Pattaya Carnival 1997

Pattaya Carnival 1997 will take place
from January 4 - 11.

Forget about Rio! Forget about Venice! Save the cost of an expensive air ticket, because the always exciting Pattaya Carnival returns this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya City, and private businesses have organised an impressive itinerary for Pattaya Carnival 1997, which will run from the 4th - 11th of January.
The grand week of celebrations will kick off with the first Carnival Costume Ball at the Grand Ballroom of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. To make sure that it will be a fun-filled night, party goers are asked to put on their best costumes and masquerades. There is no theme, anything crazy goes, and the crazier the better.
The Carnival Ball starts at 9:00 p.m. and singing and dancing will go on far into the early hours of the morning. The 45 member authentic carnival band “Aemme Rugger” from Switzerland, dressed in original carnival costumes, will entertain guests with their own brand of clean and crazy Swiss fun. The Royal Thai Navy Band and the Valentine Band will also join in to assist in making this an action packed affair.
There will be a contest at 1:00 a.m. to judge the best costumes, with fabulous prizes for the most beautiful and original. And since Christmas and New Year will be over with, and hopefully the hangovers as well, there will plenty of opportunity for contestants to plan and design what they are going to show off on this special event. Let your fantasies fly and forget your problems and businesses for a while.
Entrance tickets are available at the guest relations desk of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort at Baht 300,— including Carnival Punch.
Most of the rest of the activities of this much anticipated Pattaya Carnival event will take place on Beach Road between Sois 2 - 6, and will once again be full of entertainment fun for everyone! Organisers have set up a full itinerary of cultural performances from professional groups around the world, including; performances by bands from Switzerland and Germany, totalling 120 musicians, all dressed in costumes representing their homelands. Well-known Thai bands will also keep the evenings lively with their own brand of enjoyable music, and the best Thai cultural performers will enthral audiences with traditional demonstrations in Ankaloong, sword-fighting, and swords and clubs (believe it or not, called Kabong in the Thai language). There will also be ancient ritual pre-boxing dances and illusionists.
During the week, a transvestite beauty contest and a “Miss Beer Bar” beauty contest will be held to add local flavour.
Delicious food will be served at nearly every open spot, and plenty of cool beer will be on tap for thirsty revellers. Many local shops will also be displaying their various products.
The grand finale, and for many the highlight of the carnival, will be a parade on the 11th of January with more than 30 floats. This will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the curve near the Dusit Resort Hotel, and will extend to the pier in South Pattaya.
The parade will be followed by a fireworks display to honour His Majesty the King’s Golden Jubilee. All the while, more than 20 boats, fully decorated with lights, will brighten the bay.
More details may be obtained by calling or visiting the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya Office. Tel. 428-750, 429-113, or 427-667.