SIBU: For 54 years, the Christmas Parade here has illuminated the town with festive cheer, earning its place as Sarawak’s oldest and longest-running Christmas celebration.
Floats, marching bands filling the air with music and crowds cheering along the streets, Sibu’s 54th Christmas Parade was a dazzling display of faith, joy and tradition.
Organised by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) Sibu Branch, the event on Saturday night once again united diverse church communities, bringing together more than 6,000 participants to celebrate a cherished tradition that has endured for more than half a century.
Despite a drizzle from the start, the festive spirit of participants and spectators remained undiminished. They gathered at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1 as early as 5pm, before setting off on a 2km procession through the town.
Held under the theme “Jesus, Our Blessed Hope”, the parade featured marching bands, floats decked in lights and enthusiastic participation from church members across diverse backgrounds.
This year’s event was hosted by the Roman Catholic Church and involved the Borneo Evangelical Mission, the Anglican Church, the Sibu YMCA, the Methodist Church and several independent churches.
Bishop Joseph Hii of the Diocese of Sibu in his Christmas message highlighted the role of the Sibu community as bearers of hope, both for those who migrate and for those who remain in the city.
