Festivals in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the most diverse countries in Southeast Asia, sharing borders with Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei. It is a country known for boasting a rich background, including a long era of British colonial rule and an economically significant Chinese presence. Malaysia’s vibrant cultural diversity and religious tolerance are reflected in the variety of festivals.

Many Malaysian holidays concentrate on these rich customs and traditions, which the community embraces and celebrates nationally. Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Thaipusam, and Wesak Day are all well-known holidays. However, many more festivals in Malaysia include the George Town Festival, the Kaamatan Harvest Festival, the Malaysia Water Festival, and the Rainforest World Music Festival. Just make sure to stay up to date on the festivals taking place in Malaysia!

Whether you’re heading to George Town Festival or any of the festivals mentioned above, having these essentials on your festival packing list will make your experience much more enjoyable. Here are some must-have things to bring to festivals to tick off on your festival checklist!

Things To Bring or To Have in a Festival

1. Portable Phone Charger

You will almost certainly use your phone a lot during festivals, as you will most likely capture and record everything for memory purposes. Although most festivals now include charging stations, there may be long lines, it will cost money, and your phone could get lost if you are unlucky. 

So, portable chargers are not only economical and dependable, but they are also highly effective for personal use. When you have a portable charger, you don’t have to worry about your phone battery dying!

2. Blister Plasters

Listen up – this is a must in your festival essentials list! Throughout the weekend, you’re going to walk long distances back and forth throughout the festival grounds. You might throw on your black, chunky boots to seem fashionable at the event, but everyone knows that ‘beauty is pain’, so be prepared for that. 

Blisters may occur at any time, especially when you’re walking around, so bring a gel-based plaster in your carry-on to prevent you from getting one.

3. Portable Fan

The temperature is rising here in Malaysia, thus portable fans are a must in your festival essentials list, particularly at outdoor events like concerts and festivals. Chasing around all day while listening to music in the sun can be one of the best experiences in the world until the heat finally gets to your head.

Thus, keeping a portable fan in your pocket or bag will instantly spare you the difficulty of FOMO, allowing you to remain composed and take pleasure in the festivals all day long. 

4. Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the most important items on your festival packing list because sunburns can rapidly ruin any festival experience. At least 15 minutes before going outside in the sun, make sure to apply SPF 30 or higher to any exposed skin. 

Apply again every two hours, particularly if you’re active. For girls who do not want to ruin their makeup, there are plenty of sunscreen spray options in stores nowadays as you can just spray them on top of your makeup! 

5. Cash

Although most merchants accept credit and debit cards, there may not always be access to ATMs on festival grounds, so be sure to have extra cash for your purchases. Additionally, having cash on hand increases flexibility in case you decide to purchase an item that is not sold by festival vendors. 

What Can You Expect Before Going to Festivals in Malaysia?

If you’ve never been to any festivals before, you should expect long queues, crowds and insane humid weather – which is why you need to come prepared with the right festival checklist. Wear something light and airy that can also make you look good at the same time!

There will be live music and performances of Malaysian traditional instruments. Furthermore, be prepared to eat a lot because plenty of food vendors will provide all the classic Malaysian food! If you prefer to be more creative, there are also several workshops and crafts!

There will almost certainly be a religious or cultural celebration taking place in Malaysia whenever you travel here. Several festivals and festivities in Malaysia are due to its multiculturalism and diversity of ethnic groups as well as religions. As an explorer and a tourist, you need to experience every single one of them at least once in your lifetime because, trust us, you won’t regret it! 

TREVO in Penang George Town Festival 2023

The George Town Festival (GTF) comeback is expected to be more exciting. From July 15 to July 30, 2023, the Festival, now in its fourteenth year, will showcase a scaled-down but equally fascinating physical framework, with over 50 programmes for a spectacular celebration of arts, culture, and heritage.  

Driving to Penang is as much fun as visiting Penang! There are many interesting things to see and eat, and most importantly, there is a huge list of cars available for you to check out and rent on TREVO.