George Town Heritage Celebrations 2025
It’s not a trip to Penang’s George Town without having tried its hawker food. While plates of char kuey teow often steal the limelight, the heritage of the city’s historic buildings and the rich culture of its locals are worth a mention too.
From 5th to 7th July 2025, a slew of free-admission events are popping up around George Town, perfect for anyone looking to explore the city more thoroughly. They include workshops, cultural performances, and a historic building open house, all part of the George Town Heritage Celebrations.
Read on to find out more about the events.
What are the George Town Heritage Celebrations?
The George Town Heritage Celebrations are a yearly homage to the city’s vibrant past and cultural richness. It’s held annually in July to celebrate the city’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s back this year for its 17th edition, with the theme Doors and Doorways.
Image credit: @i.love.penang via Instagram
Visitors can join the festivities, which act as windows into some of the most emblematic and historical edifices of George Town. Its programme includes hands-on workshops, cultural performances, and guided tours of heritage buildings, taking place over three days at different venues across the city.
Events to look out for during the festival
5th July – cultural performances & workshops
Whether you or the kiddos have a curious soul, there are a plethora of cultural workshops and performances across George Town to join and catch for free on Saturday.
There are a total of 23 workshops, including a Chinese Painting and Paper Cutting at Lum Yeong Tong Yap Temple, Layang-Layang Making at Persatuan Warisan Dato Koyah, and Matli Shangar: Decoration of Earthen Pots at Gujarati Samaj Penang. You can find the full list of workshops here.
Image credit: @i.love.penang via Instagram
As for cultural performances, there are six to catch between 6pm and 10pm. Here are all of them:
- 6pm-6.30pm: Mahnora Performance at Persatuan Masyarakat Siam Pulau Pinang
- 6:30pm-7pm: Portuguese Dance at Penang Eurasian Association
- 7pm-7.30pm: Bon Giri Renka Bonfestival Love Song at Malaysian-Japanese Society
- 8pm-8.30pm: Malay Traditional Dances: Tualang, Ronggeng, and Joget at National Department for Culture and Arts, Penang Branch (JKKNPP)
- 8.30pm-8.55pm: Daathubhajana Chirathalaata at Penang Telugu Biddalu
- 9.30pm-10pm: The Spirit of Bhangra: Beats That Define a Culture at Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia
6th July – George Town Heritage Walk
Early risers can join the George Town Heritage Walk on Sunday. From 7am to 10am, the event gathers participants at Lebuh Pantai to begin a stroll through the city’s storied streets.
Do note that there is a fee of RM30 to take part in the walk, but it’ll secure you cool swag like a T-shirt, medal, goodies, and an e-cert.
7th July – Heritage Building Open House
Orchestrated by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), with backing from a federal repair incentive grant, the Heritage Building Open House on 7th July invites townies and out-of-towners to take a deep dive into the city’s storied architecture.
If you’ve ever been curious about what stands behind the doors of some of George Town’s most iconic buildings, you can now do so. Eight, restored Category 1 heritage buildings and sites in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site will open to the public for the day. There will be guided tours of the buildings too, led by community volunteers.
Image credit: @letsavetourism via Instagram
The participating heritage buildings are:
- GTWHI Building at Lebuh Acheh
- Kwangtung and Tengchow Association
- Makam Dato Koyah
- Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh
- Nam Hooi Wooi Koon
- St. George’s Church
- Sun Wui Wui Koon
- Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple
The buildings will open to the public from 9am to 5pm.
Go on a tour of Penang with free activities
Whether you’re a local or someone looking to discover Penang beyond its hawker food, the George Town Heritage Celebrations is a fun way to explore the city. Both the grown-ups and kiddos can enjoy hands-on workshops, performances, and building tours.
Venue: Around George Town, Penang
Dates: 5th-7th July 2025
Contact: George Town Heritage Celebrations website | Instagram
Cover image adapted from: @i.love.penang, @letsavetourism via Instagram