Penang gazettes Hungry Ghost Festival as state heritage, six sites also set for official recognition
GEORGE TOWN, Sept 3 — Penang has gazetted the Teong Guan Phor Thor, or Hungry Ghost Festival, as a state her...
The 11th Heritage Festival will take place at Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park from September 5 to 13. Among the many attractions, visitors will have the chance to discover glow-in-the-dark mushrooms and a unique red spider with horn-like spines larger than its body. Over 50 programmes and activities are scheduled, including an exhibition showcasing more than 120 species of Singapore insects, including a newly discovered species found at both venues.
The Fort Canning Park's Hidden World: Creepy Crawlies of Singapore exhibition is one of three new galleries this year. The other two exhibitions are the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Funtastical World of Fungi exhibition, which features live glowing fungi, and a tribute to 100 years of the Fort Canning Centre.
Other highlights of the event include free activities such as music performances, movie screenings, guided experiences, and hands-on workshops. On weekend evenings, the Botanic Gardens will host a Purple Symphony orchestra performance and an outdoor screening of the documentary Fantastic Fungi. Additionally, a light installation called Fungi After Dark will illuminate the CDL Green Gallery lawn every evening during the festival.
Fort Canning Park will offer an interactive quest on weekend evenings, using large-scale projections cast onto the park's trees and terrain, making it best experienced after dark. Pre-registration for some activities and workshops is required, so visitors should plan accordingly. For more information about the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park Heritage Festival 2026, visit https://go.gov.sg/sbgfcp-heritagefestival.
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Also reported by 6 other outlets
- Penang first state to recognise Hungry Ghost Festival, cemeteries as heritage thevibes.com
- General : Penang Recognises Hungry Ghost Festival, Six Sites As State Heritage bernama.com
- Penang gazettes Teong Guan Phor Thor Festival, designates 6 heritage sites nst.com.my
- Glowing mushrooms, 120 creepy crawlies among new additions to Heritage Festival straitstimes.com
- Penang declares Hungry Ghost Festival state heritage freemalaysiatoday.com
- Penang gazettes Hungry Ghost Festival as state heritage, six sites also set for official recognition malaymail.com
