Hooray! The Floral Festival has begun! This is among the first events scheduled in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007. Visitors can immerse themselves in colourful festivities and events planned 20th Jan to 4 Feb. Here's the details:

Florathon [ 20 Jan ]
The pre-launch event of the Malaysia Flora Fest, Florathon is held on 20 January 2007. This is a brisk 2km walk from Dataran Merdeka to KL Lake Gardens. Merit is given to flower-power and not speed, so come dressed in your best floral tags and walk away with fabulous prizes.

Flora Hunt 2007 [ 21 Jan ]
An action-packed event, Flora Hunt 2007 organized by Tourism Malaysia Recreational Club is on Sunday, 21 January 2007. The flag-off will be at 8 am at Persiaran Perdana, Putrajaya. The hunt will take participants around Putrajaya, Klang Valley and Selangor. During the hunt, each team is required to answer a series of questions to find the “treasure�. Flora Hunt offers cash prizes of RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000 for the top three winners. Fourth to the tenth winners will get RM500, while 11th to 30th winners will receive hampers. There will also be lucky draws for flight tickets, hotel accommodations, hi-tea vouchers and electrical items.

Photography Competition & Exhibition [ 21 Jan - 4 Feb ]
Show off your creative eye and win some great prizes! It's really simple. Just snap a picture of anything associated with Malaysia’s flora. And all pictures must be related in some way to this year's theme, which is ‘Colours of Harmony’. All winning entries will be displayed from 21 January to 4 February, at the Exhibition Hall Perbadanan Putrajaya. So hurry! Get your cameras ready and win great prizes with your images of beautiful Malaysia.

Floral Parade, Putrajaya [ 27 Jan ]
The Floral Parade held in Putrajaya on 27 January 2007, is the highlight of the Malaysia Flora Fest 2007. This spectacular event showcases floats decorated with bright, colourful and fragrant flowers. The Floral Parade juries will select six floats and award them with individual recognitions based on the best original design, concept, construction, animation, flower display and of course, the float display that is best in line with this year’s theme, ‘Colours of Harmony.’ Apart from the grand display of flora, marching bands from schools, government agencies and other organizations will also be on parade to add grandeur to the event. The decorated floats will then be on display for three days (27 - 29 January 2007) at an air-conditioned tent in Persiaran Perdana (Boulevard) Putrajaya.

Floral Bazaar [ 27 Jan - 1 Feb ]
Open to the public from 27 January to 1 February 2007, this bazaar held at Persiaran Perdana (Boulevard) Putrajaya, offers a wide variety of Malaysian Flowers and plants. Choose from a large selection of fresh and artificial flowers. This bazaar is a one-stop venue where flower lovers, floriculturists and hobbyists can see, purchase and learn more about local blooms and rare flowers.

Shopping Complex & Hotel Lobby Floral Decoration Competition [ 27 Jan - 4 Feb ]
From 27 January to 4 February 2007, participating shopping complexes and hotels will complete to outdo each other with floral display to be recognised as the best decorated complex foyer or hotel lobby. For one week, these lobby and concourse areas will be transformed into a paradise of flowers.

Workshop on Potpourri Making, Flower Arrangement, Planting & Care of Plants [ 1 - 2 Feb ]
This 2 day workshop from 1 to 2 February 2007 in Putrajaya is where you can learn how to make potpourri, as well as the art of flower arrangement. You can also pick up tips and techniques on planting and caring for your plants.

For more information, head on to Tourism Malaysia and get participated in all events
by filling the supplied forms. Enjoy!