Bigger and better every year, Sabah Fest is a fantastic annual event presenting Sabah's people of colorful cultures, held in conjunction with the state’s harvest month of May. The Sabah Fest will grant you a taste of Sabah with a variety of cultural dances, traditional music performances, handicraft-making demonstrations as well as local food and beverages. It's an extravaganza that promises to mesmerize, entertain and be an educational experience for everyone who attends this event. This year the Sabah Fest is celebrated in two parts – The Cultural Extravaganza at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour and A Cultural Experience at Sabah’s Heritage Village.

On the 3rd and 4th of May there will be exhibitions from 10am to 10pm at the foyer of the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour. Watch skilled craftspeople at work during the handicraft exhibition and a chance to purchase hard-to-find items, from hand-woven baskets to intricately-carved Sea Bajau lepas (wooden boat replicas). Kick off your shoes and sit back for relaxing traditional massages offered by some of Kota Kinabalu’s top spas.  

Enjoy the array of traditional dances on the concert nights of the 3rd and 4th May. There will be a wonderful assortment of unique and seldom-seen traditional dances such as the Pangkulian, a delightful Murut-inspired creative traditional dance performed by the students of SK Kiawaian Tambunan and the graceful Igal Tabawan dance, performed by the Bajau people who reside in Semporna along the East Coast of Sabah. The biggest ethnic tribe in Sabah, the Kadazandusun, will present the Penampang Sumazau and the Sazau Papar, accompanied by the mesmerizing beat of the gong.

Sabah is known for its multiculturalism and this year's theme, ‘Harmony in Diversity’, reflects just that. The highlight of the night is the inter-marriage of two different ethnic groups, the Murut and the Bajau. Two traditional mock wedding displays with two very different rituals will be shown on stage - a truly unique experience!

This year an additional two days will be dedicated to give visitors a spectacular cultural experience at the Sabah Museum Cultural Village on the 5th and 6th of May. Visitors can mingle with the ethnic groups who will be there to show guests their way of life in their respective houses with age-old rituals and a myriad of fun contests for all to enjoy!

Mark these dates on your calendar!

3 May 2008 (Grand Launching)
4 May 2008 (Cultural Show)
Venue: Magellan Grand Ballroom,
Sutera Harbour Resort
Exhibition: 10.00am to 10.00pm
Show: 7.00pm

5 & 6 May 2008 – A Cultural Experience at
Sabah’s Heritage Village
Venue: Sabah Museum’s Heritage Village
Time: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Cultural Show: 11.00am and 3.00pm

For more information, please contact the
Sabah Tourism Board at 088 212121 or Sri
Pelancongan Sabah at 088 232121.