This month, 16 festivals celebrating various themes ranging from culture to sports will take place across the country.

Check out this list compiled by kompas.com to schedule an upcoming trip for a festival you may be interested in.

1. Tour de Singkarak, West Sumatra 

An international road cycling race named after Lake Singkarak, it is classified by the Union Cycling International (UCI) as a 2.2 category race and part of the UCI Asia Tour. Last year’s event covered a total of 1,226 kilometers in nine stages. Held on Sept. 5-14, the race will cover West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi provinces. 

2. Solo International Performing Arts (SIPA), Surakarta, Central Java

This year’s event will be the 10^th edition of SIPA, bringing in artists from Italy, Spain, Taiwan, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. Local artists include the Flying Balloons Puppet, Gilang Ramadhan and Melati Suryodarmo. 

Held on a massive stage measuring 20 meters long and 16 m wide, the festival will feature Fort Vastenburg as its background. It was founded by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2009, who was Surakarta governor at the time, and aims to highlight the performing arts. SIPA 2018 will be held on Sept. 6-8 and is free of charge. 

3. Eight Festival (F8), South Sulawesi 

Combining fashion, food, fiction writers and fonts, fine art, folks, fusion music, flora and fauna as well as film, the international festival will take place in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sept. 6-10. 

4. Malang Flower Carnival, East Java 

The annual carnival will feature clothing made from recycled materials and floral ornaments. Held in Malang, East Java, on Sept. 9, the festival will be divided into two categories for children and adult. Malang’s main street, Jl. Ijen, will be the catwalk. 

Read also: Sail Moyo Tambora 2018 to highlight West Nusa Tenggara tourism

5. Moyo Festival, West Nusa Tenggara 

Returning for its seventh edition from Sept. 10 to Oct. 8 in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, the Moyo Festival will feature a number of events, including a buffalo race, traditional art performances and a traditional horse race. It will also include tourism and cultural discussions, a Moyo Island tour, a canoe race, as well as a micro, small and medium enterprises exhibition.

6. Tabut Festival, Bengkulu 

To celebrate the Islamic New Year, a number of contests, carnival, bazaar and cultural rituals will enliven Tabut Festival, held on Sept. 10-20 in Bengkulu. 

7. Tanjung Lesung Festival, Banten 

The festival, held on Sept. 12-19,  will feature a triathlon covering Tanjung Lesung Beach in Banten, with toy windmills placed along the route. The Banten provincial administration will also present a culinary festival and the Seven Wonders of Banten exhibition. In the Cikadu Tourism Village, visitors can see and enjoy traditional handicrafts and dishes, and try paddle-boarding, kayaking and sailing on the beach. Damri buses are available from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang to Tanjung Lesung. 

8. Phinisi Festival, South Sulawesi 

Held in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, on Sept. 13-16, the annual festival will present a sailing race among Phinisi (schooner) boats and sailing boats, as well as the making, launching and ceremonies involved with the traditional boat. Aside from the race, there will also be a fishing contest, traditional dance performances and weaving demonstration. Phinisi, a particular Sulawesi rope system and sailing screen that have been around for 1,500 years, was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in December. The traditional ship was mainly built by the Bugis-Makassar ethnic group in South Sulawesi, who mostly reside in Bulukumba regency.

9. Riau Islands Maritime Festival, Riau Islands 

Tourism events, cultural performances and traditional games will be featured in the festival, held in Tanjung Pinang on Sept. 15-23. The islands will also welcome yachts from Singapore and Malaysia, and travelers will be entertained by daily art performances. A number of communities, such as the Pahang mountain hikers and a photography club from Kuala Lumpur, will be participating. In the culinary department, Riau Islands province will partner with the Indonesian Chef Association and Batam Tourism Polytechnic to present local cuisines for the duration of the festival.  

Bintan Island in Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands. (Shutterstock/Apri Putra)

10. Lake Limboto Festival, Gorontalo 

The Lake Limboto Festival on Sept. 21-23 will feature a conference on national lakes, tourism discussions, traditional games, culinary events, a traditional boat contest, pigeon race and a photography competition. 

11. Batanghari Festival, Jambi 

With events that include art performances, a bazaar, batik carnival, as well as dance, band and traditional cooking competitions, the festival will be held on Sept. 23 and feature several towns along Batanghari river, the longest in Sumatra. 

12. Internasional Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen, East Java

The bicycle race will start on Sept. 23 and end on the 26^th, with routes covering Banyuwangi town and Mount Ijen in East Java.

Read also: Eleven countries to participate at Solo International Performing Arts

13. Malang Old Town Festival, East Java

Visitors of the Malang Old Town Festival will be able to see art and music performances, as well as enjoy a coffee festival, photo and creative industry exhibitions and traditional dishes. The festival will take place in Lawang, which is home to a number of heritage buildings, on Sept. 27-29.  

14. Wonderful Indonesia Culinary and Shopping Festival, Jakarta 

Head to Kota Kasablanka mall in South Jakarta for a taste of the country’s diverse range of dishes and enjoy shopping discounts from Sept. 27 to Oct. 27. 

15. Ciletuh Geopark Festival, West Java 

Hundreds of artists are slated to participate, performing traditional arts that include pencak silat and wooden puppet theater. Boasting pristine beaches, waterfalls and islets, Ciletuh Geopark has been recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark and offers stunning views and exciting holiday experiences. On Sept. 28, visitors can witness art performances in the fourth installment of the festival in Pelabuhanratu, Sukabumi, West Java.

Awang waterfall in Ciletuh Geopark, West Java. (Shutterstock/Herdik Herlambang)

16. Palu Nomoni Festival, Central Sulawesi

Held on Sept. 28-30 in Nomoni Bay, the festival will feature various sporting events, including an international marathon, a swimming competition and a traditional boat race. In addition, there will be art performances that include traditional flute and drum shows and the traditional rituals of the Kaili tribe, such as the pompoura, which is carried out by stepping on live coal to repel illnesses. (wng)