Award-winning destination resort Desaru Coast will host the Ombak Festival, The Ultimate Weekend of internationally renowned acts and more than 50 events for all to enjoy in September 2024.
From 13 to 15 September 2024, the destination in Johor will host an array of events and activities across music and performances, food & beverages, visual arts & craft, and for the younger festival goers, Ombak Kids.
International headliners include pop culture icon Grace Jones; Grammy winner and R&B Hall of Famer Macy Gray and Swedish band The Cardigans, alongside 23 local and regional music stars.
Exciting gastronomy events will be conducted by the region’s top chefs and mixologists, such as Carbon KL and Chef Andrew Walsh of Cure. Beachfront art trail and curated boutiques featuring celebrated Southeast Asian designers.
The family-friendly festival features a variety of interactive workshops, games and engaging entertainment for children with Ombak Kids.
Music & Performances
Performances at Ombak Festival will feature 16 hours of Ombak Main Stage programming, including an Asia-exclusive performance by pop culture icon Grace Jones; Grammy winner and R&B Hall of Famer Macy Gray, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut album; and Swedish band The Cardigans playing their global smash hits. In addition, Ombak Festival will host a series of performances by some of the biggest names in the regional music scene, including Alena Murang, Thee Marloes, and Aisyah Aziz.
Food & Beverages
Guests can experience an explosion of Malaysian and international food and drinks by some of the region’s top chefs and mixologists with a series of culinary delights throughout the destination, including Ember Beach Club Brunch by Chef Andrew Walsh, Kitchen Takeover by Carbon KL, Latin Street Flavours by Feliz, and Flavours of Borneo by Reka:bar, Ver, and Chocha Foodstore.
Visual Arts & Craft
Art lovers will be captivated by intricate installations that celebrate Malaysia’s and the region’s artistic heritage, from the mesmerising fluid metal sculptures of Abdul Multhalib Musa – one of Malaysia’s young leading contemporary sculptors – to the participatory Shore Debris Table installation by artist and photographer Ernest Goh of Ayer Ayer. Ombak Festival will also feature two marketplaces – a Southeast Asian fashion and lifestyle collection curated by Dia Guild, and local artisanal designs at Lokal Market – with offerings that are environmentally and socially conscious and accessible to all.
Ombak Kids
The fun extends to even the youngest of guests through Ombak Kids and its programme of family-friendly activities. From the Silent Disco Kids edition to Mereka Garden Games; from Junglewalla eco-adventures and Flying Kites to Sailing Jongs – there will be a variety of interactive workshops, thrilling games, and engaging entertainment for the young and the young at heart to revel in.
Karina Ridzuan, Director of Ombak Festival, said: “Ombak Festival embodies Desaru Coast’s values, offering vibrant, high-quality events with a distinctly Malaysian flair. It’s an international festival with a Malaysian soul, featuring diverse elements from local and international performances by Grace Jones and Macy Gray to local stars like Bunga and Masdo. With more than 50 events, it’s a festival for all ages, promoting eco-conscious art and wide and diverse culinary collaborations. We aim to establish Desaru Coast and Johor as key destinations on the regional festival map, and we are grateful for the unwavering support of local councils and communities.”
Ombak Festival Packages
In-destination guests get to experience the ultimate benefit of Ombak Festival at leisure in world-class accommodation and services every step of the way. All four 5-star Desaru Coast resorts – The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, and One&Only Desaru Coast – are within walking distance of the picturesque festival sites.
All Ombak Festival Stay Packages are exclusive to Desaru Coast resorts, and are designed for two adults with complimentary stay for one child aged 12 and under. The packages include accommodation and breakfast; Festival Opening Party on 13 September; Festival Weekend Passes; access to Ombak Kids programmes and Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast; and selected food offerings.
Guests can enjoy the best rates with Early Stay Packages, which are on immediate sale until 13 July 2024. Festival Day Passes, Festival 2-Day Passes, and travel information will be announced on 22 July 2024.
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast is a fun fit for families, given its proximity to Adventure Waterpark, where Ombak Kids will be held. Packages at Hard Rock start from MYR4,500.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort is perfect for two, with packages starting from MYR5,000.
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas offers immersive art and culinary experiences, from RM6,550.
Flavours of Ember Beach Club, along with one-off hospitality packages are available at One&Only Desaru Coast.
Guests travelling from Singapore can take the direct ferry service between Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal from 13 to 16 September 2024.
For more information about Ombak Festival and to purchase festival Stay Packages, please visit www.ombakfestival.com today.
