Festivals in Malaysia for February and March 2014

During February and March of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY 2014) many shopping, festive, sports and cultural tourism events will feature throughout the country. While most of the events take place in Peninsular Malaysia, there are a number of events which are happening over in Sabah and Sarawak Borneo Malaysia. Some of the highlights include:

Malaysia Chinese New Year Open House Celebration 2014

Come and join in the festivities of celebrating the Year of Horse at the Malaysia Chinese New Year Open House Celebration 2014 in Taiping, Perak. Be enthralled by the Chinese cultural performances such as the exciting lion and dragon dance, traditional music and dance performance, together with the serving of delicious traditional delicacies during this 15-day Spring Festival.
Organiser: Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC)
Date: 8 February 2014, Venue: Taiping, Perak.
Contact: +6 03 8891 7000
Website: www.motac.gov.my

Miri Country Music Festival 2014

Organiser: UCSI Communications Sdn Bhd
Date: 15 February 2014, Venue: Miri, Sarawak
Contact: +6 085 415582
Email: sales@planetborneotours.com
Website: Miri Country Music Festival 2014
For the first time ever in Sarawak Borneo, the Miri Country Music Festival 2014 is set to take off at the ParkCity Everly Hotel in Miri promising a day and night to remember this 15th February 2014. The bands performing include Hi Breed from Sarawak, D’Renegades (Kota Kinabalu), The Corn Cake King (Kuala Lumpur), Wondering Mustangs (Singapore), Mel & Joe (Singapore), Eia and the Superband (Brunei Darussalam) and Johnny Rodgers Band (Nashville, USA). A must attend if you are a country and western fan.

World Kite Festival 2014 Pasir Gudang Johor

Known locally as the Festival Layang-Layang Sedunia, thousands of people make their way over to Pasir Gudang to catch some incredible swirling performances as kite-flyers from over 30 countries display their skills with their colourful and unique kites gliding across the Pasir Gudang sky. The festival will be filled with domestic and international contests, demonstrations, spectacular ground displays, and some of the most amazing kites you will ever see including our very own traditional Wau Bulan, Wau Kucing and Wau Jala Budi. Don’t forget to visit the Kite Museum which is within the festival site too!
Organiser: Pasir Gudang Municipal Council
Date: 19 - 23 February 2014
Venue: Bukit Layang-layang, Taman Bandar Pasir Gudang, Johor.
Contact: +6 07 251 3720/21/22
Email: mppg@johor.gov.my
Website: www.mppg.gov.m

1Malaysia Grand Prix (GP) Sale 2014

Held in conjunction with the annual 2014 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix, the 1Malaysia Grand Prix (GP) Sale 2014 is all set to tempt F1 fans to stay longer in Malaysia to enjoy great bargains and attractive offers throughout the two-month shopping fest. So let’s gear up for the race and load your shopping carts with all discounted and promotional items that you want in this shopping-paradise country!
Organiser: Shopping Malaysia Secretariat, Tourism Malaysia
Date: 1 March - 30 April 2013, Venue: Nationwide
Contact: +6 03 8891 8000
Email: enq-megasales@tourism.gov.my

Raptor Watch 2014 Malaysia

Witness one of nature’s most exquisite offerings at Raptor Watch 2014 as the migratory birds of prey such as Oriental Honey-Buzzard, Black Baza, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Chinese Goshawk and Grey-faced Buzzard fly over Tanjung Tuan before continuing their perilous journey to the Northern Hemisphere. Organised by Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), this very significant event also aims to educate the public on the effects of climate change on raptor migration and the habitats that host them as well.
Organizer: Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
Date: 8 - 9 March 2014
Venue: Tanjung Tuan PNB Ilham Resort, 10th Mile, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Contact: +6 03 2287 9422
Website: http://mnsraptorwatch.wordpress.com/

Port Dickson 4x4 International Sand Challenge 2014

The Port Dickson 4x4 International Sand Challenge 2014 does not offer the usual challenges like jungle bashing, river crossing, rock climbing or getting stuck in deep mud up to your nose. It is an endurance event that will make you eat sand and drink sand. Contenders from as far as Holland, India, and Ireland have confirmed their participation in this grueling competition. It will be a test of winching, handling, obstacles and may more!
Organiser: Negeri Sembilan Tourism Board
Dates: 8 - 9 March 2014, Venue: Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Contact: +6 06 765 9725/9734
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pdisandchallenge
Email: admin@nstourism.com.my

Asian Paragliding Accuracy Championship 2014 or FAPAC 2014

Glide in the sky and enjoy the beautiful view of valley, villages and the majestic Mount Kinabalu at the 2nd FAI Paragliding Accuracy Championship (FAPAC) 2014, which is part of a world tour organised by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Set against the beautiful view of the valley, villages, and the majestic Mount Kinabalu, top pilots from as far as Hungary, Japan and Slovenia will gather to compete for the champion title. Now everyone can truly fly.
Organiser: Kinabalu Paragliding Club (KLUK)
Dates: 12 - 19 March 2014, Venue: Ranau Paragliding Park, Ranau, Sabah
Contact: +6 019 860 8700 (Major Haznain Ngamil), +6 010 534 7375 (Evelina Sitem)
Website: www.borneoparagliders.com/fapac2014.html
Email: flyhighconsultsb@gmail.com

Future Music Festival Asia 2014 or FMFA 2014

Dubbed as the largest music festival to ever hit Southeast Asian shores, Future Music Festival Asia 2014 is back to take over and this time at the Mines Wonderland, Mines Resort City from 13 - 15 March 2014 with an estimated 75,000 fans expected to converge over the three days. With the theme “Safari” this year, the festival features a colossal list of big names which includes Deadmau5, Paul Van Dyk and also the of Armin Van Buuren’s legendary ‘A State of Trance 650: New Horizons’. For outdoor concert and club music lovers, this is one event not to be missed!
Organiser: Future Music Australia and Livescape Asia
Date: 13 - 15 February 2014, Venue: Mines Wonderland, Mines Resort City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: www.futuremusicfestival.asia or www.facebook.com/futuremusicasia

Malaysia International Shoe Festival (MISF) 2014

Sexy stilettos, comfy flats, stylish pumps, trendy sneakers, classic leather wear- just name it, and you will find it at this four-day shoes extravaganza which will feature over 50 brands and more than 200 booths from international countries such as Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. It's a one-stop shoe shopping experience especially if you love shoes.
Organiser: Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association
Dates: 27 - 30 March 2014
Venue: Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6 03 9285 5382, +6 012 273 5933
Website: www.malaysiafootwear.com
Email: misfshoe@gmail.com

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2014

This years International Hot Air Balloon Festival 2014 will feature Buzzy, the green monster balloon from the United States, a pair of love ‘Bees’ – cartoon bee characters also from the United States, an ice cream cone-shaped balloon hailing from Belgium and a heart-shaped balloon from Taiwan. Among the attractions and side events are hot-air balloon rides, Mountain Dew Extreme Zone, helicopter joy rides, and the back-by-popular-demand Night Glow event where hot air balloons and strobe lights are lit in sync to the sounds of popular music, creating a glorious atmosphere before culminating in a display of fireworks.
Organiser: AKA Balloon Sdn. Bhd.
Dates: 27 - 30 March 2014, Venue: Monument Alaf Baru, Precinct 2, Putrajaya.
Contact: +6 03 7981 8769/8712
Website: www.myballoonfiesta.com
Email: myballoonfiesta@gmail.com
Admission: Free

2014 Formula 1 Malaysia Grand Prix

Watch the adrenaline-pumping action at one of the world’s most challenging tracks as the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix 2014 returns. With the overwhelming heat and humidity condition as natural obstacles, the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will definitely test the skills of the world’s finest racers and distinguish the outstanding from the best.

Organiser: Sepang International Circuit Sdn. Bhd.
Dates: 28 - 30 March 2014, Venue: Sepang International Circuit, Selangor
Contact: +6 03 8778 2200
Website: www.formula1.com or www.sepangcircuit.com

These are some of the exciting events lined up for February and March in Malaysia for those planning to visit Malaysia in the first quarter of the year. Make sure you plan your trip well ahead for these events and please double check hotel accommodations too.