Semarang's 479th Anniversary: City Government Prepares 17 Gifts for Residents
Semarang is approaching its 479th anniversary on 2 May 2026, marking a milestone of maturity in its long journey of development and a reflection on the history traversed by the capital of Central Java. As an expression of gratitude for the city’s long journey, the Semarang City Government is presenting 17 gifts to the residents as a symbol of the 479th anniversary celebration, which goes beyond mere ceremony to focus on direct benefits for the community.
Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng stated that the theme for the 479th anniversary commemoration is ‘Semarang Moves, Semarang Grows Stronger’. This theme reflects the collective spirit to accelerate development in various sectors while inviting all elements of society to move together to bring about positive change for Semarang.
“The theme ‘Semarang Moves, Semarang Grows Stronger’ is a reflection of the collective movement between the government and the community. This spirit integrates traditional roots with modern transformation to create collective energy that is inclusive, while encouraging Semarang to grow into a clean, healthy, smart, prosperous, and resilient city at the age of 479,” said Agustina on Saturday, 11 April 2026.
She emphasised that the 479th anniversary belongs entirely to the community. Therefore, the City Government has prepared 17 unique gifts as a tangible form of the government’s presence in addressing community needs.
“The 479th anniversary belongs to all residents. Various Great Gifts are presented as an optimisation of public services brought closer to the community. It is a collective offering to ensure this momentum strengthens the economy and social aspects for residents,” Agustina remarked.
The 17 gifts target various resident needs, from public facilities and health services to economic empowerment and environmental initiatives. In the public facilities sector, residents will have free access to sports venues such as the Tri Lomba Juang Building, Tambora Field, Manunggal Jati Sports Hall, and the Gunung Talang Pencak Silat Training Centre.
A 50 percent discount will also be offered for the Sidodadi Football Field on 2 May 2026. On the same day, the first passengers at Simpang Lima Shelter and Cangkiran Terminal will receive milk and bread. For mobility, the BRT Trans Semarang service will be free across all corridors from 1 to 5 May 2026. Parking fees will also be discounted to Rp479 for QRIS users.
In the basic services sector, the Semarang City Government is providing a Rp550,000 discount on clean water connections per household with a minimum of 10 households. Free water tanker services will also be available for disasters, droughts, and religious activities throughout 2026. A 10 percent discount applies to septic tank cleaning services with limited quotas.
In the tourism sector, all tourist attractions in Semarang will be free on 2 May 2026. The ‘LAMPION’ programme will also be introduced to simplify licensing on 5 May 2026, accompanied by discounts on laboratory services and property tax payments.
In the health sector, assistance will be provided for high-risk pregnant women and low birth weight infants in three priority sub-districts from 5 to 7 May 2026. Additionally, free health screenings will be available at 40 community health centres.
The City Government is also implementing the Jempol Pak Kuat programme, which includes doorstep licensing services for PSAT, free packaging facilities, and hazardous material testing at several locations until the end of May 2026. Other gifts include exchanging used bottles for plant seedlings or eco-friendly products, a Job Fair on 6-7 May 2026, and administrative services such as recording student e-ID cards, birth certificates, and e-ID cards for people with disabilities.
Agustina hopes that these various gifts will allow the community to share in the joy of Semarang’s 479th anniversary, while creating memorable experiences for residents.