Sabah Food Festival at KDCA from Dec 13-16

KOTA KINABALU - The inaugural Sabah Food Festival (SFF) is set to offer a wide range of food and drink items, from halal to traditional, exotic and western delicacies.

The four-day festival is hosted by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), Homestay Sabah and Hostastay Berhad at the KDCA’s Koisaan Cultural Village (KCV), from Dec 13-16.

KCV manager Sairah Indan said some 55 food-selling booths and 30 stalls for pre-loved items will be set up throughout the event.

“It offers an opportunity for locals as well as Malaysians from other parts of the country and foreign tourists to eat, enjoy and learn about Sabah’s multicultural character and diverse tourism products comprising food, arts and crafts and cultural performances,” she said during a press conference at KCV, here, Thursday.

Visitors to the festival, she said, can expect to sample on exotic and signature dishes of various local ethnic groups such as the Kadazan Dusun, Bajau, Chinese, and Brunei among others during the festival.

“Aside from culinary displays and sales of food items and beverages, an array of activities, displays and educational demonstrations have also been planned for visitors.

“Stalls have been provided for local vendors, artisans and craft-makers to showcase their skills and talents, sell their works, as well as to provide information on the services they provide.

“Cultural traditions like dance and music will also be performed during the festival.”

She also said visitors can also gather more information on homestay packages offered by homestay operators in various locations in the State.

“The event also aims to introduce KCV as a tourist destination to the people,” she said.

During the festival, the Homestay Carnival will also be held as well as the lunching of experiencesabah.com – an online booking portal for local homestays.

Sairah also planned to hold the festival annually and hoped it will be included in the State’s tourism calendar.

The launching is scheduled to be held on Dec 14 by Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi while the closing will be officiated by KDCA President, Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Booths and performances start at 8am until midnight throughout the event and business transactions are via coupons which are sold at the venue.