GEORGE TOWN, April 6 -- The Chingay Parade in Penang used to draw thousands of people, all crammed by the roadsides, craning their necks as they watch the acrobatic feats of the Chingay performers easily balancing and throwing 10-metre-high flags to each other.

The Penang Chingay Parade that meandered through the streets of George Town, starting from Padang Brown in Datuk Keramat and ending at the Esplanade, was often a main draw among locals and visitors as it does not only feature the acrobatic performances with the giant flags, but also other performances such as performers on stilts and unicycles, lion dances, dragon dances, silamban, silat and boria.

However, in recent years, interest in the parade has waned, leaving mostly visitor...