Festivals of Pattaya
By Crystal Wilde
The Pattaya International Music Festival
Festivals are celebrated with great heart and vigour in Thailand and Pattaya is no exception. Whether it is nationally celebrated festivals or those exclusive to Pattaya, you can throw water, race buffalos and dance to the funky music. It seems there is always something to celebrate here, so here is our pick of the best.
Usually held in March, the Pattaya International Music Festival offers a refreshing change from the traditional Thai festivals. All genres and tastes are catered for here, from Thai music, to world music, to pumping house and techno. Critically acclaimed musicians come from all over for this three-day event and DJs fill the bars, streets and beaches with beats of all variety.
This event probably attracts the largest and youngest crowd of all the Pattaya festivals, so the town does tend to get particularly packed and lively. Much of the accommodation also gets booked up at least a month in advance as many veteran festival-goers return year after year. Make sure you make arrangements early if you fancy this one.
Pattaya’s most self-indulgent festival is the week-longPattaya Festival, held at the beginning of April, where the lively resort simply celebrates itself. For those easily swayed by pretty ladies, there is a Miss Pattaya beauty contest to enjoy, among other treats such as a sandcastle contest.
Unlike most of the other Thai festivals that focus on tradition and authentic Thai culture, the Pattaya Festival is more about promoting the town as a premier tourist resort and pandering to the cosmopolitan whims and wants of international tourists. Parties rock Pattaya every night of the week and there are many concerts and firework shows held on the beach.
One of the most famous of all the Thai festivals is Songkran, which is held nationally in April as the heat intensifies across the country. This celebration marks the start of the Thai New Year, with festivities held on the 13th, 14th and 15th in the central areas, and the 17th, 18th and 19th towards the outskirts.
The latter period is known as ‘Wan Lai’, which translates to mean ‘Flowing Day’, and this is what you will find in Pattaya. The bulk of the celebration is made up by the throwing water at anyone and everyone who happens to be in the street. Not even the police are safe, although it is best not to go too overboard where they’re concerned.
Racing buffalos is an important tradition in Pattaya
Whether you like it or not, if you leave the shelter of your accommodation you will be partaking, so it is best to arm yourself with as many buckets of icy water as you can and get stuck in. Buckets can be bought and thrown from the open-backed trucks that roam the town’s streets.
There is a serious side to this festival, however, as the start of the New Year is all about earning yourself merits for the months to come. You can do this by way of alms-offering to monks or by buying tiny captured birds and releasing them back into the skies. Sand pagoda making and ceremonial water pouring are also very sober activities.
Later on, in the first weekend of May, the sixth Thai lunar month is celebrated. This is a long-standing tradition, known as Ngan Bun Klag Ban, which has been passed on by the Phanat Nikhom people. Food is offered to the local monks to increase merits and ward off the enemies of former lives. It also serves as a means by which to ask for rain, good crops and an abundance of food for the coming season.
After the end of the religious ceremonies, locals take part in games and lunching while demonstrations of traditional Phanat Nikhom basket-making is put on for the tourists. Another favourite is the Chonburi Buffalo Race, which takes place every October. Buffalos are a man’s best friend out here as they are commonly regarded as the most useful animals for Thai farmers.
But in this long-established event, the buffalos get to pack in the hard work and have a bit of fun for a change as they dress outrageously while dragging their loving owners through the town at amazing speeds. As a cross between a sporting event and a fashion contest, this festival has something for everyone. It is also celebrated in both the Non Yai and Ban Bueng districts.
Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated nationally and is, without doubt, the most breathtaking of them all. The time of festivities depend on the inconstant moon, but usually take place in November. When darkness falls on the three-day festival, Pattaya’s skies are filled with beautiful white paper lanterns, which float gently up, powered by a single candle.
These little hot air balloons are thought to take away the year’s bad deeds, leaving you with a nice clean slate to start afresh from. As well as the sky in Pattaya, the sea here is also filled with little lights, as banana leaf floats known as Krathongs are sent out to sea adorned with flowers, incense sticks a coin and a candle. The first bad deed on the slate is no doubt littering, but this festival is so beautiful it’s difficult to care about the consequences.
The Pattaya Gay festival technically runs all the way from February to December, although most events are held in November. The grand final event takes place on December 1st to coincide with Wold AIDS Day, and since its founding in 2001, the festival has raised almost 30 million baht for HIV and AIDS related charities.
A funky street part kicks off the celebrations in February, where it’s pretty much compulsory to camp it up at least a little bit. There is then usually at least one party every month raising money for the festival and its causes, although these come in many forms.
There are posh dinners at different swanky restaurants, competitions, beach parties, sporting activities and entertainment evenings. The finishing event is a large and colourful float parade which swings through Pattaya’s streets on December 1st.
Fore more on Pattaya Festivals.
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