The Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival 2025 (YSDAF) is hitting the road with its Urban Tour, bringing three culture and arts-filled pit stops to the Klang Valley over the next three months.
The tour kicks off tomorrow (June 14) at KL East Mall, continues to PARC Subang Jaya on July 5, and wraps up at Elmina Lakeside Mall in Shah Alam on Aug 9.
Each stop is free to attend and promises a full day of live performances, interactive workshops, and family-friendly fun for all ages.
“Following its recent Kampung Tour to five states and seven locations, the festival is coming back to the Klang Valley with more than 130 free arts events,” outlines YSDAF in a media statement.
It’s also the first YSDAF to venture beyond its KLPac home turf.
Let the party begin
At the KL East Mall tomorrow, the YSDAF party starts at 11am with over 30 performances and workshops throughout the day. The activities - performances to workshops - will go on until 5.30pm.
Orang Orang Drum Theatre’s new take on 'The Hare And The Tortoise' debuts at YSDAF 2025 Urban Tour, featuring in all three stops. Photo: Handout
The Young KL Singers is set to present its award-winning showcase Spice, Magic And Mystique – a colourful medley of folk tunes from across South-East Asia. Visitors will also get a sneak peek of the choir’s upcoming tribute concert to Coldplay and Alanis Morissette.
For a bit of movement, MyDance Alliance presents Dancing In Place, a site-specific dance series featuring five original performances at each venue. Meanwhile, Orang Orang Drum Theatre offers Berlumba Seperti Arnab, a playful reinterpretation of the Aesop’s fable.
Arsyad Azrai’s Dollah – a standout from the Kampung Tour – makes its return, alongside Ceritaku, a poignant series of monologues based on real-life stories gathered on the road.
Adding even more rhythm and soul to the day are buskers curated by Stage ReSET, delivering an eclectic mix from blues and classical guitar to Celtic tunes and electronic grooves. Each tour stop also features its own unique line-up of performances and activities.
Family fun
At KL East Mall, expect everything from ballet, clowns, and a 60-member choir to a wushu dance troupe all the way from Johor.
Workshops on offer include bamboo pole dancing (Magunatip), traditional Malay joget, children’s singing, and a high-energy "Dance It Out!" session.
Families can also check out Teng-Teng: Kembali Ke Akar, an interactive hopscotch installation made with natural materials, or catch the lively WaaiwaiiDrum performance, where household items like buckets and pans transform into percussion instruments.
Both KL East Mall and PARC are PWD-friendly venues, with shuttle vans available from nearby LRT stations and festival ambassadors on-site to assist.
YSDAF 2025 is presented by Yayasan Sime Darby and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), with support from Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad, Sime Darby Property Berhad, and the MADANI Government through Belanjawan 2025.
