THE seventh edition of the Penang Hill Festival (PHF) 2026 will introduce a new “From Hill to Plate” culinary experience this year as part of its expanded lineup of nature, heritage and educational activities.
One of the cooks, Elena Ong, said the new session would feature vegetarian cooking demonstrations using vegetables and herbs harvested from the educational farm on Penang Hill on July 18, from 11am to 1.30pm.
“It combines nature with cultural heritage. Visitors can enjoy vegetarian cuisine prepared using local herbs and vegetables grown at the park itself,” she told Buletin Mutiara.
The cooking session, scheduled for Saturday afternoon during the July 17 to 19 festival period, will allow registered participants to enjoy meals prepared using fresh produce sourced from Nature Hill Farm, an educational farm located within the hill’s eco-park area.
“All the vegetables are from Nature Hill Farm. We want people to understand where food comes from and how sustainable farming works,” Elena said, adding that the venue is located next to the Sri Aruroli Thirumurugan Hindu Temple.
Aside from Elena, another cook participating in the session is Helen Lee.
Apart from the culinary session, the festival will also feature the “My Little Farm” exhibition for the third consecutive year, showcasing sustainable farming methods such as hydroponics, aquaponics and drip irrigation systems.
One of the major highlights of the festival will be the Junior Rainforest Exploration programme, which has become one of the festival’s most sought-after family activities.
“It is one of the most popular programmes at the Penang Hill Festival. Parents enjoy bringing their children to join the Junior Rainforest Exploration because it allows them to connect with nature in a meaningful way,” said K.P. Ong, who manages the nature walks around the hill.
The half-day programme will be held on July 19, the final day of the festival, alongside the popular Crag Walk before the festival concludes with a musical performance later in the evening.
Ong said the Junior Rainforest Exploration would feature guided nature walks where children use specially prepared handbooks to identify plant and animal species found on Penang Hill.
“The handbook records the species of plants and animals that can be found on the hill. As we guide them around, they will be able to identify the species and better understand biodiversity,” he said.
The second segment of the programme will focus on wildlife awareness through the Lungo Project, where children will learn about monkeys and the importance of coexistence between humans and wildlife.
“Children need to understand what they should and should not do when they encounter monkeys. We want them to appreciate wildlife as part of nature,” Ong said.
The programme will conclude with a tree-planting activity, where participants will also receive seedling cups to bring home as part of efforts to encourage children to develop an appreciation for nature from a young age.
“We always say we have to plant the seeds while they are young. If children learn to love nature — the trees, the birds and the animals — they will understand why it is important to protect the environment,” he added.
The festival will also feature immersive guided activities such as the Moniot Trail and Night Exploration sessions, allowing participants to discover rare plants, fungi and nocturnal wildlife along Penang Hill’s forest trails.
“Every time we explore, we discover something new. We have discovered new insects, mushrooms growing along the trails and many unique species,” Ong said.
He said the Night Exploration programme on July 18 would be jointly guided by Joseph Dale from the Nature Society of Penang and Stephen Wong from the Nature Society of Selangor.
“For the past few years, every time we conducted night explorations during the festival, we recorded increasing numbers of animal and insect species.
“Last year alone, we recorded about 38 species within two hours,” he said.
Recalling a memorable encounter during a previous edition, Ong said participants once witnessed an owl swooping down to catch a snake after guides instructed everyone to switch off their lights and remain still.
“These are experiences you cannot easily find anywhere else. It happens maybe once in a lifetime,” he said.
Among the other new attractions this year is the “Penang Hill After Dark Stargazing Night”, organised in collaboration with the Astronomical Society of Penang at the Habitat Gallery and Education Centre rooftop.
“Participants can listen to astronomy stories, enjoy the night sky and receive moon maps during the session,” Ong said.
The Crag Walk, another major attraction during the festival, will allow participants to explore the history of the former Crag Hotel site along a 3km trail on Penang Hill.
Guest speaker Alexis Kerr will be present alongside Sugumar and Dr Tan Thean Cheong.
The festival has continued to record increasing attendance over the years, including visitors from overseas who travel to Penang specifically for the event.
“For many families, it has become like a buffet of activities. There are walks, talks, exhibitions, workshops and performances happening all around Penang Hill,” Ong said.
“It feels like a carnival of nature — almost like a Disneyland of nature,” he added.
The festival will feature both free and paid activities, with visitors encouraged to pre-register online, although walk-in participation will still be accepted for selected programmes.
Meanwhile, the popular mushroom exploration programme at Penang Hill will return this year following the overwhelming public response received during last year’s edition, with organisers hoping to eventually turn it into a regular environmental education activity.
The programme, which takes participants along the Moniot Trail, is designed as a relaxed and family-friendly nature walk suitable even for children and non-hardcore hikers.
Dr Rosnida Tajuddin described the trail as one of the most unique routes on Penang Hill due to its rich biodiversity and the constant discoveries made during each expedition.
She said the programme aims to introduce the public to the various mushroom species found on Penang Hill, while also educating participants on the ecological importance of fungi as natural decomposers that help maintain forest health.
Beyond their environmental role, participants will also learn about lesser-known characteristics of mushrooms, including their links to food, biodiversity and traditional uses.
“It is like a nature classroom where people can understand the stories behind the forest and appreciate how nature functions as a living ecosystem,” she said.
According to Dr Rosnida, every mushroom walk often leads to something new being discovered, including fresh species records along the trail.
Last year, participants were even able to observe glow-in-the-dark mushrooms shortly after researchers presented findings on the rare fungi.
Story by Edmund Lee