PENANG: THIS year’s lantern festival at Tanjung Bungah, Penang, will be filled with lights, music and plenty of action from people of all ages and interests.

The open space near Tanjung Bungah hillside behind the Jalan Tanjung Bungah food court will be bustling with activities and colourful lanterns come Sept 28 from 2pm to 11pm.

Deputy Information Minister Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye told a press conference that the event would be the 16th Tanjung Bungah Night celebration.

It will be organised by NGOs of the Tanjung Bungah constituency and supported by the Persatuan Belia Cergas Tanjung Bungah.

The evening's highlight will be a 3km lantern parade by participants of the lantern making competition, starting at 7.30pm from Jalan Oldham to Jalan Sungai Kelian.

"Before the parade starts, children will be given goody bags filled with a bun, moon cakes and a lantern. There will also be multicultural dances," said Chia.

The parade, which will be led by a school band, will include a lion dance, a dragon dance and also a show by performers taking on the role of Bong Bai Hneah and Bong Bai Soh on trishaws.

Participation fee for the two events of the lantern making competition - open category and primary school students category – is RM5.

Prize money for the top three winners range from RM200 to RM500, and consolation winners from RM30 to RM50. Entry forms are now available at the Penang Gerakan headquarters and Gerakan Tanjung Bungah Service Centre. The closing date is Sept 24 at 5pm. For information, call 04-2292730 (Yeoh) or 04-8998730 (Kee).

There will also be Samsung karaoke competition at the venue from 2.30pm to 11pm.

Prizes at stake are mobile phones and a computer LCD monitor. Forms will soon be available at the Gerakan headquarters service centre at Tanjung Bungah and Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd at Unit 57-G-3, Ground Floor, Wing B, Northam Tower, 57, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. For information, call 04-2278798.

There will also be a Samsung IT Roadshow from 2pm to 11pm and Hai Yun Choir performance, a performance by SJK Poy Wah, acrobatic acts, ‘Changing of Faces’ performance and songs by an Ai FM singer from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.