Snowy’ Gaya Christmas celebration
KOTA KINABALU: It will be ‘snowing’ at Gaya Street and Lintasan Deasoka during the Gaya Christmas Celebration on December 10-13 this year.
The event, to be organised by Kota Kinabalu City Hall in collaboration with the Sabah Council of Churches, will feature four evenings with different themes and matching performances.
The Sabah Council of Churches is represented by the Methodist Church this year.
In a press conference held at City Hall yesterday, Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir disclosed that among the highlights that the organising committee prepared for this year’s celebration is the different themes for each night, which are namely ‘Hope’, ‘Joy’, ‘Peace’, and on the final night, ‘Love’, all under one main theme, ‘The Star of Great Joy’.
Sabah Council of Churches president Bishop Datuk Thomas Tsen said that these themes were selected to promote the common values among the multi-cultural races not only among Sabahans, but also with friends from around the world.
Apart from that, the annual celebration which has become a tradition among Kota Kinabalu citizens joined by family and friends from across the state as well as tourists from everywhere will also see booths and stalls selling diverse items, from food and beverages to handicrafts and Christmas decorations.
There will be various performances, including Christmas carols, ukulele and Yap Ling instruments by children, skit and drama, among others.
Madingkir urged all to come and join in the celebration, and called on hotels and residences to promote the event among their guests to attend the event at Gaya Street.
“Christmas is a global celebration that can be celebrated by anyone regardless of race and belief. So like previous years, I hope to see people from all walks of life, locals and tourists alike coming together to join in the celebration,” he said.
Organising chairman Wong King Chuong said that another uniqueness added to this year’s celebration is the display of livestock animals such as goats and horses, where children can experience the delight of seeing, touching and even riding on, this Christmas.
The Gaya Christmas celebration is funded by the Sabah State Government, and sponsored by DiGi, Nestle Products, Sabah Tourism Board as well as other generous groups and individuals.
There will be an estimated 300 stalls throughout the carnival, and about 100,000 people are expected to come and join in the celebration.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman is expected to officiate the carnival on December 10 at 8pm, while the Mayor will be closing the event on December 13 at 8.50pm, with grand fireworks to be launched on both nights.
Also present at the press conference yesterday were Methodist Church president Rev. Dr Hii Kong Hock, City Hall Deputy Director of Operations Joanes Solidau, Sabah Council of Churches members and City Hall’s heads of departments.
Source: Borneo Post
