Mooncakes meet Kek Lapis as Mid-Autumn Festival brings Sarawak harmony to Carpenter St

Visitors weave through rows of stalls selling food, drinks and crafts as Carpenter Street comes alive for the Mid-Autumn celebration last night on Sept 15, 2026.

By Christine T

KUCHING, Sept 16: A stall selling colourful slices of Kek Lapis alongside intricately decorated mooncakes offered a fitting snapshot of Sarawak’s multicultural character as the Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival (KIMF) opened in the heart of the city.

Side by side, the two traditional treats, each with roots in different cultural traditions, reflected the harmonious blending of cultures that has become a defining feature of Sarawak’s identity.

Traditional mooncakes and colourful Kek Lapis are displayed together at a stall last night during the opening of KIMF at Carpenter Street on Sept 15, 2026.

A vendor hand-shapes colourful dough balls into mooncakes at her stall during KIMF in Carpenter Street on Sept 15, 2026.

As lanterns glowed along Carpenter Street, the 23rd KIMF offered more than a celebration of the Mid-Autumn season, transforming the streets around the Kuching old quarter into a lively meeting point for food, culture, music and tradition.

For 23 years, the festival has brought together people from different communities, generations and backgrounds, creating a shared space where traditions are celebrated and enjoyed by all.

The opening last night (Sept 15) reflected that spirit, with strings of lights stretching across the streets, performances spilling into open spaces and visitors moving from stall to stall in a scene where old and new sat comfortably side by side.

The harmony arch at Carpenter Street decorated with red lanterns welcomes visitors to the 23rd Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival on Sept 15, 2026.

A troupe of lion dancers in bright green, red and yellow costumes drew crowds as they made their way through the streets, their movements and vibrant colours adding to the festive atmosphere.

Nearby, musicians performed outside one of the old shophouses, framed by its distinctive red windows and doors, blending music with the historic surroundings.

Food, meanwhile, remained at the heart of the celebration.

About 150 stalls lined the streets, offering an assortment of food, drinks, crafts, merchandise and other products, creating a colourful mix of sights, sounds and flavours.

The mouth-watering aroma of barbecued food drifting through the streets was hard to miss, tempting visitors as they browsed the many food stalls.

Mooncakes were among the highlights, with stalls displaying colourful creations in pastel shades of pink, yellow, green, blue and purple, many featuring intricate decorative designs. Homemade mooncakes in different shapes and sizes also added to the variety.

Lion dancers in vibrant costumes light up Carpenter Street during the 23rd KIMF’s opening night on Sept 15, 2026.

Performers dressed in traditional costumes, complete with hornbill feather headgear, prepare to perform at the KIMF along Carpenter Street on Sept 15, 2026.

Light drizzle did little to dampen the atmosphere, with local and foreign visitors continuing to stroll through the streets and take in the festivities.

In a city known for its multicultural character, the festival serves as a reminder that heritage is not confined to museums, monuments or old buildings.

It remains something that is lived and shared through food, music, traditions and the simple experience of people from different backgrounds coming together to celebrate. – DayakDaily