THE George Town Festival (GTF) 2025 drew to a close today with a lively finale at the beautiful and historic Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi in George Town, capping nine days of celebrations that attracted an estimated 120,000 visitors.
Not even the rain could dampen the mood, as festivalgoers armed with raincoats and umbrellas gathered for the Kongsi Party. Some sat on mats, others on deck chairs, enjoying a splendid rong-geng folk dance by a troupe from southern Thailand.
With soulful choreography and graceful movements, the Thai performers captivated the crowd with two traditional dances — The Charm of Songkla and the From Penang to Songkla.
The energy then shifted up a notch as Kool Kongsi brought on DJ Asang and DJ Slick Z, delivering a lively mix of nostalgic throwbacks and groovy beats.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow later arrived, followed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang, Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, and his consort, Yang Mulia Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah. Their presence, along with other distinguished guests — including state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai and his wife Lim Saw Peng, and George Town World Heritage Incorporated general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee — lent further prestige to the occasion.
The night continued with a performance by The Impatient Sisters from Kuantan, whose warm harmonies and engaging stage presence delighted the audience.
In his speech, Chow announced that some 120,000 people had attended the festival. He reflected on the meaning of kongsi, which translates to “share” — something he said GTF had embodied over the past nine days through sharing stories, music, food, art, memories, and dreams.
Featuring 50 programmes spanning music, dance, theatre, visual arts, photography, and more, GTF 2025, which began on Aug 2, celebrated George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The festival was first launched in 2010.
“In many ways, GTF has been a celebration of unity — bringing together people from all walks of life, from Penang and beyond, to share in the joy of art. And in the spirit of our upcoming Merdeka, it reminds us that our diversity is our strength and that the arts can bind us together as one community, one state, and one nation.
“So tonight, a big thank-you to the artists for their unbelievable imagination; to the organisers — for your vision and tireless work behind the scenes; and to you, our wonderful audiences — thank you for coming out night after night with such open hearts,” Chow said.
Despite his tight schedule, Chow managed to attend two performances during the festival.
On Friday (Aug 8), he was at A Night in Spain at Loft 29 — a musical journey through fiery flamenco, lyrical folk, and evocative regional sounds. He was captivated by the performances of Mei Yi Foo, Bartosz Woroch, and Ivan Torres.
Yesterday, he watched Birdy at Dewan Sri Pinang — a striking dance work by Lai Hung-Chung that blended elements of traditional Chinese opera with contemporary movement, exploring themes of freedom, limitation, and identity.
“I have to say, both performances left me deeply moved. Particularly with Birdy, when ‘rattan poles’ on their head are being used to symbolise life’s constraints. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between individual dreams and the expectations of society.
“Events like these go beyond just entertainment. They shape how we think, how we feel, and how we see each other. And that’s nation-building in action — not just constructing roads and buildings, but nurturing minds and hearts that cherish culture, creativity, and individuality. And as we approach Independence Day soon, this message resonates all the more: a nation grows strongest when its people value both tradition and personal expression,” Chow added.
After about an hour of live music at Cheah Kongsi, Tun Ramli, Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin, Chow, and other dignitaries proceeded to the Esplanade to witness a breathtaking projection mapping display on the façade of the iconic Town Hall.
Following overwhelming public response, the state government, through George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) and festival organiser TLM Event, extended the projection mapping showcase, “Terang”, nightly until tonight, after its successful opening show on Aug 2.
The dazzling spectacle transformed one of George Town’s heritage landmarks into a magical art theatre through world-class projection technology and live sound effects, allowing more members of the public to experience it.
While the festival may have ended tonight, Chow said he hoped its conversations, inspiration, and magic would endure. He urged the public to continue supporting local artists, listening to their stories, and making space for creativity in everyday life.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad, Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis,
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud and Alissala Thian