THE Bagan neighbourhood was buzzing once again with the return of the Butterworth Fringe Festival (BFF) this year, bringing joy to arts, culture and heritage lovers.
Visitors were seen thronging the streets of Butterworth Art Walk for the past two days, to treat themselves to the scrumptious local delights for just RM2 each, as well as to watch spectacular performances by local and international artists.
This is the sixth edition of the BFF and it has made its comeback after a two-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is learned that a total of 19 performances was scheduled to entertain the crowd during the two-day festival on Dec 10 and 11.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the BFF this evening, said it was the stage to gather arts and culture lovers.
He said the festival also provided the opportunity for visitors to experience extraordinary arts from around the world, a lot closer.
“Arts is a prerequisite for an international city and this BFF effort is expected to be able to fulfil the aspirations to make Penang an international and smart city, not only on the island but also in Seberang Perai.
“Apart from making Butterworth city a cultural, creative and innovative hub, the BFF stage is a good platform to promote the local culture via international performances with the concept of Street Festival,” Chow added.
Also present were State Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng and MBSP mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad.
Chow also thanked the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), TLM Event Sdn Bhd and all those who were involved in making the festival a success.
“We hope the festival can be a product that will have a multiplier effect on the Butterworth neighbourhood and drive the development of the tourism industry as a whole.
Among the performances at the BFF were the ‘Sitar and Tabla’ musical, the Wayang Kulit show and the juggling performances by Cia Palma, all the way from Brazil.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat