The Kelao enjoy drama, music, and the arts. Oriental music has quite a unique sound because five, rather than eight, musical tones are used. The Kelao enjoy playing these, as well as other local folk instruments. Their folk literature, like their music, also has a cultural flavor all its own. Their services are heavily relied upon during times of illness, death, or family crisis.
Shamans also have important roles during community festivals, which take place several times a year.
In the sixth month, the Kelao offer wine and chickens to the spirits, in hopes that they will bless the rice crop. In the seventh month, the whole village joins to worship their ancestors by offering ritual sacrifices of oxen, sheep, and pigs. Funeral practices include playing music, dancing, and offering animal sacrifices. The grave is then marked with a tree rather than a gravestone. Christianity is strictly forbidden by the government, so there are no Christian radio or television broadcasts in the area.