MALACCA, MALAYSIA: Kicking off the festivities will be the World Heritage City Declaration ceremony at the historical Stadhuys on Friday night.

An exhibition of the 600-year-old city opens at the Malacca State Art Gallery on the same day.

Prayers will be recited at the Kampung Keling Mosque, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple and St Xavier's Church on Aug. 7.

A fun week of cultural carnival involving the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Baba, Chetty and the Portuguese, organised by the Malacca Town Council will be held at Jalan Kota from Aug 9 to 17. There will be traditional dances and ethnic music, traditional food, handcraft, wedding ceremonies and folklore games.

A Malacca Heritage Treasure Hunt, participated by the undergraduates of the institutions of higher learning in Malacca and tourists, will be held in the Jonker Street and Stadhuys area on Aug 9.

Food lovers can get a taste of local culinary delights at the Malacca heritage food cooking competition in Jalan Kota on Aug 9 and 10.

Chairman of the State Tourism, Cultural and Heritage committee Seet Har Cheow said the month's activities would give everyone a truly memorable experience.