Date (1): 27th Dec 2009 In Penang

Penang Venue: Padang Brown to City Hall, Esplanade

Date (2): 30th Dec 2009 in Butterworth

Butterworh: Padang MPSP to Tow Boo Kong Temple, Raja Uda

Organizer: Penang State Government

Tel: 604-6505136

Time: 7.30pm to 11pm

The year-end party mood in Penang has set in with Chingay and Lion Dance troupe members displaying their skills in balancing the stilt poles for the annual performance.

This Parade is an annual street parade held in Penang. Today, the parade has evolved into a massive multi-cultural and international event.

The parade in Penang will start at Padang Brown at 7.30pm and pass through Datuk Keramat Road, Penang Road, Burma Road, Transfer Road, Sri Bahari Road, Chulia Street, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Light Street and end at the Esplanade.

Friday December 19, 2008

The Star Online

NewsLink

GEORGE TOWN: The year-end party mood in Penang has set in with chingay troupe members busy honing their skills in balancing the towering flag poles for the annual performance this Sunday.

Although there will not be any competition following the controversial contest last year, the 10 teams taking part in the event promise to give their best.

Penangites have a reason to party and rejoice this year’s parade following George Town’s listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Sunday’s parade will start at Datuk Keramat’s Padang Brown at 7.30pm and pass through Datuk Keramat Road, Penang Road, Burma Road, Transfer Road, Sri Bahari Road, Chulia Street, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Light Street before ending at the Esplanade at 8.30pm.

It will be followed by a three-hour cultural performance there.

Caught rehearsing in front of the historic City Hall at Esplanade on Wednesday was the North Malaysia Chingay Association which is sending the biggest team.

Its chief coach Lee Kok Keong said the members had been training throughout the year to sharpen their skills in balancing the flag poles weighing some 15kg each.

The members performed stunts like tossing the pole with their feet, catching it with their chins or foreheads, and balancing the pole while walking.

The organisers decided to hold the parade on a Sunday at the request of many groups who complained about traffic jams in George Town in past years on Christmas Day due to the event.

Most Penangites look forward to the parade which marks the start of the year-end party as the mood will continue right up to the New Year countdown.