More Exciting happenings at Donggongon Night Market

19 May 2025

PENAMPANG: To make the Donggongon Night Market even more vibrant and enticing, a variety of additional activities have been introduced. These enhancements aim to attract more visitors and create a lively, unforgettable atmosphere.

According to Deputy President Stephen Sampil, the event’s chairman and also the Vice President of the Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (KCCI), the night market, which has only recently begun, has already received an overwhelmingly positive response from the local community and visitors alike. The enthusiastic turnout has inspired organisers to expand the offerings and ensure the market remains a popular destination.

He emphasised the importance of diversifying activities to encourage repeat visits and sustain the market’s vitality. To this end, there will be exciting lucky draws for both visitors and vendors, designed to keep the crowd engaged and eager to return. Shoppers will also have the chance to be among three lucky winners each week through a special lucky dip, adding an element of surprise and fun to their evening.

“We have introduced a range of exciting competitions for our vendors, which we believe will naturally attract more visitors. Supporters and family members are bound to come along to cheer them on, especially as many vendors actively promote their stalls via social media platforms such as TikTok. This will help generate buzz and draw more crowds to the market.”

“Additionally, we have organised lucky draws for visitors. Guests are encouraged to register their names, and in return, they will have the chance to win mystery prizes. Each week, three lucky visitors will be selected at random, adding an element of anticipation and excitement to their evening.”

“To further enliven the market, we are launching a karaoke segment where visitors can showcase their talents. Each week, three winners will be chosen, and after six weekly rounds, the top performers will compete in a grand finale.”

This competition aims to foster community participation and entertainment, Stephen said adding that . they actually featured country music weekly, but due to numerous requests for Karaoke, he plan to alternate between live band performances and karaoke sessions. Both forms of entertainment have strong support, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone enjoys their time at the market.

“We are also considering inviting buskers to perform,” Stephen mentioned as part of his vision to make the night market livelier and engaging. These additional activities are designed to generate greater interest, encourage repeat visits, and create a vibrant, dynamic atmosphere.

“Furthermore, we plan to keep enhancing the night market with delightful features such as mascots, free gifts, and other entertainment to keep visitors coming back. These initiatives aim to transform Dongonggon Night Market into a bustling centre of entertainment, culture, and community spirit, an unmissable event on the local calendar that will continue to grow and thrive.”

Regarding the recent visits from participants of the beauty pageant during the Penampang Harvest Festival, Stephen expressed his admiration for their keen interest in the market. They showed genuine enthusiasm for the products displayed and inquired about how to obtain them.

He hopes that many of these young people might consider starting their own businesses after school, believing that entrepreneurship offers a more promising future than seeking employment, especially given the challenges of securing government jobs nowadays.

He emphasised that the primary goal of the Dongonggon Night Market is to revitalise the local economy and provide entrepreneurs with a platform to earn some income. At the same time, it aims to offer engaging activities that appeal to the community, visitors, and guests alike.

Stephen is confident that with sufficient activity and community support, the night market can flourish and become a sustainable, lively hub of activity for years to come.