BAU: Organisers of the coming Jong Festival are planning new activities for this year’s festival.

Organised by Bau District Office, the festival at Tasik Biru will no longer be solely on the traditional miniature boat (‘jong’) races.

Formerly known as the Bau Jong Regatta, it will be held this weekend from Oct 26 to 27.

Speaking to reporters at his office yesterday, Bau district officer Wong Hee Sieng said it was high time the festival was rebranded to lure more visitors to the district.

“We have been following the same format since 2009. Based on public feedback, many said previous festivals were boring because the races could take quite some time to finish depending on the wind,” he said.

Many of the town’s residents want more side events to liven up the festival.

“There is no doubt that the traditional jong races are an integral part of this festival but we want to attract more people here,” he said.

Other events this year include rafting, tug-of-war, duck catching, food and handicraft sales, and booths manned by Mas Gading Community College.

Jong races had been held at Tasik Biru over the years. One of the earliest accounts of the event can be traced back to 1950 when AJN Richards, British district officer of Bau at that time organised the event at the lake, which came under his administration.

The race made a comeback at the lake in 1986 and 1989 before becoming an annual event in 2009.