Longboats this weekend, Loy Krathong next Wednesday
Pattaya officials are banking on a packed calendar of events to get high-season tourism off to a fast start.
Starting with this weekend’s Pattaya Longboat Races at Lake Mabprachan , a steady stream of festivals has been lined up, including Loy Krathong on Wednesday, Nov. 25, the International Fireworks Festival in Pattaya Bay Nov. 27 and 28, the “Walk & Eat Naklua” street market on weekends, and Pattaya Countdown for New Year’s.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon met with tourism officials to discuss details of the various events.
Naklua ‘Walking Street’
The annual Naklua “Walking Street” market will open Nov. 21 for weekends running through January 10.
Called “Naklua Walk & Eat 2015”, the Lan Po Public Park market will run from 5-10 p.m.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon chairs a meeting to prepare for the upcoming busy season festival season.
In its seventh year, the market will offer booths from various communities in the Pattaya area, selling many kinds of products, including local foods and fresh seafood.
Weekends will offer various contests and entertainment. Thai arts and cultural shows will be performed by youths from Pattaya city schools.
The concert lineup begins Nov. 21 with Dome Pakorn Lum. It continues with Eankwan Waranya (Nov. 28), Sam Na Jam Aud Na Man (Dec. 5), Aof Supanat (Dec. 12), Songkarn of The Voice TV show (Dec. 19), Ja R Siam (Dec. 26), Satien Tammua (Jan. 1), Nanfah Kalasin (Jan. 2), Ratchanok (Jan. 9), and Ying Lee Srijumpol (Jan. 10.)
Loy Krathong
Pattaya’s official Loy Krathong celebration will be held Nov. 25 at Lan Po Public Park, with both a krathong competition and the Miss Noppamas pageant for young girls ages 7-9. It also will feature concerts from Takkatan Chonlada and Alice R Siam.
The krathong competition will be divided into categories for primary and secondary school students and adults. Winners of each bracket will take home 10,000 baht. All krathongs must be made of natural materials.
Councilman Banjong Banthoonprayuk asked the public’s cooperation in ensuring only natural materials are used in krathongs floated in the sea and area lakes and ponds.
He lamented the garbage and pollution that litters beaches after the Loy Krathong celebrating is done, saying photos of the pollution appear every year on social media, damaging the city’s image.
Pattaya Countdown
This year’s Pattaya Countdown will have only two stages to reduce congestion, with setups at Bali Hai Pier and Lan Po Park.
Both stages will have concerts to celebrate the beginning of 2016. The lineup for each stage will be decided at a later date.
On New Year’s Eve, the Pattaya Countdown will begin at 4 p.m. and offer food, music, “kai rung” performances and a headline show by country singer Pai Pongsathorn.
