Padungan CNY Reunion Street Festival draws crowds with food, culture and crafts

KUCHING (Feb 6): The Padungan Chinese New Year Reunion Street Festival 2026 along Jalan Padungan here has drawn large crowds, offering a lively mix of culture, crafts, and cuisine.

Lanterns and festive lights fill the street, casting a warm glow over the celebrations, while stalls offer a wide variety of food, from Chinese New Year cakes and bakkwa (meat jerky) to Malay layer cakes (kek lapis) and Dayak dishes such as umai and kerabu bunga kantan.

The festival also features decorative items and hampers, including arts and crafts, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The mood is upbeat, with music filling the air as people wander from booth to booth, soaking in the vibrant displays and diverse offerings.

For Juffikka, 29, a chef from Telung Usan representing The Lamís restaurant, the festival is an opportunity to showcase local cuisine.

“The main thing we want is for people outside to know what our local food is. Usually at food fests, you can find sushi or other common dishes, but local food is rare.

“We want to introduce the main menu that we always sell, the popular dishes that people often ask for,” she told The Borneo Post.

Among the foods her stall is selling are fried bihun cangkuk manis, Dabai fried rice, ayam pansur, and sotong sambal petai.

For Alysha Toh, 47, she and her husband run a stall selling flowers and Chinese vintage items. Visitors can browse vintage abacuses, steel figurines, old irons, and vinyl records.

“All of these items have symbolic meaning. For example, people buy an abacus to place in their home as a symbol of prosperity,” she said.

She added that her husband, who recently turned 50, has always loved collecting such items.

“We hope that by displaying them, people can find something that brings back memories from their childhood,” she said.

The Sarawak Society of the Deaf (SSD) also took part in the festival, showcasing the talents of its members.

Awangku Mohd Zakaria, 35, offered his artworks for sale and conducted sand art sessions for children, while fellow member Ernest Ting focused on promoting deaf entrepreneurship and raising awareness about the deaf community.

“My vendor neighbours are friendly and helpful because we are deaf.

“We also want to promote deaf entrepreneurs and raise deaf awareness to the public,” Ting said in sign language.

Running until Feb 15 from 5pm to 11pm, the festival features over 100 stalls and a variety of nightly activities, keeping the celebratory spirit alive throughout the 10-day event.

Cultural performances such as 24 Festive Drums, lion and dragon dances, and traditional Chinese orchestra shows will also be showcased every night, reflecting the richness of Sarawak’s heritage and providing entertainment for all ages.