The Songkran Festival, which kicks off on Thursday, is where boisterous fun and ancient traditions go hand in hand.
For tourists, the event offers a chance to enjoy a huge celebration where water parties break out in the streets of Thailand’s towns and villages. For locals it is a time when they can spend precious time with families and visit the temples to observe ancient rites and make merit.
In Bangkok, Benjasiri Park (BTS: Phrom Phong, exit 6) is hosting “Songkran Splendours: Amazing Songkran 2017” until Thursday (April 13) and offers visitors the chance to experience local traditions, culture and cuisine.
The Songkran events at Wat Arun and New Arun Amarin Road (BTS: Saphan Taksin, exit 2 and Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tien Pier) continue through Sunday (April 16). Experience the most moving and ancient aspects of the festival by helping the bathe some of the city’s most sacred Buddha images. This way of making merit is believed to ensure good luck for the New Year. For more information, contact Phra Nakhorn District Office (02) 628 9068.
At Suan Santi Chaiprakarn Park (BTS: Saphan Taksin Station, exit 2, and Chao Phraya Express Boat toPhra Arthit Pier), until Thursday, visitors can pay respect to the renowned “Phutta Bang Lumpooprachanath” Buddha image from Bowonniwet Vihara Temple. For more information, contact Phra Nakhorn District Office (02) 628 9068.
Show DC Oasis Arena (https://www.showdc.co.th), hosts the “S2O Songkran Music Festival 2017” from Thursday to Saturday (April 13-15) with concerts by South Korean superstars, hot music from cool DJs, and a 360-degree fountain that shoots water into the crowd. A 3-day pass ticket is Bt3,200 and is available at www.S2OFestival.com.
“Songkran – Pha Khao Ma Yok Siam” takes place at Siam Square (BTS: Siam) from Thursday to Saturday with some of the popular shopping space freed up to allow the city’s young people to enjoy all the fun and joy of Songkran. There’s free music, great food and plenty of water splashing for three days. For more information, visit Facebook.com/Songkransiam.
Superflow City Beach Club on Khao San Road goes totally wild from Thursday to Saturday with a fun “Wild & Wet” Songkran Festival. This club perfectly combines the best elements of a day-and-night open-air party destination, lounge bar, restaurant, coffeehouse & bakery and fuses it seamlessly with what Thailand is so famous for – the open-air beach club.
But the wildest party will be on Silom Road (BTS: Sala Daeng) where from 10am to midnight, Thursday through Saturday, the crowds will be soaking themselves and each other. Two rows of stalls will have water guns, food, soft drinks and beer for sale while fire trucks at each intersection will be turning on their powerful water hoses.
