Tenggarong in Kutai regency, East Kalimantan, played host to Erau Kutai Cultural and International Folk Art Festival (Erau Festival) on June 15-22 as part of its sultanate's annual traditional ceremony.
In the past, the festival was held to celebrate the coronation of the Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura Sultanate as well as rewarding its people for their support for the king. The word “erau” derives from “eroh” which means “joyful" or "merry”.

Between the 1970s and 2004, the festival was later held to commemorate the anniversary of Tenggarong city, which falls on Sept. 28. But since 2009, it was held mid-year to catch the holiday season's crowd and has since started to spread its wings, becoming an international folklore festival in the hope of attracting more attention.

“We want Erau Festival to become an international event and attract global media attention as well as tourists to learn more about Indonesia," Kutai Regency Cultural and Tourism Department head Sri Wahyuni told The Jakarta Post Travel during the event on June 21.

She added that since last year, the event had been accredited by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals (CIOFF), an official partner of UNESCO, and this year has successfully attracted up to 11 countries to participate, including Latvia, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Russia.

Other than a merry cultural parade to open the event, Erau Festival's other highlights include a traditional Kutai ceremony called “Mendirikan Ayu” (Constructing Ayu) that symbolized the beginning of the event; street art performances from all participating countries; a traditional Kutai sport and dance competition; a culinary festival; a craft expo; a dragon boat competition and interesting cultural ceremonies performed by the Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura Sultanate.

The seven-day festival was closed on June 22 with a ceremony called “Mengulur Naga” (Unfurling the Dragon) and “Belimbur”, which successfully attracted hundreds of spectators who joyfully joined in the celebrations.

How to get there
Make your way to Sultan Aji Muhamad Sulaiman Airport, formerly named Sepinggan Airport, in Balikpapan in East Kalimantan and hire a car (referred to as taxis by the local residents) to reach Tenggarong, which takes around a three-hour journey with starting price of Rp 300,000 (US$24.76) per ride. These taxi drivers can be found at the exit to the airport's arrival hall.

Where to stay
There are several choices of good hotels in Tenggarong such as the Grand Fatma Hotel on Jl. Pesut, which offers a rate per room starting from Rp 693,000.
For more accommodation options, you can also opt to spend the night in the capital of East Kalimantan, Samarinda, which is around 40-minute drive from Tenggarong. Staying in Samarinda means you can also catch a ferry to commute via the river.

How to get around
Since Tenggarong's public transportation is rather poor, it is more advisable to rent a car to explore the city. Renting a car with driver plus gas is around Rp 600,000 per day - but make sure you haggle when deciding a price.

source : here