Kuching’s city centre came alive with lights, music and festive cheer as thousands gathered for the annual Kuching Christmas Parade. Featuring colourful floats, marching bands and participants from over 70 churches, the event celebrated the season’s message of love, hope and community spirit.
A celebration of light, music and community spirit
The city centre of Kuching burst into light, music and festivity on Saturday evening (6 Dec) as the annual Kuching Christmas Parade brought together thousands of participants and spectators in a vibrant celebration of the season.
Carrying the theme “The Season of Love and Hope,” this year’s parade brought together an estimated 7,000 Christians from 72 churches across the Kuching Division. The procession featured 15 colourful land floats and five marching bands from the Boys’ Brigade, each designed to capture the imagination and spirit of the season.
Organised by the Association of Churches Sarawak and hosted by the Methodist Church SCAC, the parade included churches such as the Roman Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Anglican Church, Borneo Evangelical Mission Church, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, The Salvation Army, Sarawak Baptist Church, Sarawak Blessed Church and other member churches of the Sarawak Evangelical Christian Association.
Participants from various church groups donned their finest attire, ranging from traditional church uniforms to elaborate, eye-catching costumes. Many carried props such as colourful balloons and LED-lit umbrellas, illuminating the streets with a joyful glow.
The floats themselves were a spectacle, adorned with Christian and Christmas symbols, Nativity and biblical scenes, angels, stars, and festive motifs. Each float told a story of love, peace, and renewed hope, perfectly reflecting the parade’s theme.
The four-kilometre parade route began at MBKS Jubilee Ground and wove through major city streets including Jalan Padungan, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (Kuching Waterfront), Wayang Street, Temple Street, Ban Hock Road, before returning to Jubilee Ground.
The streets were already filled long before the event began, as thousands of spectators of all ages and faiths gathered to share in the early Christmas spirit. Families, visitors and local residents lined the sidewalks, many taking photos and waving as the parade passed by.
Children were among the most enthusiastic, greeting participants with joyful cries of “Merry Christmas!” Their excitement grew as sweets, small gifts, and festive goodies were handed out along the route. The interactions brought smiles to faces young and old alike, creating a lively, warm-hearted atmosphere that lasted throughout the evening.
For many, the event was more than a parade; it was a celebration of Kuching’s multicultural harmony, where people of different faiths and communities came together to enjoy the festive spirit in a peaceful and joyful setting.
Organisers emphasised that the parade is designed not only to spread the Christian message of Christmas but also to promote unity and goodwill among the public. With its dazzling lights, music, and heartfelt displays, this year’s event highlighted Kuching’s long-standing tradition of celebrating Christmas with openness, mutual respect, and a strong sense of community spirit.
Among the distinguished guests attending the parade were Datuk Danald Jute, president of the Association of Churches in Sarawak; Roman Catholic Archbishop Datuk Dr Simon Poh; and Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, who joined the crowd in sharing the festive spirit.
As the final float made its way back to Jubilee Ground, the atmosphere remained one of warmth, cheer, and togetherness. Families, visitors, and locals lingered along the streets, reluctant to let go of the joyous energy. The parade not only celebrated the Christian message of Christmas but also reaffirmed Kuching’s unique ability to bring diverse communities together in a peaceful, festive setting.
