Manila, Philippines – Some places appeal best to travelers at certain times of the year. Some destinations, however, never run out of attractions whatever the time or season of the year it is. In Thailand, for instance, there’s always a time and place where you can immerse yourself in a fusion of sights, sounds, and experiences. And where else can you best experience these feasts for the senses aside from Thai festivals?
Whether you’re headed for a summer adventure or a year-end retreat, there’s a festival in any corner where you can experience the best of Thailand’s people, culture, and way life. Festivals combine the best of Thailand’s arts, music, cuisine, hospitality, and other aspects of everyday life to give each traveler a full experience of the ‘Land of Smiles.’
If you plan to visit, Thailand this year, here are five must-experience festivals that will offer you a glimpse of the Southeast Asian kingdom’s long history and vibrant culture:
Pattaya International Music Festival (March 14-16, 2019)
When this international music festival starts swinging, pop, rock, hip-hop and R’n'B artists from Thailand and around the world perform for celebrating crowds at the stretch of the Pattaya beach road. If you’re headed to Thailand to party with friends from sundown to midnight, you might as well be in one of the world’s largest beach festivals.
Songkran Festival (April 13-15, 2019)
The Songkran Festival marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year, where people all over Thailand engage in the ultimate water fight. If you’re taking part in the Songkran Festival, you can expect to stay drenched for three days, so you better be armed with a bucket or a water pistol. Among the best places for Songkran celebrations are Bangkok’s Khao San Road, Chiang Mai, and Ayutthaya.
Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival (July)
This festival commemorates a Buddhist event called Asahna Bucha, when Buddha delivered his first sermon. Held at the beginning of the Buddhist lent called Khao Pansa, the festival puts the spotlight on the work of local artisans: elaborate candles, wax carvings, and decorated floats. For art and history junkies, the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival is one that cannot be missed.
Loy Krathong (November 13, 2019)
Known as the Thai Festival of Lights, the Loy Krathong Festival is held during the first full moon of the traditional Thai Lunar calendar’s 12th month. At this festival, you can join the crowd in letting lotus-shaped, candlelit containers float down the river, relish the visual spectacle that follows, and share an unforgettable memory with loved ones. One of the best places to celebrate Loy Krathong is Chiang Mai, where it coincides with the lantern festival called Yee Peng.
Wonderfruit Music and Arts Festival (December 12-16, 2019)
An annual arts, music, and lifestyle festival that made its debut in 2014, Wonderfruit brings together the arts, eco-living, and music at The Fields at Siam Country Club in Pattaya. During the four-day long festival, you can watch musical acts, visit art installations, attend wellness activities, and feast on local cuisine by renowned chefs. If you’re looking for a year-end trip worth remembering, this might be the festival for you to attend.
While these festivals can be your top choices for a Thai getaway this year, there are still a lot more choice of months and places to go to. Whether you’re on a solo trip, an adventure with friends, or a family holiday, there’s a festival to provide the setting for your #THAIMazing story.
Formally introducing these festivals to the Philippine market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand gathered selected print and online media at the PTAA Travel Tour Expo. With TV host – Robi Domingo, on hand, attendees were given a taste of what’s instore during their next Thailand adventure.
To know more about Thailand and its events, visit www.tourismthailand.org, or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TATPhilippines.
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