The capital of Johor was awash in colour, culture and creativity during the inaugural five-day Johor Baru Festival 2026.
The event from Sept 16 to 20 featured a packed line-up, including cultural performances, traditional games, arts and crafts, exhibitions, workshops and nightly light shows.
Rossnah Md Nor was spotted selling handmade products such as flower-shaped crochet coasters and hand-sewn batu seremban.
She said many from the younger generation did not know much about Malaysian handicrafts and traditional games.
“Some of the children who visited my booth had not seen or heard of batu seremban as it is no longer played widely.
“When we have festivals like this with activities to highlight our traditions and heritage, we get to introduce these things to them,” she added.
Rossnah, who served with Health Ministry before retiring and starting her own business about a year ago, said she hoped such festivals would be organised more frequently.
“Apart from children, we also get to share our culture with visitors, including those from outside Johor or Malaysia, and introduce them to our traditional handicrafts.
“At the same time, it also helps small businesses like mine gain visibility,” she said.
At the Pos Malaysia booth, its Johor retail sales manager Mastura Abdullah said the festival provided a good platform to introduce the public to local heritage.
“There are children who don’t even know what a stamp is, so through events like this, we can show them how they are used.
“Visitors can also customise stamps using photographs, which they can keep as a memento or give to friends and family,” she added.
Kelab Bandar Kita Johor Bahru public relations officer Zariq Hefni said initiatives such as the festival could help the city establish its identity.
“We do not want Johor Baru to just be a transit city, where people come before going somewhere else.
“We want people to spend time here and see what Johor Baru has to offer.
“For that to happen, we need to bring life back into the city through arts, culture and community activities.”
He said the NGO also organised a carving workshop alongside JB Festival, allowing visitors to try their hand at the craft.
“It was not part of the festival, but the city council gave us a space to organise it.
“This allowed us to reach people who may not normally come across our activities.”
He said such activities provided an outlet for creativity and encourage greater appreciation for the arts.
Zariq said the group also participated in the JB Festival parade, which was held on the fourth night.
“The parade gave us an opportunity to be part of something involving the wider community,” he added.
S. Sunitha, who sold drinks at the festival, described it as an event that appealed to people from different backgrounds and interests.
“It is not only about food and beverages. There are arts and crafts, clothes and accessories, as well as different activities each day.
“It was nice to see a multiracial crowd experiencing what Johor has to offer.”
Sunitha said the event also attracted foreign visitors, including those from China and Indonesia, and many Singaporeans over the weekend.
Sekolah Seni Malaysia Johor visual arts teacher Faezah Bahari, who took part in the mural competition, said it gave students an opportunity to develop their skills outside the classroom.
“Taking part in competitions like this allows them to meet and interact with other artists and members of the local art community.
“It gives them exposure beyond what they learn in school,” she said, adding that about 15 people, including teachers, students and alumni took part.
Faezah said the festival also gave students from outside Johor an opportunity to learn more about Johor.
“Some of our students are from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka.
“It also helps strengthen the relationship between the school, local authority and community,” she said.
The festival, organised by Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), was held at Dataran 0KM and along Jalan Dato’ Onn in the heart of the city.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who launched the festival, said: “The most encouraging thing is seeing this area come alive again and filled with visitors, while at the same time opening up more opportunities for traders and the local community.”
He said the festival complemented ongoing efforts to revitalise the city centre, including RM25mil allocated for infrastructure upgrades and beautification works.
“These efforts are not only about beautifying the city, but also bringing public spaces closer to the people and adding value to the local economy and community life.”
Something for everyone
The variety of activities was a plus point with visitors, with many finding something that appealed to their interest.
Allysha Umbau Dennis said the “Keretapi Sarong” programme held on the first day of the festival in conjunction with Malaysia Day, was among her favourite activities.
“The event showed that traditional attire does not have to be worn only for special occasions.”
She said the festival gave people from different backgrounds an opportunity to share their culture with others.
“I hope it will become an annual event as it gives people another reason to come to the city centre and spend time here.”
The event encouraged people to ride the train while dressed in traditional outfits, with the sarong as a fundamental element due to its use across Malaysia’s multiracial society.
Keretapi Sarong participant S. Priya said she enjoyed the lively atmosphere at the festival, including having people from different backgrounds taking part in the activities together.
“There were so many things happening throughout the festival, so even if one activity did not interest you, there were other things that you could view or take part in.
“I liked seeing people of different backgrounds enjoying the same activities together.
“Events like this give us an opportunity to experience different cultures in a more casual setting,” said Priya, a teacher.
She said the festival was also an opportunity for her to discover something new.
“When you bring all these activities together in one festival, people may come for one thing and end up discovering something else,” she noted.
Engineer Mohd Akmal Fahmi said he stumbled upon the festival after returning to Johor Baru from Kuala Lumpur, where he works.
“I was on leave and came back for a holiday when I saw a large crowd, so I decided to see what was happening.
“I ended up staying because there were quite a lot of things to see.
“I particularly enjoyed the light show and parade,” said Akmal.
He said such events could also encourage people to spend more time in the city centre.
“It makes JB more lively, especially at night.
“It gives people something different to do when they are in the city instead of just shopping or eating,” he pointed out.
A parade involving local communities was a highlight during the five-day Johor Baru Festival 2026 in the city centre. — Courtesy photo
Priya (second from right) with her family members wearing traditional attire for the Keretapi Sarong event.
Mastura showing a custom-made stamp with photographs.
Visitors checking out books from a mobile library during the event.
Rossnah welcoming the opportunity to showcase her handicraft.
Faezah: The mural contest provides a good experience for Sekolah Seni Johor students.
Zariq says the festival fosters greater appreciation for the arts.
Food and beverage stalls make an essential part of the festival.
