TOURISM Indonesia not only offers natural beauty but also a variety of cultural-based activities. This is a special attraction for local and foreign tourists.

Well, for those of you who are planning to find interesting events in August, you can copy various cultural-based events known as Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN). Here are the recommendations;

1. Jember Fashion Carnival

Jember Fashion Carnaval (JFC) is one of the cultural-based activities that is always awaited every year. JFC is a carnival attraction art performance based on culture and creativity of local creators displaying clothes inspired by Indonesian culture. This year, JFC will roll on August 1-4, 2024.

The combination of creative fashion values ​​is presented in a carnival parade package. Dozens of talented models and talents in Indonesia will gather, they will strut along the main road of Jember city (near the Jember city square) along 3.6 km, wearing unusual costumes and specially designed for the event.

JFC is known as one of the largest culture-based carnival activities in the world, alongside the Rio de Janeiro carnival in Brazil. This year, JFC will carry the theme Algorithm, there will be ten thematic defiles (parades) in this year’s event, including puppet themes, zodiacs and climate.

This year, the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival will enter its 32nd year and will be held on August 7-10, 2024. Held in Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Mountains, this festival is perfect for those who want to see Papuan culture up close with a backdrop of extraordinary natural beauty.

In the festival, traces of the civilization of the ancestors of the Hubuta tribe will be displayed through colossal war attractions, Sikoko and Puradan sports games, a game that hones spear throwing skills. In addition, there are also pig racing attractions to Papuan cooking, namely stone burning, there are also dance performances and traditional pikon music games.

At the peak of the event, a national cultural carnival will be presented as a form of love for the country and the commemoration of the 79th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

Another cultural-based activity that should not be missed this August is the Dieng Culture Festival which will take place at the Arjuna Temple Complex, Dieng Kulon Village, Central Java on August 23-25, 2024. In this activity, visitors will be treated to performances that combine the beauty of nature, the uniqueness of culture and traditions in the Dieng Plateau.

Various activities will be held during the three-day event, ranging from art performances, jazz concerts to lantern flights in the Dieng highlands. There will also be a tradition of hair cutting for Dieng gimbal children.

This year’s Dieng Culture Festival carries the theme ‘Journey of Culture’, and for those of you who are interested in coming to the festival, prepare thick clothes because some activities will take place at night with Dieng’s air temperature reaching 0 degrees Celsius.

4. Traditional Bidar Boat Festival

Moving to the Sumatra region, precisely on August 14-18, the Traditional Bidar Boat Festival will be held on the Musi River, Palembang, South Sumatra. In this activity, you will see the excitement of the Palembang people competing in speed across the Musi River with Bidar Boats.

The 29-meter long Bidar boat will be rowed by 55 people and two cheerleaders who will make the atmosphere lively. In addition to the boat race activities, there will also be a talk show related to the event. A parade of decorated motorboats that will go around the Musi River during the festival will also be held. (M-3)