DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - The Deli Serdang Regency Government is promoting local arts and culture to enhance the area's appeal to tourists while creating new economic opportunities for residents. Through the 2026 Berlabuh Festival, the local administration aims to showcase the region's multi-ethnic traditions, support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthen the role of cultural heritage in sustainable tourism development.
Deli Serdang Deputy Regent Lom Lom Suwondo SS outlined the initiative during a meeting with representatives of the Yayasan Duta Wisata Deli Serdang Foundation at the Deli Serdang Regent's Office on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The meeting focused on preparations for the festival, scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 October 2026 at Tengku Raja Muda Square in Lubuk Pakam.
Lom Lom said the diversity of artistic traditions among Deli Serdang's ethnic communities offered considerable potential to attract visitors. He stressed that performances should be presented creatively and professionally, allowing audiences to appreciate the region's cultural richness without compromising traditions passed down through generations.
"The artistic traditions of the Javanese, Malay, Karo and Simalungun communities have considerable potential. With the right artistic presentation, our local art forms can offer an engaging experience and reach a wider audience," Lom Lom said.
He added that a successful cultural festival should offer more than performances. Organisers also needed to encourage public participation and involve local businesses so that the event would deliver tangible benefits to the surrounding community.
Traditional Arts as a Tourism Attraction
Presenting traditional arts in engaging and contemporary ways can help introduce Deli Serdang's cultural diversity to a broader audience. Well-designed performances can communicate the region's identity to visitors while giving local artists opportunities to showcase their creativity and preserve their cultural heritage.
The traditions of the Javanese, Malay, Karo and Simalungun communities provide a strong foundation for a programme reflecting Deli Serdang's diverse society. Careful artistic direction can bridge the gap between inherited traditions and the expectations of modern audiences without changing the original character of these art forms.
Lom Lom also urged the organising team to strengthen coordination with relevant government departments and administrative units. Closer cooperation, he said, would support preparations, improve the quality of the event and help ensure that activities ran smoothly.
The regional administration hopes the festival will develop beyond an annual entertainment event and become a platform for promoting tourism and bringing together artists, cultural organisations, businesses and residents.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION OF MULTI-ETHNIC ARTS: Deli Serdang Deputy Regent Lom Lom Suwondo SS highlights the importance of presenting multi-ethnic art forms creatively and professionally while preserving their traditional values. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Local Businesses to Benefit from Festival Activities
Lom Lom emphasised the importance of giving local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sufficient opportunities to participate. Their involvement would allow business owners to showcase their products, expand their marketing networks and benefit economically from increased visitor numbers.
A strong turnout could boost trading activity around the festival venue. Organisers should therefore develop a concept that connects cultural experiences with products and services offered by the local community.
Nur Hardiyanto Pakpahan, a representative of the Yayasan Duta Wisata Deli Serdang Foundation, said the Berlabuh Festival had been held regularly since 2023. In 2026, it was selected as one of the 125 leading events in the national Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) programme, raising its profile and creating opportunities to reach a wider audience across Indonesia.
"The Berlabuh Festival in Deli Serdang was initiated by former members of the Duta Wisata programme. They wanted to provide artists and local cultural practitioners with a platform to introduce their work to a wider audience," Nur Hardiyanto Pakpahan said.
Now in its fourth year, the festival continues to bring artists and cultural practitioners together to showcase their work, share traditions and encourage greater public appreciation of the region's cultural diversity.
Its inclusion in the 2026 Karisma Event Nusantara selection also offers Deli Serdang an opportunity to strengthen its regional profile through an event with a distinct cultural identity. Support from the local administration, arts communities and businesses is expected to expand the festival's impact on both cultural development and the local economy.
A PLATFORM FOR LOCAL ARTISTS: Nur Hardiyanto Pakpahan of the Yayasan Duta Wisata Deli Serdang Foundation explains that the Berlabuh Festival has been selected as one of the 125 events featured in Karisma Event Nusantara 2026, providing local artists with a platform to introduce their cultural work to a wider audience. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Inclusive Festival with an Environmentally Friendly Approach
The 2026 Berlabuh Festival carries the theme "Preserving Traditions Through Inclusive and Sustainable Arts". Its programme will feature artistic performances, the museum initiative "Learn Together with a Master", visits to tourism villages, and activities highlighting local traditions such as Munjung.
These activities are designed to combine performances with direct cultural learning experiences. Museum programmes and visits to tourism villages will also allow visitors to gain a closer understanding of local traditions, community life and everyday practices.
Inclusion and accessibility are key priorities this year. Organisers are planning facilities for people with disabilities, including Indonesian Sign Language (Bahasa Isyarat Indonesia, or BISINDO) interpreters, to help more people participate in festival activities.
Environmental responsibility is another focus. The organisers intend to reduce the use of disposable decorations and replace them with recycled materials, reinforcing the festival's commitment to combining cultural preservation with more sustainable practices.
The festival is expected to attract up to 30,000 visitors, with 35 to 50 arts communities and dozens of volunteers also set to participate. These targets could broaden community involvement and encourage greater interaction among cultural practitioners, visitors and local businesses.
By bringing together traditional performances, support for local enterprises, accessible activities and environmentally conscious measures, the 2026 Berlabuh Festival aims to deliver benefits beyond cultural celebration. It has the potential to strengthen regional identity, increase Deli Serdang's appeal as a tourist destination and distribute economic opportunities more widely among residents.
The event at the end of October will also give Deli Serdang an opportunity to demonstrate how cultural diversity can serve as a foundation for inclusive and sustainable tourism. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala