There are Barongsai, Barongan, and Geguritan performances present. But this is not an ordinary festival.

Rembang – Rhythmically moving Barongsai lion dance and leang-leong dragon dance, the traditional four-headed Barongan Ndas Papat performance, Unen-Unen Rengel, and Javanese poetic recitals all appeared at the Unen-Unen Festival held in Rembang, Central Java.

This diverse collection of traditional arts forms part of efforts to bring local culture closer to Young Generation. Beyond just stage shows, the festival also ran educational activities for children, allowing them to learn about local culture through direct first-hand experience.

The Unen-Unen Festival was hosted by the Rembang Regency Department of Culture and Tourism (Dinbudpar) at the Vice Regent's Official Residence on Saturday evening, 26 September 2026.

The name “Unen-Unen” was selected intentionally to spark public curiosity about the festival contents. Visitors could witness a full range of artistic expressions, from visually striking live performances to art forms built around Music and literary language.

Barongsai and leang-leong stood out as major audience draws. Barongsai features a lion figure operated by a coordinated group of performers, while leang-leong is an elaborate dragon figure manoeuvred by multiple dancers using long poles.

Both carry strong visual appeal that can be enjoyed across all age groups, including children and Young Generation attendees.

In contrast, Barongan Ndas Papat delivers a far more theatrical performance style. The name “ndas papat” directly refers to the four barongan creature heads that form the iconic visual trademark of this folk art.

Meanwhile Unen-Unen Rengel centres traditional Music elements. Originating from Rengel, Tuban, this art form demonstrates How traditional musical instruments and folk expression can be adapted into modern stage presentations.

On the literary side, geguritan showcased the depth of Javanese spoken poetry. These rhythmic Javanese poetic pieces provide poets a medium to convey ideas, personal experiences and emotion through lyrical, evocative language.

This breadth of offerings means the Unen-Unen Festival functions as far more than just a performance stage. It becomes a shared space for all the different ways communities express culture: through movement, masks, sound, and words.

Young Generation As A Core Focus

Involving young people was placed as one of the festival's central priorities. Around 100 elementary school students took part in an educational traditional art colouring workshop.

Participants came from both public and private schools, including educational institutions operating under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Acting Head of Rembang Dinbudpar Isti Choma Wati explained that involving school students forms part of targeted efforts to accelerate regeneration of traditional artists across the region.

“We are reaching out and welcoming everyone to speed up this regeneration process. We previously ran activities for 100 junior high school students, and today we have 100 elementary pupils joining,” Isti stated in Rembang on Sunday 27 September 2026, as quoted by ANTARA.

Similar outreach was previously conducted through the Rembangan Festival, which engaged around 100 junior high school students. At that event, pupils received hands-on training to craft straw shadow puppets alongside watching traditional arts performances.

This approach demonstrates that cultural regeneration does not only mean preserving existing shows: it requires introducing these arts to children from their early school years.

From Folk Arts To Local Coffee Lelet

Cultural Experience at the Unen-Unen Festival extended well beyond the performance stage.

Local identity was also presented through food and drinks provided for visitors, including roasted ground nuts, steamed cassava, and the signature regional Coffee lelet.

For young people, this immersive full experience provides an accessible way to connect with local culture. They can watch performances, join creative activities, and also taste the everyday food and drinks that are part of ordinary local community life.

This also creates unique appeal for visiting tourists.

Travelling to Rembang becomes more than just visiting a geographic location: it becomes an opportunity to understand local arts, traditions, cuisine and the daily lived culture of the community.

In this context, the Unen-Unen Festival operates as an integrated Cultural Tourism experience. Performing arts, creative workshops and local cuisine are brought together in one space, allowing the public, especially young people, to interact directly with living heritage.

Ultimately, introducing culture to younger generations cannot be achieved by simply asking them to preserve traditions.

They must be given the chance to see, hear, participate, and experience that culture for themselves.

The Unen-Unen Festival stands as one working example of how heritage can be presented in ways that resonate with modern generations — while also creating space for Rembang Culture to remain alive and relevant for coming generations.