The KL Chinatown Festival has wrapped up, and it was amazing! Over three fun-filled days from 29 November to 1 December 2024, around 15,000 people flocked to Kuala Lumpur’s historic Chinatown, diving into a vibrant mix of culture, creativity, and community spirit that turned the area into a lively hotspot.

Organised by REXKL and Kwai Chai Hong, the festival brought fresh energy to iconic spots like Lorong Panggung, REXKL, and Kwai Chai Hong itself. These beloved locations were transformed into buzzing hubs filled with local businesses, cosy cafes, and cool art installations. It perfectly blended Chinatown’s classic charm and modern flair, showcasing the area’s unique vibe in a new light.

Unifi Mobile And KL Chinatown Festival: Unifying Heritage With Modern Connection

One of the coolest parts of the festival was the collaboration with Unifi Mobile. They presented an exciting project called “Live Unstoppable with Unifi Mobile.” This initiative featured an incredible mural by talented artist Jefr, representing how tech can connect the younger crowd with Chinatown’s rich cultural roots. Visitors even got the chance to hang out with Jefr during an exclusive Meet and Greet. It was nice seeing an empty wall turned into a vibrant canvas of artistic expression.

Unifi Mobile KariPop Market

Another highlight was the Unifi Mobile KariPop Market, which took visitors back to the groovy retro vibes of the 60s. People enjoyed lively local markets, tasty free food and drinks, and a bunch of cultural performances.

The atmosphere was electric! They even had stilt walkers, traditional Chinese opera, and lively percussion shows powered by Kreatif KL.

YWCA KL

YWCA KL, along with YB Teresa Kok, organised a solidarity walk that drew about 200 participants. The 2km stroll through downtown KL was to raise awareness about gender-based violence.

They finished the event with a light breakfast at YWCA KL and a thought-provoking panel discussion.

Line Dance Party Fundraiser At YWCA KL

The festival also hosted a fun Line Dance Party fundraiser at YWCA KL that attracted around 150 dancers, all supporting the mission to empower women and girls from diverse backgrounds.

Sketchcrawl At YWCA KL

Art lovers had a blast at the Sketchcrawl event at YWCA KL, where everyone gathered to sketch the vibrant scenes near Menara 118, enjoying a day packed with creativity and connection.

Drum Jam By Kandora!

An interactive session called Drum Jam, led by Kandora!, invited everyone to join in on the rhythmic fun, creating a unique symphony of beats with buckets as drums. It was all about celebrating community, with participants of all ages joining the 1Drum Circle.

Volunteer With Dapur Jalanan

Volunteers played an essential role too, cooking and serving hot meals at Jalan Panggung for the Dapur Jalanan initiative, highlighting the community’s dedication to those in need.

Fung Wong Biscuits Pop Up By Neucvr X Fung Wong X Floccus

Neucvr teamed up with Fung Wong Bakery and Floccus for a pop-up event that revealed a stunning collection of heat-pressed designs inspired by the bakery’s century-old heritage, showcasing a mix of tradition and modern creativity.

Graffiti Lettering Workshop By JimmyGummy

Those into graffiti art got a chance to shine with a workshop by artist Jimmy Gummy, where participants learned the tricks of graffiti lettering and brought their artistic ideas to life on exclusive postcards for the festival.

Sketch Mob & Sidai Sketch By KL Sketch Nation

The Sidai Sketch feature displayed artworks from festival-goers in a pop-up gallery, shining a light on the local talent and sparking a sense of pride in the community.

Festival Sponsor: Connor’s Street Art Sesh With Kenji Chai

Connor’s also got in on the action by hosting a graffiti workshop with Malaysia’s renowned graffiti artist, Kenji Chai, encouraging even more creative expression.

Festival Sponsor: Connor’s Music Showcase

Throughout the weekend, the Connor’s Music Showcase delivered a musical feast, featuring a mix of local artists. From Malaysian singer-songwriter Colbie Ong’s heartfelt tunes to the dreamy vibes of babychair, the energy was high. NO TIME FOR SILENCE blew everyone away with their performance, while Buddha Beat pushed genre boundaries with an electrifying sound, and The Metaphor crafted immersive rock soundscapes that really resonated with the audience.

Together Gather: A Tribute To Culture And Community

Of course, we couldn’t capture everything but these are many of the unforgettable moments we thought were worth sharing. The KL Chinatown Festival, with its theme “Together Gather,” really shines a light on local talent and brings the community together while celebrating the diverse cultures that make the city special. Sprucing up local landmarks helps the festival pay tribute to cultural diversity and community heritage through arts and music, all while keeping our cherished traditions alive. 

For more information about the KL Chinatown Festival, follow @klchinatownfest on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.