April is packed with races, festivals, and entertainment – catch Brian McKnight, Phua Chu Kang, The Ipoh Cycle Fest, World Harvest Festival, Vaisakhi and more!

1. Kuching Run for Autism 2017

In conjunction with World Autism Day, the Kuching Autism Association (KAA) is organising the Kuching Run for Autism 2017. The theme for the run, “It’s not a disability, it’s a different ability”, is adopted to encourage understanding and acceptance of children and adults with autism within local communities. There will be two categories you can take part in, 3km and 7km.

Date: 2nd April 2017, 6.30am
Venue: Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan, Kuching
Tickets: Registration is closed but you can still attend to support a good cause!
Website: eventtech.com.my

2. Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2017

MIHAS is an annual trade exhibition in Kuala Lumpur hosted by the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in collaboration with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). MIHAS is part of Malaysia’s World Halal Week and is widely recognised as the world’s leading halal exhibition that regularly attracts participation from over 70 countries. At MIHAs, you can check out a diverse selection of halal products in various industries from food, to finance, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tourism, and logistics.

Date: 5th – 8th April 2017
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Tickets: Free admission. Prior registration required. Register at mihas.com.my/visitor/visitor-register
Website: www.mihas.com.my

3. Phua Chu Kang Comedy Show – One Night Only in KL

Phua Chu Kang is back! Our favourite Ah Beng played by Gurmit Singh will put on his yellow boots again for one night only in a show at the at HGH Convention Centre. The show will also be introducing Singapore’s funniest ventriloquist Joseph Then who is known for his innovative ventriloquism acts with his wacky puppets characters.

There will also be fun game intervals for families to participate and win attractive prizes as well as performances by Malaysian up and coming singer Kael, and the Gangster squad.

Date: 7th April 2017
Venue: HGH Convention Centre, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
Tickets: RM158 (Silver), RM200 (Gold), RM258 (VIP) | Purchase from www.vip.my
Website: www.facebook.com

4. Score Run 2017

It’s man versus city. Kick off at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s golden triangle – Berjaya Times Square – and stop at nothing to conquer the urban jungle. Run under the shade of towering skyscrapers and world-class hotels and be in awe as the city comes alive. If you don’t want to join in on the road, you can also take part as a virtual runner and Walk, jog, or use a treadmill while receiving the very same race entitlements. Virtual runners can share their progress photos and results fb.com/ScoreRun and hashtag #scorerunvirtual2017.

Date: 9th April 2017
Venue: Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: Registration for runner is closed. But you can still register as a virtual runner here.
Website: www.score.my

5. An Evening with Brian McKnight

Known for his soulful modulated voice and strong falsetto, American renowned artist, Brian McKnight will be giving all his Malaysian R&B fans a treat as his concert titled ‘An Evening with Brian McKnight’ will be held in Kuala Lumpur. Famously known for hits like Anytime and Back at One, the superstar’s musical career has earned him 16 nominations.

Besides the artist’s performance, fans will also get to witness the opening act by Malaysia’s very own soulful singer, Elvira Arul, who played Effie White in the Asian Production of Dreamgirls and worked alongside music mogul like David Foster, American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and Grammy winner Eric Benet.

Date: 9th April, 8pm
Venue: Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: RM288, RM488, RM688 and RM1,888 | www.ticketpro.com.my
Website: www.facebook.com

6. Thai Water Festival in Penang

The Thai Water Festival or Songkran is a traditional Thai festival celebrating the Thai new year. The Thai community in Penang celebrates this event together annually as devotees wash away bad luck from the past year by liberally splashing each other with water. ‘Songkran’ in Thai also means to move or change place – it denotes the changing position of the Sun in the zodiac system.

Date: 13th April 2017
Venue: Penang Burmese Temple & The Reclining Buddha Temple
Tickets: Free
Website: mypenang.gov.my

7. Da Bang Tour 2017

Something for all your Bollywood fans in Malaysia. Da-Bang 2017 is landing in KL with some of the biggest Bollywood stars for a concert that promises to entertain you like never before. Expect to see Salman Khan, Prabhu Deva, Tamannaah, Bipasha Basu, Badshah, Manish Paul, and Daisy Shah grace the stage for the biggest Bollywood concert Malaysia has ever experienced.

Date: 14th April 2017
Venue: Mines Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: RM111 (No entry), RM333 (Kick), RM 555 (Ready), RM777 (Jai Ho), RM999 (Da Bang), RM2222 (Sultan)
Website: airasiaredtix.com/da_bang

8. Vaisakhi Celebration in Penang

The Sikh harvest festival will be celebrated with much singing and dancing in Penang. Enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere during the open house as you gain some insights into the beliefs, customs, and practices that are observed by the Sikhs to this day. It’s the perfect time to learn about a new culture while you’re in Penang.

Date: 14th April 2017
Venue: Penang Times Square, Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, Penang
Tickets: Free
Website: mypenang.gov.my

9. Pet Fiesta 2017

This fiesta is as much for owners as it is for their pets. Take your pet out on a weekend of fun at Malaysia’s largest indoor and outdoor pet exhibition. There will be plenty of activities to keep you and your furfriend entertained. Enjoy an international cat show, dog grooming demo, reptile kingdom, small animal showcase, a pet café and plenty more. There will be an indoor and outdoor area for you and your pet to lounge around. Please also remember that all dogs should be on a leash, only small pets in carriers are allowed indoors, and only non-dangerous animals are allowed at the fiesta.

Date: 14th – 16th April 2017
Venue: Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC), Setia Alam, Selangor.
Tickets: Free
Website: www.petfiesta.com.my

10. 1-Star FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour

For the first time, Malaysia will be hosting its first FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Tournament at Langkawi. The Langkawi 1-Star is the second event on the World Tour Calendar and will give Malaysia’s teams a chance to put themselves against international beach volleyball powerhouses from Germany and YSA in both men’s and women’s categories.

Date: 14th – 16th April 2017
Venue: Chenang Island, Langkawi
Website: worldtour.2017.fivb.com

11. ChallengePutrajaya Half Marathon 2017

There seems to be at least one running event each month and April is no exception. This time, the course is set in Putrajaya. The ChallengePutrajaya Half Marathon 2017 will gather all Malaysians in the spirit of unity and solidarity for the nation. The categories are: 5km (7 years and above), 10km (16 years and above), and 21km (18 years and above). The race is open to all Malaysians

Date: 16th April 2017, 6am
Venue: Dataran Perbandaran Putrajaya, Presint 3, Putrajaya
Registration: RM50 – 70 | Registration ends 31st March
Website: ChallengePutrajaya, FB event

12. Penang International Food Festival 2017

The Penang International Food Festival for 2017 is themed ‘Past, Present, and Future’. The event promises visitors a gastronomic feast that celebrates the diverse flavours from the amazing talents that make up Penang’s culinary scene. For 16 days, Penang will be a foodies’ paradise – even more than it already is – as the classic and modern are brought together to showcase Penang’s food heritage. You can expect to see vendors ranging from humble hawker stalls to highly acclaimed restaurants participating in the festival. Remember to turn up hungry!

Date: 19th – 30th April 2017
Venue: Main event at Lebuh Pantai. There will be pocket events around Penang. Check out the website for more information.
Tickets: Free admission
Website: www.piff.com.my

13. Ipoh Cycle Fest 2017

Malaysia’s biggest bicycle festival is back for a second edition. Jointly organised by X Camp Adventure and Destination Perak in conjunction with Visit Perak Year 2017, the cycle fest promises an entire week of high-energy action for all ages. There will be music, food, sports entertainment at the event, and you’ll also be able to enjoy the beauty of Ipoh.

The Ipoh Cycle Fest has 17 main events including ICF Bike Expo, Fat Boke Cross Cup, Banjaran Quest, Gopeng Tour and more. The entire festival is set to kick off with the inaugural premier of the Gran Fondo New York Championship in Malaysia. Side events include Old School BMX & Vintage Bike display, Food truck zone, Bike Service Center, Time Attack Challenge, Trike Bike Demo, Bike Rental Zone, Trishaw/ Beca Ride, Celebrity Ride, and a closing concert.

Date: 23rd – 30th April 2017
Venue: Aman Jaya, Meru, Ipoh
Tickets: sports360.my
Website: ipohcyclefest.com

14. Gran  Fondo New York (GFNY) – Ipoh Cycle Fest

The global cycling marathon series has expanded its portfolio to Malaysia for the first time. GFNY Malaysia will be the fifth leg of the race and is opened to all levels of cyclers from amateurs to professionals. Held in Ipoh as part of the Ipoh Cycle Fest, the race course will take riders through lush rainforests and along limestone hills in Tambun, Ipoh. You can take part in the individual, team, or him+her categories.

Date: 23rd April 2017, 7am
Venue: X Park, Tambun, Ipoh, Perak
Registration: Register here.
Website: gfnymy.com

15. 6th International Bornean Frog Race

During the International Bornean Frog Race, conservationists from several countries will highlight the threatened status of amphibians via a series of fun activities aimed at raising public awareness about the world’s disappearing amphibians.

The ‘frog race’ includes talks on amphibians and their conservation and exhibits of sights and sounds which are open to the public. For the main event, participants will walk a trail at the foothills of Gunung Lambir for 2 hours to take photos of amphibians they’ve spotted. There will be prizes and certificates for two categories: the most number of amphibian species found and the best amphibian photo take (DSLR, compact camera, and mobile phone categories).

Date: 28th – 29th April 2017
Venue: Gunung Gading National Park, Lundu, Sarawak
Register: RM100 (Malaysian), RM150 (non-Malaysians) | Register here
Website: internationalborneanfrograce.weebly.com

16. World Harvest Festival 2017

The Harvest Festival (Gawai) is celebrated on a grander scale with the participations of cultural troupes from other countries.  This year the Nitto Rong Organization of Bangladesh and Kumpulan Batambul Rungus Matunggong of Sabah will be joining the festival. The main highlight of the festival will be the theme play which utilises the lake, ethnic houses and trees as natural props which can only be produced in the Sarawak Cultural Village.

Along with sampling of traditional food and crafts of the ethnic communities of Sarawak, there will also be a series of joint workshops by the local and invited cultural troupes.  The ethnic beauty pageant lends colour and vibrancy to the event whereas brawn comes in the form of the Ironman World Harvest Festival competition.

The World Harvest Festival (WHF) is an opportunity for the non-Dayaks to understand the cultures, traditions and aspirations of the Dayak community.

Date: 28th – 30th April 2017
Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, Sarawak
Tickets: RM60 (Adults), RM30 (children) | Buy at www.scv.com.my
Website: whf.com.my

17. Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2017

Now in its 29th year, the KLIBF provides a networking opportunity to meet with the local and international publishing community. Over 1 million visitors attend the KLIBF every year. It is the perfect place for book lovers to get the latest books and promotions from publishers around the region. Book launches, seminars, conventions, and lots of other activities are in place to suit all levels of the reading community.

Date: 28th April – 7th May 2017
Venue: Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: Free entry
Website: kualalumpurbookfair.my

17. MyVaisaki Festival Open House 2017

Once again, the Malaysian Punjabi Chambers of Commerce and Industries (MPCCI) will be organising and co-hosting the Malaysia Vaisakhi Open House. The national level event is aimed at providing the public a bigger, and better celebration than last year with many performances by local artists with Bollywood songs and energy-packed Bhangra performances. Vaisakh is a Sikh celebration to commemorate the Sikh New Year and has long been celebrated in Punjab as a harvest festival.

Date: 29th April 2017
Venue: Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC), Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: Free admission
Website: myvaisakhifest.com.my

18. Perlis Marathon 2017

As an effort by the Perlis Government to promote Perlis as a world tourism destination, the Perlis Marathon was introduced in 2015 as a half marathon. Since then, new categories have been introduced and this year, there will be a few categories – 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km. There will also be a 10km ASEANMen and 10km ASEANWomen categories.  Join in the fun and flex your muscles in Perlis!

Date: 30th April 2017
Venue: Tuanku Syed Putra Sports Complex, Perlis
Registration: RM50 – RM160 | Register at mro.myraceonline.com
Website: mro.myraceonline.com