The Sago Festival is primarily celebrated, annually, in Kuala Penyu, approximately 2 hours drive from Sabah's capital city Kota Kinabalu. Rumbia or sago comes from the family of palmae. It is mostly found in Kuala Penyu and the surrounding districts of Beaufort and Papar. The starch or sago that is rich in carbohydrate is an alternative staple food for the Bisayas and Kadazan (Dusun Tatana) people and is locally known as "ambuyut"
Sago Palm is also known as "the tree of a thousand uses". The purpose of this festival is to educate the public the traditional uses of Sago Palm, especially for handicraft, housing, food and medicine. You will see demonstration on sago processing and its rich range of products. No part of the sago palm is discarded. The locals use the leaves as roofing materials and the branches (known locally as kumbar) for making their house's walls. Floor mats and baskets are just some examples of things made entirely from the plant. A rumbia information center is located at Kampung Kasugira in Kuala Penyu and it also provides displays of sago and its many uses, handicrafts as well as demonstrations of sago delicacies.
Pesta Rumbia highlights the many attractions of the district as well as the traditional usage of sago palm. The two days event highlight will be the crowning of new Sago Palm Fest beauty queen. Rumbia or scientifically known as matroxylon sagus or metroxylon rumphii comes from the family of palmae. It is mostly found in Kuala Penyu and the surrounding districts of Beaufort and Papar and is locally known as "ambuyut". Many events will be held during this festival such as exhibitions, sago buffets, Beauty Queen Pageants, cultural performance, beautiful beaches, tasting local fruits and many more.