ONE of the unique festivals in Penang, the Penang Orchid Festival, is set to take place at the Penang Botanical Gardens from Dec 10 to 18.
The festival will be organised by the Federation of Malaysia Orchid Society (FOMOS) with the support of the state government (Petace).
“FOMOS has been organising the Penang Orchid Festival for almost 60 years as it is our yearly affair, but the festival could not be held for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We had some 15,000 visitors to the festival when we last held it in 2019. And this year we are expecting around the same number of visitors.
“The festival will be held from 9am to 9pm at the Penang Botanical Gardens for a total of nine days, that is from Dec 10 till Dec 18,” FOMOS president Tony Tan said during a press conference today at Komtar.
Tan also said there will be a talk on how to grow orchids on Dec 11 from 9am to 12pm.
Other activities such as tours, orchid plant sales and demonstrations will also take place during the festival.
Meanwhile, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee (Petace) chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the festival will be instrumental in promoting Penang’s tourism industry.
“FOMOS’s annual orchid exhibition will directly boost the tourism of our state by bringing in many tourists, especially orchid enthusiasts and lovers.
“I have high hopes for FOMOS in making the orchid show better every year and I believe festivals such as this will inspire innovative thinking and creativity among our community,” Yeoh added.
FOMOS secretary Tan Kim Lean said the festival will also feature an orchid competition on the first day (Dec 10).
“Those who are interested are required to be there with their respective plants by 1pm.
“We have invited judges from various countries, such as Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia,” she said.
For further inquiries please contact Kim Lean at 012-562 1406. Please follow the FOMOS Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087787710361 ) for updates.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat