GEORGE TOWN: The three-day George Town Heritage Celebrations (GTHC) 2025 in Penang kicked off with a cultural workshop on Saturday (July 5) evening.
Held at Armenian Park, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi and along surrounding streets, it attracted a crowd of thousands.
Featuring some two-dozen interactive activities, the workshop allowed locals and tourists alike to experience and learn about traditional art forms, games, handicraft, rituals, cuisines, dialects and more.
There was also an interactive stage where various communities put on inviting dances that convinced many spectators to get up and join in the fun.
Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai and other state and community leaders.
The celebration continues on Sunday (July 6) with the George Town Heritage Walk flagging off from Beach Street at around 7am.
Around 2,000 participants have signed up for the 5km early morning stroll whose route was designed to take in some of the city's most iconic sights and structures.
On Monday (July 7) - which is Heritage Day and a public holiday in Penang - there will be Open Houses across eight heritage buildings from 9am to 5pm.
They are the Kwangtung and Tengchow Association, Makam Dato Koyah, Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, Nam Hooi Wooi Koon, St. George's Church Sun Wui Wui Koon, Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) building.
This will give the public a rare opportunity to explore the structures and learn about their historical significance and preservation efforts.
GTCH 2025 is themed Doors and Doorways in reference to the event serving as a gateway to the city's rich cultural tapestry, community legacies and lesser-known narratives.
The celebrations started in 2009 in commemoration of George Town's Unesco World Heritage inscription alongside Melaka a year earlier (2008).
