Sabah Events and Festivals

For the most part, festivals and holidays in Sabah are in line with the rest of Malaysia. However, there are a few regional celebrations that you can only find here. Outstanding among these is the Pesta Kaamatan Festival, a traditional production held every May by the Dusun and Kadazan tribes in honour of the harvest—a great time to sample local dishes and take in some traditional dancing.

January

Chinese New Year: celebrated by Malaysia’s Chinese quarter, the New Year is welcomed with traditional lion dances and lots of eating. A family-centred celebration, elders give money to children and unmarried adults in red packages called angpows.

March

Mount Kinabalu Mountain Bike Challenge: Mount Kinabalu is the tallest peak between New Guinea and the Himalayas. As such, it's home to one of the most sought-after climbs in the entire region. The mountain bike races in March are one of many events held here throughout the year.

April

Sabah Festival: some 30 ethnic communities come together for this exhibition of traditional music and extravagant dance. The event showcases the rich, cultural diversity in Sabah and a variety of fine handicrafts and meticulous carvings are sold at this time.

May

Harvest Festival Regatta: Pesta Kaamatan, as it's locally known, is hosted by the Kadazan and Dusun tribes. The festival features performance and traditional dances by these tribes, along with a fantastic array of traditional cuisine made from local produce.

Patterns and Colours of Sabah: this exhibition of handicrafts, paintings and other regional artworks begins in mid-May and lasts about a month.

June

Sabah Dragon Boat Race: held every year at Likas Bay, the Dragon Boat Race features international teams and plenty of regalia. These traditional Chinese longboats are fitted with a decorative dragon head during the racing season. The pounding of the drums, keeping the paddlers in time, can be heard for miles around.

August

Merdeka Regatta: given in honour of Independence Day, this week of racing features multiple boat classes and more than 12 events. Participants hail from all over the world. Celebrations continue after the competitions have been held.

National Day: Malaysia’s Independence Day is observed on 31 August, though there is plenty of celebration leading up to this day. Look for garlands of lights, public performances and parades around the state.

September

Malaysia Fest: for two weeks in September, local tourism agencies, hotels and shopping plazas engage in harmless self-promotion. While this is ultimately a publicity stunt, there are plenty of interesting handicrafts and great food worth checking out.

Pesta Kelapa: this event takes place in Kudat and draws a sizeable crowd. Events are centred on the many varieties and uses of the coconut, with exhibits, games and activities.

October

Festival of Lights: Deepavali is a Hindu festival celebrating the quintessential victory of good over evil. At this time, Hindu homes are illuminated with lights and candles to mark the occasion.

Kinabalu International Climbathon: held late in October or early in November, this 12-mile event has been testing the lungs of international athletes for 20 years. The record is an outstanding 2 hours, 41 minutes.

November

Kiulu 4M Challenge: for the Kadazan-Dusun tribe, '4M' eludes to swimming, rafting, running and a precarious stilt-walking spectacle. These four events combine to form a sort of Indigenous Olympic Games, pushing the limits of endurance in a unique way.

KYC Match Racing Regatta: this international event features a round-robin tournament of one-on-one matches. The victor is the one who successfully knocks out the most opponents.

December

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri: Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan (and the onset of the Islamic New Year) with special prayers at mosques and small receptions in various homes.

Christmas: in Malaysia is celebrated much like it is throughout the world. If you head high enough up Mount Kinabalu, you might even find a few snow flurries. Catholic churches hold midnight Mass and shops and hotels in the tourist district go all out with yuletide decorations.