 13 to 16 at the Padang Merdeka here,” she said in a recent statement.
“This year’s celebration promises to be bigger and more exciting, and it will be open to the public from 6pm to 10pm on those four days,” she said.
According to Noorliza, the church and artists such as Jaclyn Victor, Juwita Suwito, Vince Chong, Velvet Anduk, Elica Paujin, Rosario Bianis, Marlleynney Fane, and a special duet by Anderson and Hary Nianti will present interesting stage performances such as singing, dancing and dramas.
“Entertainers like Vijana Rington and Florence Mathew, as well as sape performances by Hezekiah Ansim, a Chinese orchestra and choir, and the gathering of over 100 dancers, will enliven this celebration,” she said.
She said new programmes like the Christmas Walk-through are among the new elements for this year’s event.
The organising committee will also hold its first-ever Christmas Night Run, starting at 7pm this Saturday, said Noorliza.
She stated that the celebration will begin on December 13, with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor officiating, and that the night run will be flagged off by herself and Reverend Datuk Melter Jiki Tais.
The night run will start from the Padang Merdeka and go up to the KK Hakka Hall, then back to the starting point.
Other than that, visitors can expect to be entertained by groups of choirs and carol singers from different churches at separate locations around Padang Merdeka throughout the four days.
For those wanting to snap photos for memories, she said they can do so with the many decorations, such as a Nativity Hut and two large Christmas trees measuring 15 metres and six metres, respectively, at the venue.
Live broadcasts of the event can be viewed on Facebook and Youtube under the “KK Christmas Celebration – KKCC”.
