The first Kuching Christmas Parade was initiated by the Methodist Church in 2007 with an estimated turnout of 3000 Christians. Today, the parade has become an annual event.

This year, more than 10,000 Christians from the 73 different denominations and groups, took to the streets to proclaim their faith.

With the theme ‘Hope in Jesus Christ / Pengharapan Dalam Yesus Kristus’, this year’s parade was jointly organised by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) and supported by the Kuching Ministers’ Fellowship. The main organising church was the Methodist Church SCAC.

The participating churches comprised the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church SCAC, Methodist Church SIAC, BEM (SIB) Church, The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, The Salvation Army, Sarawak Baptist Church, Blessed Church, Hope Church Kuching, Calvary Family Church, Gereja Grace Sentral (AOG), GIS Gospel Harvest Kuching, Sarawak Grace Church, Good News Fellowship, City Harvest Church, Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) and Latter Rain Church Kuching.

MBKS Jubilee Ground, where all participating contingents converged before the parade took to the streets on the evening of December 2, 2017, was transformed into a ‘carnival’ site.

Accompanied by 8 brass bands, 16 beautifully decorated floats, dressed-up bible characters and street performers; and the giving of sweets and presents to lucky bystanders, the age-old spirit of Christmas was definitely in the air.

Before the parade, there was a Praise and Worship session followed by a chorus of Christmas carols. This helped to create a Christmassy atmosphere that exploded onto the streets.

Blessed Sacrament Church led the Roman Catholic contingent for the 4 Km street walk that covered the HSBC roundabout to Jalan Padungan, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahim (Kuching Waterfront), Lebuh Temple (Harbour View Hotel), Lebuh Wayang (Star Cineplex), Jalan Tabuan (Ting & Ting Supermarket and Borneo Hotel), Jalan Ban Hock (Grand Continental Hotel and MBKS flats), and back to Jubilee Ground.

Thousands of people thronged the streets to enjoy the magnificent sight and the yuletide spirit, as well as a show of support for the Christmas Parade.

Photographers: Dominic Bong / Crystal Chong