Once upon a time, Pattaya became famous as a resort for American soldiers taking part in the hostilities in Vietnam. Since then, a lot of water has flowed into the South China Sea, and Thai beaches have become favorite among peaceful vacationers from all over the world. In addition to the sea and the sun, the guests of the resort are also interested in the holidays of Pattaya - bright, noisy and exotic, they open up new facets of the country of smiles and the character of its inhabitants.
Let's take a look at the calendar
It is customary to celebrate both European and Asian holidays in the city, which makes the calendar of Pattaya events especially varied and colorful:
- New Year begins here on January 1, as elsewhere on the planet, but the residents of Pattaya await the New Year celebrations with special trepidation, coming in accordance with their own calendar. This event takes place in April and is called Songkran.
- The Land of Smiles has its own Children's Day, which is celebrated on the second Saturday of January. Guests will enjoy charity concerts, theatrical performances and street fairs, and the funds raised are transferred to children's funds.
- Special, Thai holidays in Pattaya - Elephant Day and Muay Thai Day. And if anyone can get acquainted with the elephants here, then it is not always possible to get to the Muay Thai competition. The best athletes and their mentors take part in the festive shows and traditionally they are attended by a large number of guests.
- In May, the city celebrates First Furrow Day, symbolizing the onset of a new agricultural season, and in June, Pattaya residents invite everyone to the pineapple festival.
Festival program
The bulk of the holidays in Pattaya are held in the form of festivals. Colorful events in honor of an important date take several days, each of which is filled with its own concerts, performances and events.
The Flower Festival starts on the first Friday of February. For three days, experienced gardeners and florists demonstrate to the amazed audience real masterpieces - luxurious bouquets, grandiose paintings and even sculptural compositions of fragile and fragrant orchids, chrysanthemums, lilies, roses and orchids. The birthplace of the holiday and the main place of its holding is the city of Chiang Mai in the north of the country, but Pattaya also celebrates the holiday so beloved by all Thais.
Owls, fish, butterflies and even human faces soaring in the sky at the beginning of March is a kite festival attended by hundreds of craftsmen and athletes from around the world. Bonus - exhibitions of national souvenirs and a special menu in restaurants, which is dominated by seafood dishes prepared according to old Thai recipes.
Royal dates
Together with the whole country, Pattaya celebrates the holidays associated with the royal dynasty. Chief among them are Mother's Day in honor of the Queen's birth (August 12), King Rama IX's birthday (December 5) and the coronation of the current monarch on May 5, 1950. These dates are announced as days off, and the main events - parades and concerts - are distinguished by a special, royal scale.
