Penang gears up to welcome 2017

GEORGE TOWN: Those ushering in the new year this weekend in Penang will be spoiled for choice as many popular attractions are gearing up to welcome 2017 with a bang.

For starters, revelers can enjoy a night-time laser show at The Top @ Komtar where lasers will be projected unto the building, the first time such a show will be projected unto the iconic tower.

Visitors to one of the latest attractions in the state can also enjoy the theme park there which will be open until 1am.

Nature lovers meanwhile can enjoy the last day of 2016 by visiting Penang Hill where ecotourism site The Habitat will be having a sneak peek of their Tree Top Walk.

The site is open from 9.30am until 6pm on Dec 31 and visitors will be treated to a breathtaking view of Penang and the mainland amid lush greenery.

Malls are also popular with those wanting to welcome the new year where local songstress Dayang Nurfaizah will wow revelers with her songs at Gurney Paragon Mall.

Queensbay Mall and Kompleks Bukit Jambul (KBJ) will be ushering 2017 with a bang by having a fireworks display, live band performances and a DJ to spin in the new year with songs.

Straits Quay, the first seafront retail marina in Penang, will end the year with a LED performance while the crowd will be entertained with the Wild Fire Band and Russian entertainers Delirium.

Those in SEBERANG PERAI are also in for a blast as hybrid automotive and entertainment hot spot Auto-City has lined up several performances to usher in 2017.

Auto-City Event & Marketing manager Tengku Maziatul Shima at Auto-City Juru said the highlight will be a fireworks display at the stroke of midnight and some 100,000 people are expected to attend.

Sunway Carnival Mall at Seberang Jaya is also welcoming the new year in style where Hong Kong artist Ruco Chan will headline the four hour bash starting at 8pm while MY FM DJ Jym spins the beats.

Those wishing for a quiet place to countdown the final minutes of the year will also not be left out as the various beaches and open spaces in Penang are also popular.

Among these are the beaches in Batu Ferringhi and the fishermen pier at Teluk Bahang on the island while those on the mainland head to the beaches near the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) and Pantai Bersih.