AdminThe Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) 2025 will culminate its six-month nationwide celebration with a vibrant evening finale at Elmina Lakeside Mall, Shah Alam, on 9 August 2025. Running from 4.00pm to 11.00pm, this highly anticipated event marks the only night edition of YSDAF’s Urban Tour and promises an immersive celebration of Malaysian creativity, inclusivity, and community spirit.
The grand finale is the final stop of the festival’s ambitious outreach campaign, which began with a seven-stop Kampung Tour earlier this year across five states, before returning to the Klang Valley for a three-part Urban Tour. Stops included KL East Mall and PARC Subang Jaya, leading up to Elmina’s climactic evening of free performances and activities.
Star acts await festival-goers
More than 300 artists across disciplines will participate in over 80 curated programmes at Elmina, offered entirely free to the public. Attendees can expect a dynamic mix of concerts, workshops, theatrical performances, dance, installations, and art experiences.
Among the standout highlights is Spice, Magic and Mystique, a Southeast Asian folk music journey by the award-winning Young KL Singers (YKLS), who will also preview their upcoming Coldplay tribute concert. Fans of contemporary dance can look forward to MyDance Alliance’s new outdoor works in Dancing in Place, while Orang Orang Drum Theatre adds a percussive twist to the classic tale with Berlumba Seperti Arnab.
Returning favourites from the Kampung Tour include Dollah, a coming-of-age stage production, and Ceritaku, a touching monologue series based on real-life Malaysian stories. The main stage will host a powerful music line-up, with celebrated singer-songwriter Zee Avi and her band The Good Things joined by high-energy performances from Kyoto Protocol and FUGŌ.
A major highlight is the debut of DETOUR the Musical, an innovative production featuring both deaf and hearing performers, seamlessly integrating Malaysian Sign Language (BIM), spoken word, and music to promote accessibility and inclusivity in the arts.
Family fun and hands-on workshops
Beyond the stage, families can explore the Handyzone with a wide range of DIY craft activities such as terrarium building, solar rover construction, jewellery-making, and latte art. While most pre-registration slots have been filled, many walk-in workshops and all-day art activities remain available.
The outdoor grounds will be transformed into a buzzing creative playground filled with art pavilions, buskers, drum circles, street performances, and interactive installations. Visitors can enjoy complimentary popcorn and cotton candy at the Fun Zone, participate in games with prizes totalling over RM2,000, or rent a Swift Bike to ride along the scenic Elmina lakeside.
Art installations curated by the Malaysian Institute of Art will dot the landscape, adding visual flair to the festive environment. Festival Ambassadors will be on site to assist visitors, and shuttle vans will be available from surrounding parking areas to improve accessibility.
A landmark celebration of arts
YSDAF 2025 is presented by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), supported by Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad, and Sime Darby Property Berhad. For the first time, the festival is also backed by the MADANI Government under Belanjawan 2025, symbolising broader national support for accessible arts programming.
This year’s expanded format has enabled the festival to reach new audiences, particularly in underserved communities, and reaffirmed YSD’s commitment to making arts and culture free, inclusive, and widely available. Elmina Lakeside Mall is fully accessible to persons with disabilities (PWD), with wheelchair-friendly paths, OKU washrooms, and minimal physical barriers.
With no tickets required, the public is encouraged to simply show up and experience the richness of Malaysia’s cultural diversity. As YSDAF 2025 draws to a close under the night sky, the Elmina finale is set to be more than just an event — it’s a nationwide tribute to the power of the arts to unite, inspire, and uplift.
Jimmy Tan
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