Travel Indonesia Guide: The Bali Arts Festival 2009

There are many places of interest for visitors in Bali apart from its beautiful beaches along the coastline which offers every possible water activities including surfing, snorkeling, diving, cruises and sailing. When it comes to the mid-year period, the Bali Arts Festival is something that anyone shouldn’t miss.

Lasting for about four weeks from mid-Jun, the Bali Arts Festival is a wonderful spectacle and a great introduction to Balinese artistic traditions and culture. The Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of Bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty.

For this year, the 31st Annual Bali Arts Festival is being held from 13 June until 11 July in Denpasar. This month long revelry is unique as perhaps no other place in the world can put up on such a low budget as the Balinese. Not only is their traditional culture alive and well, but they have a tremendous pride in it.

During this year’s occasion, the festival will feature 180 art performances from 12 provinces in Indonesia and eight foreign countries - South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, India, China and Mexico and the United States. The five main agenda items of the Bali Arts Festival will remain unchanged to include the cultural parade, stage performances, competitions, meetings and seminars, and a handicraft exhibition of small industry and handicraft items. And of course, all the funs and great experiences will always be there.. Enjoy..